Bravo! Vail Music Festival Featured in Vail Valley Magazine

“The Bravo! Vail Music Festival is something of a logistical miracle,” writes Shauna Farnell in her “Orchestrating the Orchestras” feature for the summer 2026 issue of Vail Valley Magazine. She details the puzzle of putting together the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, which runs June 25-August 6 this year, bringing to Vail, Colorado, the New York Philharmonic, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, various chamber music ensembles, and more.

“It takes a village,” says Elli Monroe, Bravo! Vail's artistic operations director, about the logistics for putting together this enormous classical music festival. “We have a wonderful team. Honestly, if you can meticulously pre-plan and communicate all of this in advance, 99% goes as planned and you can put out the fires as you need to.”

Planning for the summer begins about a year and a half in advance, with orchestras and soloists contracted out long before that. Monroe, who’s been with the festival since 2008, is tasked with taking the plan, or as she calls it, “the artistic vision,” and bringing it to fruition.

To find out more about Bravo! Vail, please visit bravovail.org.

The Seattle Sound: Seattle Chamber Music Society on Gramophone

Seattle Chamber Music Society, which brings world-class chamber music to Seattle and beyond, has a virtual concert hall for online viewing as well as extensive outreach programs, including a chamber music academy for younger players, masterclasses, lectures, and a concert truck that brings live performances out into the community. To this, the organization has recently added a record label, SCMS Records. “The creation of this label allows us to capture lightning in a bottle, as they say,” Artistic Director James Ehnes told Andrew Farach-Colton for a new Gramophone feature.

Advocacy for the art form is a huge part of who we are, so it's all about access. If we have a recording we really believe in, that we think is a special representation of a great work of art, and it’s ours — well, then if we want to press a button and send it to a school full of children, we can just do it. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

SCMS Records’ third release, recorded in summer 2025 and due out in September, features Cesar Franck’s Piano Quintet.

Read the full piece here.

Seattle Times: Seattle Chamber Music Society expands its reach

The Seattle Chamber Music Society’s flagship Summer Festival, the world’s largest chamber music party, runs June 18-July 26, 2026. It will no longer be centered at Benaroya Hall, which is undergoing renovations, though a handful of concerts will still take place there. The rest of the mainstage events will migrate outward, to Town Hall Seattle, Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue and venues on Vashon and Bainbridge islands.

Free events will also bring the festival into less formal spaces, including a Chamber Music in the Park concert and community play-along at Volunteer Park on July 18, and more than 20 Concert Truck performances in neighborhoods, parks and other everyday settings across the region.

The programming marks America’s 250th anniversary, with every program including a work connected to the United States, from pieces by Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Amy Beach and George Walker to new SCMS commissions by Juhi Bansal and Kian Ravaei.

The season arrives as the organization makes other moves as well: expanding programming beyond the summer festival, introducing its first-ever resident string quartet, and launching an in-house record label, SCMS Records.

Read the full piece here.

Shepherd School builds on 50 years with a 2026-27 season of discovery

The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University announced the orchestral, chamber, opera, and faculty recital programming for its 2026–27 season. The school puts its extraordinary students and faculty on full display in the 2026–27 season, which also includes a Texas premiere and multiple world premieres.

“Fresh off its milestone 50th anniversary, the Shepherd School’s 2026–27 season doubles down on discovery,” writes Joel Luks for Culture Map Houston, highlighting what makes Shepherd special: “Craftsmanship behind moments that can feel effortless once the lights dim and the music begins. That dedication has defined Shepherd for more than 50 years, and the 2026–27 season suggests the next movement is well underway.”

Read the full piece here.

Marin Alsop Returns to The Kelly Clarkson Show, Surprises Fan

Marin Alsop returned to The Kelly Clarkson Show last week to speak about her journey as a conductor and her passion for creating more opportunities for women conductors through her Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. She also surprised fan Kayla Selan, a conducting student at Cleveland State University, with an invitation to shadow her at Carnegie Hall. At the end of the segment, Marin gave both Kelly and Kayla their own Purple Batons.

There are groundbreakers, and then there is my next guest. She is the first woman to serve as music director of a major U.S. orchestra. She is also the first woman to head major orchestras in Austria, Great Britain, and South America. She’s one of the defining conductors of our time, with a discography of over 200 albums, and tomorrow you can see her live at Carnegie Hall as she leads the Philadelphia Orchestra. Then, later this summer, she’ll lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. It’s going to be magical. Please welcome Maestra Marin Alsop. — Kelly Clarkson

Watch the full segment here.

Read more about this story on OperaWire.

Min Kwon's "America/Beautiful" on International Piano

Korean-American pianist Min Kwon’s new album, America/Beautiful, is available now on Delos. Conceived, commissioned, and performed by Kwon, the five-volume collection comprises 76 new piano works by American composers inspired by the iconic patriotic song “America the Beautiful.”

“Min Kwon has not done things by halves when compiling an anthology that, launched at the outset of the Covid pandemic, has gone on to encompass just where American music and, by extension, culture finds itself a quarter of the way into the 21st century,” writes Richard Whitehouse for the summer 2026 issue of International Piano.

The entire project is initiated with Samuel Adler’s transcription of Samuel Ward’s song and concludes with Kwon’s own arrangement sung fervently, though not a little histrionically, by Stephen Costello. Confidently played, stylishly presented and thoughtfully annotated, this is a significant release, impressive not least for the sheer diversity of encore material it has created for inquiring pianists everywhere. That in itself is surely more than justification for ‘America/Beautiful’, aside from whether it should have a bearing on the wider issue of national identity.

More than an album, America/Beautiful aims to celebrate the cultural melting pot that makes up the United States, to bring together as many voices as possible, and to better listen and understand the voices of others, probing the question, What is America?

Like America itself, the 76 featured composers, born between 1928 and 2000, represent an enormous diversity of musical aesthetics, backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders; they include MacArthur Fellows, Pulitzer Prize winners, Rome Prize recipients, and Grawemeyer and Grammy Award winners. The individual pieces vary in tone, texture, and mood, but ultimately, form a united whole, much like the United States.

Read the full review here.

Listen to the album on your favorite platform: oh.lnk.to/AmericaBeautiful

New York Classical Review: Taiwan Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble

The Taiwan Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble recently embarked on a 2026 U.S. tour, “From Formosa,” celebrating Taiwanese American Heritage Month with premieres, Taiwanese masterworks, and cross-cultural collaborations.

On May 19, the ensemble performed at Merkin Hall, in New York City. It was “a lively and engaging encounter among Western instruments, indigenous voices, and composers of a new kind of 'fusion' musical cuisine,” reports New York Classical Review.

Read the full piece here.

Dane Lam bridges cultures at the Hawai’i Symphony

Conductor Dane Lam, who is of Australian and Chinese descent, directs orchestras and opera companies on several continents. He currently maintains a trio of assignments as artistic director of the State Opera South Australia (Adelaide), principal conductor of the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra in China, and, since 2023, music director of the Hawai’i Symphony. His work in China, in particular, has influenced him greatly.

“This cultural mix plays well into the hands of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra,” writes James Bash for The Strad. Lam “regularly programs pieces that feature Asian instruments like the geomungo, a Korean zither that is plucked.”

Over the years, Lam has become very familiar with the music of Ye Xiaogang and recently recorded some of his music with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for an album entitled The Backyard of the Village, on the Signum Classics label.

Lam says:

The album takes its name from one of the tone poems in the piece that depicts the sounds and smells and feelings of village life where Xiao Gong grew up in Guangdong province in southern China.

Read the full piece here.

National Philharmonic Announces 2026-2027 Season

NatPhil to present East Coast Premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s ‘What the Soul Already Knows’

Season features music by Ludwig van Beethoven, Aaron Copland, Antonín Dvořák, George Frideric Handel, Laura Karpman, Arturo Márquez, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, and Joan TowerGuest artists include Inon Barnatan, Ava Pakiam, Aundi Marie Moore, Danielle Talamantes, and Jorell WilliamsBrian Ganz launches a multi-year Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle

(WASHINGTON, DC) - National Philharmonic (NatPhil) today unveils its 2026-27 season, a bold seven-program journey spanning contemporary voices and timeless masterworks. The season features the East Coast premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s What the Soul Already Knows. All concerts will take place at The Music Center at Strathmore, the Orchestra’s longstanding home in Montgomery County. 

“Our concerts are rooted in community and designed to inspire and belong to those we serve,” says Jim Kelly, President and CEO of National Philharmonic and a member of its Artistic Leadership Committee. “We are sharing music that we find instills a lifelong love of classical music. We are proud to present these compelling artists and composers who continually remind us why this art form matters. We know our audiences will have a wonderful time,” he adds.

In 2026-27, NatPhil welcomes a roster of accomplished artists, including pianist Inon Barnatan, violinist Ava Pakiam, and vocal artists Aundi Marie Moore, Danielle Talamantes, and Jorell Williams. Concerts will be led by distinguished guest conductors David Charles Abell, Anthony Blake Clark, Daniel Hege, Carolyn Kuan, Chia-Hsuan Lin, and Eugene Rogers.“

This upcoming season is infused with a spirit of discovery for us and the audience,” explains NatPhil violinist and Concert Leader Laura Colgate, who also serves on the NatPhil Artistic Leadership Committee. “Each program reflects a distinct facet of our artistic identity. In addition, we’re collaborating with six outstanding conductors across our season, each of whom will draw out a different dimension of the orchestra. By the end of the season, we’ll have arrived at a greater understanding of who we are as an ensemble and as a community,” she adds.

Conceived as the ultimate love letter to classical music, NatPhil’s Artistic Leadership Committee selected beloved cornerstone repertoire and compelling contemporary works for the season. The season opens with Inon Barnatan performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The programming continues with music by Aaron Copland, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Laura Karpman’s All American – propelled by a percussion battery of baking sheet, butcher block, Le Creuset 5-quart braiser and other kitchen tools – calls attention to the pervasive invisibility of women composers, quoting the melodies of three of them: Emily Wood Bower, Mildred J. Hill, and Anita Owen. In Made in America, Joan Tower draws from America the Beautiful as a main theme to survey American promise through the eyes of an expat.

The May program spotlights NatPhil’s partnership with The Washington Chorus under the direction of Dr. Eugene Rogers. The two ensembles will collaborate on the East Coast premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s What the Soul Already Knows, co-commissioned with Pacific Chorale under the direction of Robert Istad. The performance features Soprano Rabihah Dunn, Mezzo-Soprano Ashley Dixon, Tenor Brian Giebler, and Bass-Baritone Alan Williams. The libretto is anchored by “The Circle,” an expansive poem by Ty Defoe, a Two-Spirit Native American writer and interdisciplinary artist.

In December, Baltimore Choral Arts Society joins NatPhil in its annual holiday tradition of performing George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, HWV 56, conducted by Anthony BlakeClark and featuring Soprano Sarah Hayashi, Mezzo-Soprano Lucia Bradford, Tenor Allan Palacios Chan, and Bass-Baritone Edmund Milly.

Building on the landmark "Extreme Chopin" project with NatPhil at Strathmore, in which pianist Brian Ganz played all 250+ works by Frédéric Chopin, Ganz launches a new multi-year cycle of the Beethoven piano sonatas, further deepening NatPhil’s commitment to immersive, long-term artistic exploration. 

National Philharmonic 2026-2027 Season Schedule: 

Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore

Carolyn Kuan, Conductor
Inon Barnatan, Piano

• Laura Karpman: All American

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

• Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No.9, op.95, B.178, E minor “From the New World” 

Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore
Daniel Hege, Conductor
Danielle Talamantes, Soprano

• Joan Tower: Made in America

• Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24 

• George Gershwin: The Man I Love

• George Gershwin: Love Is Here to Stay

• Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite

• Arturo Márquez: Danzón No. 2

Saturday, Dec. 18, 7:30 PM
Sunday, Dec. 19, 3 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore

Anthony Blake Clark, ConductorSarah Hayashi, SopranoLucia Bradford, Mezzo-SopranoAllan Palacios Chan, TenorEdmund Milly, Bass-Baritone

with Baltimore Choral Arts Society

• George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 (abridged with intermission)

Saturday, Feb. 20, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore

David Charles Abell, Conductor
Aundi Marie Moore, Soprano
Ginger Costa-Jackson, Mezzo-Soprano
Andres Acosta, Tenor
Jorell Williams, Baritone

• Great moments from opera 

Saturday, March 13, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore

Chia-Hsuan Lin, Conductor
Ava Pakiam, Violin

• Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: Overture, C major

• Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Concerto, Violin, Op.35, TH 59, D major

• Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, Op. 56, A Minor (Scottish)

Saturday, April 10, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore

Brian Ganz, Piano

• An immersive series exploring Beethoven’s piano sonatas

Saturday, May 8, 7:30 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore
In partnership with The Washington Chorus

Eugene Rogers, Conductor
Rabihah Dunn, Soprano
Ashley Dixon, Mezzo Soprano
Brian Giebler, Tenor
Alan Williams, Bass-baritone

• Jocelyn Hagen: What the Soul Already Knows, East Coast Premiere

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K. 626 (completed by Süssmayr)

Programs, artists, dates, and times are subject to change. 

Subscription and Ticket Information 
Subscriptions and packages to National Philharmonic’s 2026-2027 season are on sale now at nationalphilharmonic.org. Single tickets will go on sale in July.

About the National Philharmonic
Celebrated for showcasing world-renowned guest artists in time-honored symphonic masterpieces, National Philharmonic (NatPhil) continuously strives to create remarkable educational opportunities in the community while promoting diversity and representation in classical music.

NatPhil was formed in 1985 as the Montgomery Chamber Orchestra, later becoming the National Chamber Orchestra. In 2005, it merged with Masterworks Chorus to become National Philharmonic, and took up residence at The Music Center at Strathmore, where it still performs.

The National Philharmonic is an accessible, enriching component in the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan Area, believing that music has the power to spark imagination and shape the world around us. Over the years, National Philharmonic has expanded its footprint with year-round masterclasses along with Summer String Institutes for youth, a Youth Mentorship Program, and partnerships with other arts and community organizations. In addition to these programs, National Philharmonic fosters a love of music in young people across the region by offering free admission to all children ages 7 to 17. nationalphilharmonic.org

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Media Contact:

Allison Van Etten
Vice President
8VA Music Consultancy
323.449.5030
allison@8vamusicconsultancy.com

Le Devoir: YulianNa Avdeeva Performs with Montreal Symphony Orchestra

Yulianna Avdeeva, the Gold Medalist of the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition, appeared last week with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Australian conductor Simone Young. Reviewing the concert for the French-language newspaper Le Devoir, critic Christophe Huss writes:

In Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, conductor and soloist were perfectly in sync. Avdeeva is certainly not one to mince words: she conducts with precision, finesse, and great musicality. Her perfectly polished performance of the concerto is concise and to the point: the playing is fluid, crystalline, and limpid, devoid of any artifice... The result is an impeccable concert that gets to the heart of the music without losing its way. We love it.

Read the full review here.