Tuesday: Simone Dinnerstein and Barokyn at Naumburg Bandshell

The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts begins season on Tuesday, June 9

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein, her string ensemble Baroklyn, and CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists) perform music by J.S Bach and Philip Glass

The world's oldest continuous free outdoor classical concert series continues on June 23 with The Knights performing a program to celebrate America 250

On Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 pm, Naumburg Orchestral Concerts kicks off its 2026 season with the GRAMMY®-nominated pianist Simone Dinnerstein, Baroklyn (the string ensemble she founded and directs) and CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists) at Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park (mid-park at 72nd St.). The concert is free and will be broadcast live and streamed on WQXR.

The program features music by Philip Glass and J.S. Bach - two composers whose music Dinnerstein sees a natural affinity between. The pianist says, “Glass’s music is multi-linear in a way that evokes the music of Bach. It is music on the horizontal, as opposed to the vertical. If anything, it is circular music.”

For the concert, Dinnerstein leads the artists from the piano for performances of Glass's "The Hours" and a recomposition by Philip Lasser of Bach’s Air on the G String, and conducts Bach's Cantata No. 9 "Es ist das Heil uns Kommen her" alongside selections from three other cantatas by Bach with Connecticut Choral Artists (CONCORA).

The season continues on June 23 with The Knights chamber orchestra performing a program in honor of America's 250th anniversary that features the NY premiere of Lisa Bielawa's Violin Concerto PULSE with Tessa Lark.

Concerts at the bandshell continue throughout the summer, every other Tuesday, through August 4. Performers include Delirium Musicum, Orchestra of St. Luke's with mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner, and Nosky's Baroque Band with trumpet soloist Steve Marquardt. Full program details are below. Digital press kit available here.