Washington Performing Arts Announces 2024/25 Season: In Harmony

Highlights include: 

• For the first time in 20 years, the Berlin Philharmonic returns to Washington, under the baton of Kirill Petrenko, with violinist Hilary Hahn
• Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam performs with incoming Chief Conductor 28-year-old Klaus Mäkelä
• Co-presentations with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including Sphinx Virtuosi and classical pianist sensation Yunchan Lim, returning for his rescheduled performance
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Recital featuring a large-scale commission project by and featuring soprano Karen Slack
• Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain presents his Masters of Percussion: a full stage of all-star percussionists from across the globe
• String quartet Brooklyn Rider with soprano Ariadne Greif, including newly commissioned works
• World Pride celebrations: Pink Martini’s 30th Anniversary, Drag Queen Sasha Velour, fashion icon and media personality Isaac Mizrahi and DMV vocalist JChris
• Modern Warrior Live, a special performance for Military Appreciation Month chronicling the story of U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling
• Annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. with Living the Dream…Singing the Dream, featuring the Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choir and Choral Arts
• Season finale with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
• Free concerts at Songbyrd Music House and Tregaron Conservancy as part of Mars Arts D.C. programming
• Revered Education Embassy Adoption Program’s 50th anniversary with DC Public Schools

  

WASHINGTON– Washington Performing Arts announces its 2024/25 season, In Harmony, running from September 2024 through June 2025 in seven indoor and outdoor venues across the Washington, D.C., region. The upcoming season celebrates connection and community through music, with highlights including: some of the most-acclaimed orchestras of today, rising stars of the piano world, commissioning projects, celebrations for the Embassy Adoption Program’s 50th anniversary, free performances under the auspices of Mars Arts D.C., and special programming commemorating World Pride 2025. 

“The theme for our 2024-25 Season is: In Harmony,” Washington Performing Arts President and CEO Jenny Bilfield, said. “All of our programs tether to the concept of harmony. We hope you’ll feel the spirit of cultural diplomacy and connection infused into our Embassy Adoption Program at 50; the arts in harmony with the outdoors via our Mars Arts D.C. programs; the work and fellowship of our gospel choirs; artists working in alignment on stage creating something special and unique; partnerships embraced through each program and activity; and, in the most transcendent moments, a deep connection with, and to you, our audiences. In these complex times, we see harmony as an aspiration: when so much would divide us, we move emphatically towards our founder’s ethos, ‘Everybody in, nobody out’.” 

Current subscribers to the Hayes Piano Series, Orchestra Series, and Recitalist Series may renew their seats June 6-July 11, 2024. Subscription pre-sale begins July 11 at 10 a.m. (donors $2500 and above), July 18 at 10 a.m. (donors $600 and above), and July 25 (donors $75 and above). General Public Subscription access begins August 2 at 10 a.m. Single Ticket sales begin August 16 at 10 a.m. Learn more at WashingtonPerformingArts.org 

  

PRESENTING TOP ORCHESTRAS AT 
THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

Washington Performing Arts continues its rich history of bringing the best of classical music to Washington audiences with two concerts featuring internationally acclaimed orchestras. The Berlin Philharmonic makes their long-awaited return to D.C. (November 15), kicking off their United States tour with Washington Performing Arts. Conductor Kirill Petrenko leads Sergei Rachmaninoff’s haunting Isle of the Dead, along with Dvorák's dramatic and austere Symphony No. 7 in D Minor. Celebrated violinist Hilary Hahn joins the orchestra for Erich Wolfgang Korngold's romantically cinematic Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major. Making their return to D.C. just nine days later (November 24) is the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, featuring incoming Chief Conductor, 28-year-old Klaus Mäkelä, who was recently named incoming Chief Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The concert is a provocative combination of classic and modern works, beginning with a new composition by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer, sound artist, and the orchestra’s resident composer Ellen Reid (p r i s m, Push/Pull). “Rich and technically immaculate” (The Guardian) violinist Lisa Batiashvili performs Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. The program concludes with Rachmaninoff’s epic Symphony No. 2. Closing out the 2024/25 season is Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Nine-time Grammy Award-winner Marsalis, who first appeared on the Washington Performing Arts series at the young age of 18, leads the acclaimed big band ensemble, consisting of both emerging talent and many of the top jazz musicians of today. (June 16).   

 

Washington Performing Arts’s chamber music concerts begin with a co-presentation with The Kennedy Center of the premier chamber orchestra dedicated to increasing representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music, Sphinx Virtuosi, featuring percussionist Britton-René Collins (October 19). The performance is presented in cooperation with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts and takes place in the Terrace Theater. 

  

  

CELEBRATING WORLD PRIDE 2025 

Washington, D.C., marks the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in the city with World Pride DC 2025, celebrating the city’s vibrant queer community with an array of local and visiting artists. Washington Performing Arts commemorates this milestone throughout the performance season with a World Pride event series. Opening the series is Pink Martini, celebrating their 30th anniversary as Portland’s “Little Orchestra.” Since its inception in 1994, Pink Martini has grown into a globe-totting sensation with genre-defying, multilingual performances, led by vocalist China Forbes and joined for this occasion by Ari Shapiro, Host of NPR’s All Things Considered. Last presented by Washington Performing Arts five years ago, Pink Martini turns The Kennedy Center into D.C.’s ultimate party (October 14) on the actual day of their first performance, 30 years ago. Critically acclaimed, gender-fluid drag queen, visual artist, and author Sasha Velour brings an immersive evening of drag, storytelling, and art in The Big Reveal Live Show, co-presented with the Music Center at Strathmore on January 25. On May 17, 1990’s fashion designer, author, and QVC maven Isaac Mizrahi performs his cabaret-style show, accompanied by a six-piece jazz band. Originally studying voice at the famed LaGuardia High School in New York as a teenager, Mizrahi set out to pursue a singing career but shifted to a fashion career instead. His performances are all-at-once funny and touching. D.C.-based singer, songwriter, pianist, and producer JChris performs at Songbyrd Music House (June 14) as part of the Mars Arts D.C. Concert Series at Songbyrd. JChris will also host World Pride: Culture of Colors at Songbyrd, celebrating the queer community of Latin America and beyond (June 28). 

  

  

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PIANISTS 

As the initial classical music programmers in D.C., preceding the opening of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington Performing Arts has a rich history of orchestral and recital performances. This season continues that treasured history with several internationally acclaimed pianists performing in some of the largest halls in Washington, D.C. Rescheduled from last fall, classical piano sensation Yunchan Lim brings his highly anticipated program of Bach’s Goldberg Variations in co-presentation with The Kennedy Center, (April 27) at the Concert Hall. The 20-year-old pianist prodigy made history when he became the youngest person to take home the Gold Medal from the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, at age 18. Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho, who made his Washington, D.C., recital debut in March 2020 on the acclaimed Hayes Series, and sold-out last season’s run of concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, brings his monumental full Ravel piano catalog program to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall (February 18). The program, with two intermissions, includes favorite works Gaspard de la Nuit, Tombeau de Couperin, Jeux, Valses nobles et sentimentales, and lesser-known works. Evgeny Kissin performs selections from Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues and Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Minor, Chopin’s Nocturnes in G Minor and in E-flat Major, and more at the Music Center at Strathmore (May 3). 

  

  

CAPTIVATING RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC 

This season, Washington Performing Arts presents several exciting solo and chamber artists in intimate venues. Chamber quartet Brooklyn Rider returns to D.C. joined by soprano Ariadne Greif, hailed by The New York Times as “a beautiful and physically fearless young singer,” to perform the U.S. premiere of Giovanni Sollima’s Four Quartets as well as works by Clarice Assad, Tyshawn Sorey (winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music), and Gabriel Kahane from the Brooklyn Rider Almanac, Book II (March 1) at Sixth & I. Known for their gripping performance style and adventurous programming, Brooklyn Rider utilizes the string quartet as a medium of endless possibility for invention, bringing an exciting performance to Washington Performing Arts.  

Washington Performing Arts’s third-annual Ruther Bader Ginsburg Memorial Recital (March 9) features an expansive co-commission from soprano Karen Slack entitled African Queens, presented in cooperation with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts. The evening-length vocal recital of art songs celebrates the history and legacy of seven historic or “real-life” African queens, revered as rulers but not widely heralded in the Western world. Washington Performing Arts is a program commissioner for African Queens, and Karen Slack is recipient of the organization's Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award for its 2024/25 season. The program weaves historical narrative and accompanying visuals through new music by acclaimed composers Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, along with carefully selected traditional repertoire. The performance honors the legacy of Justice Ginsburg, a fan of music and a strong supporter of Washington Performing Arts programming. The organization established its annual memorial recital and corresponding Award to bring some of the world’s greatest artists to D.C. audiences, to lift emerging artists, and to support arts education in D.C. public schools; all values that resonated deeply with Justice Ginsburg. 

Additionally in the Terrace, Nikolai Lugansky offers a program of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Wagner (February 9); and Yefim Bronfman returns with a program of Mozart, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky (April 14). 

 

HAYES PIANO SERIES 

Named in honor of Washington Performing Arts founder Patrick Hayes and his wife, pianist and educator Evelyn Swarthout Hayes, the Hayes Piano Series showcases the world’s finest emerging pianists in intimate recitals. The 2024/25 series opens with Canadian-born pianist Tony Siqi Yun, 2019 Gold Medalist at the First China International Music Competition and a favorite of conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin (October 27). Siqi’s Washington Performing Arts debut recital includes Liszt’s arrangement of Wagner’s Isolde's Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, Schumann’s Symphonic Études, Beethoven’s beloved "Appassionata" sonata, and Brahms’s Theme with Variations in D Minor—a work transcribed for Clara Schumann. The Hayes Series continues with Clayton Stephenson, a finalist of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition who is known for his joyous charisma onstage. Stephenson brings a program of Schubert, Stravinksy, Gershwin and more, to his Washington Performing Arts debut (March 15). Indonesian pianist Janice Carissa closes out the Hayes Series with Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in A Major, Frederic Rzewski’s Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues, Bach’s "Sheep May Safely Graze" and more. Carissa made her debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra at age 16 and has since performed alongside some of the top musicians of today (May 18). 

  

 INSPIRING GOSPEL CHOIRS 

As one of the only performing arts organizations with two resident gospel choirs, the Washington Performing Arts Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choirs, led by resident artists Maestra Michele Fowlin, Maestro T. Theodore Thorpe, with Music Director Anthony Walker and resident choreographer Karon Johnson, continue their mission this season to inspire audiences and nurture both aspiring and experienced vocalists. The choirs join forces with the Choral Arts Chorus, and their new Artistic Director Marie Bucoy-Calavan, for their annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Living the Dream...Singing the Dream (February 2). The Children of the Gospel Choir joined by alumni, and Men and Women of the Gospel?Choir present an evening of soaring music and impressive artistry at their annual concert at the Lisner Auditorium (June 7). Both choirs have been a core part of Washington Performing Arts for more than 30 years, impacting hundreds of singers and spreading the joy of gospel music to audiences throughout the DMV.  

 

CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATIONS 

Each season, Washington Performing Arts brings together artists from across the globe for memorable performances in the D.C. area under the auspices of The World in Our City. Thematic cultural programs appear throughout the 24/25 season as the organization celebrates its 50-year partnership with D.C. Public Schools with its Embassy Adoption Program, the longest-standing partnership of DC Public Schools that connects fifth- and sixth-grade D.C. Public Schools students with more than 60 embassies and other diplomatic entities. 

Annually through the Embassy Adoption Program, diplomats visit schools to provide students with a personalized understanding of their nation’s positions on various world issues, fostering global competency and cultural empathy. This year, the program expands to include deeper integration of arts and culture opportunities for youth, including more teaching artist classroom visits, performances at a Mini UN event, and special performances coordinated by Washington Performing Arts embassy partners to celebrate this milestone.  

Returning with his invigorating Masters of Percussion program, tabla master Zakir Hussain presents a full stage of world-renowned percussionists at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall (April 16). Hussain is one of India’s reigning cultural ambassadors and has been captivating audiences with Indian folk and classical traditions since the program's inception in 1996. This gathering of outstanding drummers brings together several world traditions in a single memorable performance. 

Heralded by Lin-Manuel Miranda as the “next big thing on Broadway,” Jaime Lozano, along with his wife Florencia Cuenca fuse their Mexican roots with their journey to the American Dream in Broadway en Spanglish, a multi-lingual musical cabaret (February 1). The two, joined by musicians in the mariachi style, will sing new interpretations of musical theater from productions such as Hamilton, Waitress, Frozen, and more.  

Additionally, Washington Performing Arts hosts two to three panels on arts diplomacy at the USC (University of Southern California) Capital Campus (DC) for young professionals through retirees who want to learn more about the impact of arts diplomacy worldwide. Dates to be announced. 

    

COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS AND IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS THROUGH MARS ARTS D.C. 

Washington Performing Arts continues its legacy of regional collaborations and partnerships, working with creative communities, cultural institutions, and performance venues across the area to produce and present the very best in performing arts. Rooted in the motto of the organization's founder, Patrick Hayes, “everybody in, nobody out,” these programs and collaborations celebrate the excellence of local artists and further enrich the vibrant D.C. arts community.   

In partnership with Mosaic Theater Sept. 20-24, journey to 1959 for an unforgettable rendezvous with Lady Day herself—the incomparable Billie Holiday. The acclaimed one-woman play with music, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, transports audiences into a small bar in Philadelphia for one of the icon’s final concerts, transforming the theater into an immersive nightclub. Helen Hayes Award winner and frequent Mars Arts D.C. artist Roz White – known nationally for her broad vocal range and portrayal as Tina Turner’s mother in the national touring company of Broadway’s Tina – stars as Holiday. As part of the Mars Arts D.C. and Mosaic Theater partnership, Washington Performing Arts audiences have special access to a 50% discount on performances September 20-22, 2024, with code WPA50 at MosaicTheater.org/lady-day-at-emersons-bar-and-grill or (202) 399-7993 x501. Code is active from June 25, 2024, and available while supplies last. 

Continuing its longstanding tradition of working with military bands and veterans, and in commemoration of Military Appreciation Month, Washington Performing Arts is proud to present Modern Warrior Live, an autobiographical evening by U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling (May 10). Through an immersive music and narrative experience, Poling shares his personal journey through the challenges of military service and homecoming experience, creating a catalyst for a meaningful conversation about mental health. A top jazz ensemble is led by trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, who served as ambassador to Jazz at Lincoln Center from 2013-2015 in Doha, Qatar.  This presentation also includes a companion Modern Warrior Experience featuring stories by and presented by local veterans paired in performance with Dominick Farinacci and other musicians. Venue and date to be announced. 

One of D.C.’s most scenic greenspaces Tregaron Conservancy will become the host for the Mars Arts D.C. autumnal concert Tregaron Unplugged (October 5)—and vernal Tregaron Meadow Concert (May 4) outdoor concert event. The fall event will feature stages throughout the park with acoustic performances, encouraging listeners to engage with the space while sampling different performances. Both performances are free and great for all ages.  

The Mars Arts D.C. Concert Series continues to bring exciting artists to Songbyrd Music House, the 2023 Wammies Best Music Venue winner located in Union Market. Mars Arts D.C. collaborations share Washington Performing Arts's musical excellence with an even larger audience by reducing socioeconomic barriers to great performances and entering the neighborhoods that branch out from the city’s metro center. This season’s concert season at Songbyrd includes: Akua Allrich, who pays tribute to African-American women in music with her signature blend of jazz and blues (March 5); a unique fusion concert entitled Musical Journey: District Coalition (April 2); powerhouse vocalist Ronnette Rollins (May 7); and Got Sol with Lonny Taylor (June 4), and JChris (June 14). Additionally at Songbyrd, JChris hosts a special World Pride celebration entitled Colors of Culture, celebrating the queer community across Latin America on June 28. 

 

Washington Performing Arts 2024/25 Event Calendar 

 

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOSAIC THEATER 

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL 

BY LANIE ROBERTSON 

DIRECTED BY REGINALD L. DOUGLAS 

STARRING ROZ WHITE 

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS ACCESS DATES: SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2024 

ATLAS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

Journey back to 1959 for an unforgettable rendezvous with Lady Day herself—the incomparable Billie Holiday. Featuring classics such as “God Bless the Child” and “Strange Fruit,” this acclaimed one-woman play with music transports you into a small bar in Philadelphia for one of the icon’s final concerts, transforming the theater into an immersive nightclub. Helen Hayes Award winner Roz White – known nationally for her broad vocal range and portrayal as Tina Turner’s mother in the national touring company of Broadway’s Tina– stars as Holiday. This fresh production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill explores the triumphs and traumas of Holiday’s life and career while celebrating the resilience of Black women throughout history. 
 
TREGARON UNPLUGGED 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2024 / 3:00 P.M. 

TREGARON CONSERVANCY 

Step into a world of serene natural beauty with Tregaron Unplugged, presented by Washington Performing Arts. This intimate outdoor concert series features exceptional performances in the picturesque setting of Tregaron Conservancy, creating a perfect harmony between music and nature. This year’s lineup includes string quartets, vocalists, and unique musical ensembles. Audiences will be treated to an eclectic mix of genres, including jazz, classical, Americana, and more. Hear a captivating blend of original and timeless standards throughout the park, where the magic of live performances and the tranquility of nature come together for an unforgettable experience.  

 

PINK MARTINI’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY 

FEATURING CHINA FORBES 

AND SPECIAL GUEST ARI SHAPIRO 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2024 / 7:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

Celebrating 30 years of globe-spanning performances, Pink Martini brings their cosmopolitan flair and musicality to Washington, D.C. Founded by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in 1994 to provide “more beautiful and inclusive soundtracks” for political fundraisers in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, today this “little orchestra” boasts a multilingual repertoire and a sound that mixes classical, tango, samba, pop, swing, and jazz. Whether performing in small nightclubs or on stage with orchestras around the world, the group serves up sparkling, sophisticated melodies with enticing, intoxicating rhythms, and a healthy splash of the unusual. Featuring a rotating cast of musicians and led by powerhouse vocalists including China Forbes, Pink Martini start a party wherever they play. Ari Shapiro, host of NPR’s All Things Considered joins as special guest. 

 

SPHINX VIRTUOSI 

BRITTON-RENÉ COLLINS, PERCUSSION 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024 / 2:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

The vibrant, self-conducted string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi returns. Comprising 18 accomplished Black and Latinx artists, Sphinx Virtuosi seeks to evolve and transform the face of classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming, and impassioned community engagement. Heralded for its kaleidoscopically varied repertoire, the group brings a bold thematic program, featuring emerging percussion soloist Britton-René Collins. Sphinx Virtuosi is the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization, dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts and centered in the artistry of composers and artistic visionaries of color, including works by Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, Curtis Stewart, and more. This performance is a co-presentation with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in cooperation with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts. 

 

HAYES PIANO SERIES 

TONY SIQI YUN, PIANO 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2024 / 2:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

Canadian-born pianist Tony Siqi Yun, Gold Medalist at the First China International Music Competition (2019) and awarded the Rheingau Music Festival’s 2023 Lotto- Förderpreis, is quickly becoming a sought-after soloist and recitalist, performing with the Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and collaborating frequently with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, among others. He makes his Washington Performing Arts Hayes Piano Series debut with a varied recital including Liszt’s arrangement of Wagner’s “Isoldes Liebestod'' from Tristan und Isolde, Schumann’s Symphonic Études Op. 13, Beethoven’s beloved “Appassionata” sonata, and Brahms’s Theme with Variations in D Minor, Op. 18b—a work transcribed for Clara Schumann. 

 

BERLIN PHILHARMONIC 

KIRILL PETRENKO, CHIEF CONDUCTOR 

HILARY HAHN, VIOLIN 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 / 7:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the world’s most acclaimed and well-respected orchestras. Founded in 1882, the virtuoso ensemble makes Washington Performing Arts its first stop of their 2024 United States tour under the baton of conductor Kirill Petrenko. Hear Sergei Rachmaninoff’s haunting Isle of the Dead, depicting the transition of souls to the afterlife and inspired by a black-and-white reproduction of Arnold Böcklin’s painting of the same name. Experience Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, op. 70, flowing from sonorous and expressive climax to the ebbing, pastoral passages of horn and oboe. Washington Performing Arts frequent collaborator and friend Hilary Hahn joins the orchestra as they perform Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s romantically cinematic Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, op. 35. Berlin’s first visit with Washington Performing Arts in 21 years, this is a rare and extraordinary opportunity to be part of an evening of unforgettable artistic excellence. 

 

ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA 

KLAUS MÄKELÄ, CONDUCTOR 

LISA BATIASHVILI, VIOLIN 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024 / 7:30 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

Regularly noted as one of the world’s most versatile and virtuosic orchestras, the Amsterdam-based Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra makes its first return to Washington in five years, conducted by 28-year-old Finnish phenomenon Klaus Mäkelä, also the incoming music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The concert opens with a new composition by resident composer and Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Ellen Reid (p r i s m, Push/Pull). Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a masterpiece of fleeting tranquility punctuated by episodes of abrupt changes in mood and tonality, is performed with the “rich and technically immaculate” (The Guardian) playing of Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili. The program concludes with Rachmaninoff’s textured, bombastic, and serene Symphony No. 2— a work with which the composer avenged the failure of his First. And how! 

 

STRATHMORE AND WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS 

SASHA VELOUR 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025 / 8:00 P.M. 

THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE 

Known for her emotional, thoughtful, and crowd-shaking reveals, critically acclaimed, gender-fluid drag queen, artist, and author Sasha Velour takes things to a whole new level in The Big Reveal Live Show. Combining high-concept lip sync performances, storytelling, childhood film footage, video art, politics and more, this dynamic event shows the drag superstar at her most playful and hilarious. With a whip-smart comedic script and surprising gags, Velour uses comedy as a way to disarm audiences and hit them with emotional truths. Loved by audiences and critics alike from San Francisco to Stockholm, The Big Reveal Live Show is an incredible work from a seminal artist. 

 

Part of the Washington Performing Arts 2024/25 World Pride event series. 

 

FLORENCIA CUENCA AND JAIME LOZANO’S 

BROADWAY EN SPANGLISH 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

SIXTH & I 

Husband and wife duo Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca create musical magic with Broadway en Spanglish. A fusion of their Mexican roots with their journey to the American Dream, this multi-lingual musical cabaret features fresh interpretations and new arrangements of contemporary musical theater songs from Hamilton, Waitress, Frozen, and more. Lozano is a musical theater storyteller described by Lin-Manuel Miranda as the “next big thing” on Broadway. Cuenca has performed Off-Broadway in Children of Salt (NYMF 2016 Best of Fest) and A Never-Ending Line, and was named Best New Jazz Artist by Hot House Jazz (2016). The two have performed to sold-out crowds at venues such as Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, and Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series. Stirring mariachi music, humorous stories, and Cuenca’s rousing vocals make for a memorable night celebrating cultural diversity and connection. 

 

Living the Dream … Singing the Dream 

A CHORAL TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. 

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS GOSPEL CHOIRS 

MICHELE FOWLIN AND THEODORE THORPE III, ARTISTIC DIRECTORS 

CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 

MARIE BUCOY-CALAVAN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

When the power of the human voice meets the spirit of community and the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the result is guaranteed to be joyous and inspiring, filling the Kennedy Center with stirring narrative and sound. This concert is a must-see-and-hear annual highlight featuring the combined Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel choirs of Washington Performing Arts and the Choral Arts Society of Washington, in tribute both to Dr. King’s achievements and to his ongoing, indelible impact. 

This performance is co-presented with the Choral Arts Society of Washington. 

 

NIKOLAI LUGANSKY, PIANO 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025 / 2:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

Praised as “one of the most outstanding artists of our epoch” (Le Monde), Nikolai Lugansky is a pianist of extraordinary depth and versatility. Regularly appearing with major orchestras across the globe, this is a special opportunity to experience Lugansky’s interpretations in the intimate Terrace Theater — the location of his Hayes Piano Series debut in the 1996 season. Often celebrated for the deftness by which he approaches Rachmaninoff’s cannon, Lugansky offers an unconventionally special program rooted in the Romantic music of Mendelssohn and Wagner. Hear the rolling melodies of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, written during and inspired by the composer’s tour of Italy, Switzerland,  and Germany; plus Wagner’s Brünnhilde and Siegfried’s love duet, Siegfried’s Rhine Journey, and Lugansky’s own transcription of Wagner’s Four Scenes from Götterdämmerung. 

 

SEONG-JIN CHO, PIANO 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025 / 7:00 P.M.  

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL  

Highly sought-after soloist and Artist-in-Residence of the Berlin Philharmonic, Seong-Jin Cho, made his recital debut on the Hayes Piano Series, followed by a sold-out concert series with the National Symphony Orchestra. His assertive, tender, and colorful playing will be on full display in this exciting program at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall as he performs Ravel’s full catalogue of solo piano works. Hear the delicately drawn Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn and Menuet antique, the suite of eight Valses nobles et sentimentales, and much more. The Guardian praises Cho: “… his passagework gleamingly precise, his sound ranging from staggering softness to luminous Steinway shine.” 

 

BROOKLYN RIDER 

ARIADNE GREIF, SOPRANO 

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

SIXTH & I 

The energy and creativity of this quartet’s namesake borough comes shining through as they expand the classical canon with unparalleled skill, creativity, and inventive collaborations. With set-lists drawn of composers from Beethoven to Björk, every performance is a musically omnivorous adventure that coaxes new energy out of classical works and pushes the string quartet form into new territories of Americana, jazz, and music from around the globe. The foursome’s swaggering and accessible performance style is a perennial favorite at NPR, which has frequently included their albums in the station’s yearly “Best Albums” lists. Hear the US premiere of Giovanni Sollima’s Four Quartets, plus works by Clarice Assad, 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tyshawn Sorey, and Gabriel Kahane from the Brooklyn Rider Almanac Book II, and more. Operatic soprano Ariadne Greif adds her “luminous, expressive voice” (New York Times) to works by Schoenberg and Colin Jacobsen to this concert event at Sixth & I. 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

AKUA ALLRICH 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 / 8:00 P.M. 

Jazz vocalist and D.C. native Akua Allrich pays tribute to African-American women in music with a blend of blues, soul, jazz, and pan-African music. Accompanied by a live band, her performance honors the legacies of the legendary artists such as Miriam Makeba and Nina Simone, and others. Allrich’s electrifying presence and powerful voice promise to captivate and inspire. 

 

KAREN SLACK, SOPRANO 

KEVIN MILLER, PIANO 

AFRICAN QUEENS 

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

ANNUAL RUTH BADER GINSBURG MEMORIAL RECITAL 
Karen Slack is an operatic virtuoso who debuted the role of Billie in the 2019 world premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, and who has amassed a body of work highlighting living composers. Simultaneously, she has developed a career as sought-after curator and collaborator and now brings her new commissioning project, African Queens, to its regional debut. The evening-length vocal recital celebrates the history and legacy of seven historic or “real-life” African queens, revered as rulers but not widely heralded in the western world. The program weaves historical narrative through new works by acclaimed composers Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson along with carefully selected traditional repertoire – further illuminated through passages of spoken text and thematic artwork. Washington Performing Arts is a project co-commissioner of African Queens. This performance is the third-annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Recital—a yearly performance honoring a dear friend of Washington Performing Arts and elevating new work of both established and renowned artists. 

 

In cooperation with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. 

 

HAYES PIANO SERIES 

CLAYTON STEPHENSON, PIANO 

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 / 2:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

Finalist in the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and 2022 Gilmore Young Artist Awardee Clayton Stephenson brings compelling musicality and exuberance to his Hayes Piano Series debut at the Terrace Theater. At age 10 he advanced to The Juilliard School’s elite Pre-College program, and he now studies in the Harvard-New England Conservatory Dual Degree Program, pursuing a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s degree in piano performance. Stephenson’s captivating artistry will be on full display in a recital program spanning works by Schubert, Stravinsky, Gershwin, and more. 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

MUSICAL JOURNEY: DISTRICT COALITION 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 / 8:00 P.M. 

Join us for Musical Journey showcasing talented artists from the classical, jazz, electronic, and hip-hop genres in an innovative set presented by District Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to curating unforgettable moments through the fusion of music, venues, and experiences. Experience the rich textures of classical instruments, the infectious rhythms of jazz and cumbia, the atmospheric sounds of electronic music, the passion of flamenco guitar, and the powerful verses of hip-hop and soul, all interwoven into a captivating auditory experience. 

 

YEFIM BRONFMAN, PIANO 

MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER  

Famed for his commanding, powerful technique coupled with exceptional lyricism, the great Yefim Bronfman performs a solo Terrace Theater recital – a rare opportunity for D.C. audiences to experience his towering presence with such immediacy. As the Philadelphia Inquirer described, “It is safe to say there is no pianist around remotely like Yefim Bronfman. Labor doesn’t seem to ever enter the equation; he is simply everywhere, instantly, and all the time.” Join us for his performance including works by Mozart, Debussy, and Tchaikovsky. 

 

ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND MASTERS OF PERCUSSION 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 / 7:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

Renowned classical tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain captivates Washington Performing Arts audiences season after season with his dynamic, genre-defying programs and compelling collaborations. For the first time live in nearly a decade, Hussain presents his Masters of Percussion program with Washington Performing Arts, featuring a stage full of percussionists from around the world. Since 1996, this program has illuminated Indian folk and classical traditions for Western audiences and amplified the enthralling rhythm traditions of Hussain’s home country often mixed with Western influences. Masters of Percussion is a testament to Hussain’s lasting influence on music from varied global cultures, and further solidifies him as an international phenomenon. 

 

YUNCHAN LIM, PIANO 

SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2025 / 4:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

Yunchan Lim is a classical pianist sensation, growing to global stardom after becoming the youngest person to win gold at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18. “A one-in-a-million talent” (Dallas Morning News), Lim’s performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 during the competition went viral and the New York Times listed it as one of the Top 10 Classical Music Performances of 2022. Lim’s technical prowess and undeniable passion shined in successful orchestral debuts across the U.S. and abroad while he was continuing his studies at the New England Conservatory in Boston. For his recital debut at the Kennedy Center, rescheduled from our fall 2023 engagement, Lim performs J.S. Bach’s labyrinthine keyboard work “Goldberg Variations." 

This performance is a co-presentation with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

 

EVGENY KISSIN, PIANO 

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025 / 4:00 P.M. 

MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE 

A perennial Washington Performing Arts audience favorite, the supremely gifted Evgeny Kissin impresses with his precision, color, and interpretive nuance. The simultaneous grandeur and intimacy of his solo recital performances give full voice to his expressive range and impressive skill. Repertoire for his May 2025 performance at Strathmore includes selections from Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues and Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Minor, plus Bach Partita No. 2 in C Minor, and Chopin’s Nocturnes in G Minor and in E-flat Major, among others 

 

TREGARON MEADOW CONCERT 

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025 / 3:00 P.M. 

TREGARON CONSERVANCY 

Prepare for an enchanting afternoon at the Tregaron Meadow Concert featuring the Todd Marcus Trio and jazz vocalist Imani-Grace Cooper. Experience the unique sound of Marcus’s trio, where the bass clarinet takes center stage alongside bass and drums. Their performance blends original compositions with jazz standards, showcasing Marcus’s rich musical vocabulary and his ability to transition between hard-blowing intensity and soft, textural sensitivity. Imani-Grace Cooper, known for her versatility and deep knowledge of jazz, captivates audiences with her dynamic vocal performances. Having studied under the esteemed Connaitre Miller, Imani-Grace has cultivated a successful jazz following in Washington, D.C., and has performed solo at the Apollo Theater during the Annual Harlem Jazz Week. She has shared the stage with legends such as Dianne Reeves, Esperanza Spalding, and Al Jarreau. 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

RONNETTE ROLLINS 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025 / 8:00 P.M. 

Ronnette Rollins is known for her dynamic stage presence, vocal range, and piano skills. The musical prodigy played piano and organ and directed choirs for various churches beginning at age eight. By 11 she already was shining alongside her godmother, Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee Shirley Ables & The Joy Gospel Singers. Ronnette has recorded and performed with gospel and inspirational legends like Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, and Isaiah Thomas & Elements of Praise. Joins us for a concert that promises to be both soul-stirring and exhilarating 

 

MODERN WARRIOR LIVE 

CREATED BY DOMINICK FARINACCI AND MILITARY VETERAN JAYMES POLING 

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025 / 7:30 P.M. 

LISNER AUDITORIUM 

During Military Appreciation Month, join us for a powerful evening of music, visual arts, and narrative that chronicles the story of U.S. Army veteran Jaymes Poling and his journey through three deployments in Afghanistan and subsequent transition back home. Told by Poling, this autobiographical production explores the personal and emotional journey of military service, weaving Poling’s story with music by acclaimed trumpeter Dominick Farinacci and top jazz performers from around the country. Since its debut in 2017, Modern Warrior Live has created meaningful conversation about heroism, mental health, and reentry to civilian life. 

This presentation also includes a companion Modern Warrior Experience featuring stories by and presented by local veterans paired in performance with Dominick Farinacci and other musicians. Venue and date to be announced. 

 

ISAAC MIZRAHI IN CONCERT 

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025 / 7:00 P.M. 

SIXTH & I 

One-of-a-kind designer, host, actor, and tastemaker Isaac Mizrahi brings his relatable and irreverent comedic cabaret to Sixth & I with a six-piece jazz band. Join us for an evening of laughter, repartée, and tunes by Stephen Sondheim, Madonna, Blondie, and so much more. 

 

HAYES PIANO SERIES 

JANICE CARISSA, PIANO 

SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2025 / 2:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER TERRACE THEATER 

Following her debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra at age 16, Indonesian pianist Janice Carissa has embarked on a whirlwind career, garnering praise at renowned concert halls and performing alongside some of the most distinguished musicians of today. A Gilmore Young Artist, Carissa’s program showcases her graceful agility and emotive style with works by Frederic Rzewski, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Beethoven, and Bach. 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

GOT SOL WITH LONNY TAYLOR 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025 / 8:00 P.M. 

Lonny Taylor is a brilliant D.C. singer-songwriter known for his powerful voice and poignant lyrics. His heartfelt performances and impressive piano skills have earned him a dedicated fan base. Experience a blend of R&B, soul, and rock in this final concert in our series at Songbyrd. 

 

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS GOSPEL CHOIRS 

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GOSPEL CHOIR 

THEODORE THORPE III, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 

CHILDREN OF THE GOSPEL CHOIR  

MICHELE FOWLIN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR  

FEATURING CHILDREN OF THE GOSPEL ALUMNI CHOIR 

ANTHONY WALKER, MUSIC DIRECTOR 

KARON JOHNSON, CHOREOGRAPHER 

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025 / 7:00 P.M. 

LISNER AUDITORIUM Experience an evening of glorious sounds, artistry, and uplifting messages with the Children of the Gospel Choir (COTG). One of Washington Performing Arts’s resident ensembles, COTG is a destination choir for area students to develop excellence in artistry and vocal technique. Chosen through a competitive audition process, choir members from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia commit to participating in a year of choral training, intensive workshops, and performances. This performance will also include alumni from across the 30-year history of the choir. 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

WORLD PRIDE: JCHRIS 

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2025 / 3:00 P.M. 

JChris and his band take you through Latin America with a high-energy set highlighting music by Latinas, the Latino queer community, and his own original compositions. At this performance, you'll hear a program that is inspired by JChris's queer and Brazilian and Peruvian identities. Part of the Washington Performing Arts 2024/2025 World Pride event series. 

 

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS 

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025 / 7:00 P.M. 

KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL 

Treat yourself to an evening of American big-band jazz with the bi-annual Washington Performing Arts presentation of the sensational 15-member Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by artistic director, trumpeter, and nine-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis. As the Chicago Tribune described the exhilarating force of the band in concert: “The orchestra [tore] through this music as if chasing the wind. Only a group of musicians who have toured together for so long…could have attained this kind of synchronicity.” 

 

MARS ARTS D.C. CONCERT SERIES AT SONGBYRD 

WORLD PRIDE: COLORS OF CULTURE 

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2025 / 3:00 P.M 

Experience an inclusive celebration of diversity at Songbyrd. This multicultural showcase, hosted by urban Latin artist JChris, features a range of talents from the queer community across Latin America and beyond. Be part of an evening that honors the richness of our multicultural world through music, dance, and creative expression. Part of the Washington Performing Arts 2024/2025 World Pride event series at Songbyrd. 

   

ABOUT WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS 

One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts champions the arts as a unifying force and has engaged for more than half a century with artists, audiences, students, and civic life. The city is truly our stage: for decades, in venues ranging from concert halls and clubs to public parks, we have presented a tremendous range of artists and art forms, from the most distinguished symphony orchestras to both renowned and emerging artists in classical music, jazz, international genres, and more. We also have an ever-expanding artistic and educational presence on the internet, envisioning ongoing opportunities for online connection and community. 

Washington Performing Arts deeply values its partnerships with local organizations and other arts institutions. Through events online and in myriad performance venues and neighborhoods, we engage international visiting artists in community programs and introduce local artists to wider audiences. We place a premium on establishing artists as a continuing presence in the lives of both young people and adults through residencies and education programs. 

Our achievements have been recognized with a National Medal of Arts and with three Mayor’s Arts Awards from the DC Government. We have now embarked upon our second half-century, ever inspired by the motto of our founder, Patrick Hayes: “Everybody in, nobody out.” 

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(202) 785-9727 

  

  

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