Performing Arts News: Washington Performing Arts Announces 2025/26 Season, The City Is Our Stage

(Washington, D.C.): Washington Performing Arts announces its 2025/26 Season under the theme The City is Our Stage, running from October 2025 through May 2026 in six venues across the Washington, D.C., region. Embracing its role as a cultural convener for the greater D.C. area, Washington Performing Arts upholds its commitment to presenting internationally acclaimed artists while nurturing emerging talent and providing arts access to all through free community programming in unique places and spaces from parks to concert halls. For decades, the organization has presented exceptional artists in distinctive venues across the region, with each pairing designed to complement the performance and elevate the audience experience. As an independent arts presenter, Washington Performing Arts thoughtfully matches each project with the setting that best serves its artistic vision.

This season, Washington Performing Arts will not utilize The Kennedy Center but will present its robust season in dynamic spaces, including the Music Center at Strathmore, Sixth & I, Church of the Epiphany, Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium, the Hopkins Bloomberg Center Theater, and Lisner Auditorium.

The 2025/26 season emphasizes the transformative power of live performances as a unifying force, highlighting how the arts revitalize individuals and communities, inspire discovery, and forge meaningful connections among audiences.

“At Washington Performing Arts, excellence, community, and connection are at the core of everything we do. In our 2025/26 season, The City is Our Stage, we invite audiences to immerse themselves in performances by a remarkable array of bold and inventive artists from across the region and around the world. Their work is the heartbeat of their deep humanity and creative spirit,” said President and CEO Jenny Bilfield. “Each program is a jewel, thoughtfully curated and thematically compelling. In these complex times, it is more crucial than ever to share spaces where we can feel seen, welcomed, heard, and nourished. I am deeply grateful for the artists and audiences who bring the Washington Performing Arts mission to life.”

Washington Performing Arts donors and Friends have early access to tickets; subscription renewals begin Tuesday, May 27, at 10:00 a.m. Tiered donor pre-sale begins June 12 at 10:00 a.m. Season subscriptions will be available to the public on July 24 at 10:00 a.m., with single tickets becoming available on August 7 at 10:00 a.m.

Further details about the 2025/26 season are available now on the Washington Performing Arts website: https://www.washingtonperformingarts.org.

Pre-Sales:
• June 12 at 10 a.m.: Chairman’s Circle Donors
• June 23 at 10 a.m.: Benefactor, Sustainer Donors
• July 10 at 10 a.m.: All Friends

General Public:
• July 24 at 10 a.m.: Subscriptions
• August 7 at 10 a.m.: Single Tickets on sale

2025/26 Washington Performing Arts Event Calendar

Mars Arts D.C.
Tregaron Unplugged – Free
Saturday, October 4, 2025,  3:00 p.m.
Treagron Conservancy
Step into a world of serene natural beauty with Tregaron Unplugged, presented by Washington Performing Arts. This vibrant free outdoor concert series features exceptional performances peppered throughout the picturesque setting of Tregaron Conservancy in Northwest D.C., 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.

Third Coast Percussion, percussion quartet
Salar Nader, tabla
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Lisner Auditorium
Grammy-winning percussion quartet Third Coast Percussion opens the evening with vibrant works by electronic composer Jlin, violinist Jessie Montgomery, and jazz composer Tigran Hamasyan. Praised by The New York Times for their “commandingly elegant” performances, the ensemble brings precision and imagination to every piece. Tabla virtuoso Salar Nader follows with a solo set and a moving video tribute to his mentor, the legendary Zakir Hussain—a longtime Washington Performing Arts artistic collaborator who recently passed away. The program culminates in Murmurs in Time, the regional premiere of Hussain’s only work composed for classical percussion ensemble, co-commissioned by Washington Performing Arts and recorded with Third Coast Percussion in 2024. The piece features Nader and Third Coast in a stirring collaboration that celebrates rhythmic innovation and deep artistic legacy. The New York Times described the work as “a brilliant and moving performance (in) tribute to Hussain and the humanistic values at the heart of his art.”

Program:
Third Coast Percussion works by Jlin, Jessie Montgomery, and Tigran Hamasyan
Salar Nader – solo
Third Coast Percussion and Salar Nader – Zakir Hussain’s Murmurs in Time

Avery Gagliano, piano – Hayes Piano Series
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
The Hopkins Bloomberg Center Theater
A radiant force in the new generation of pianists, Avery Gagliano brings insight, imagination, and a bold interpretive voice to the stage. Hailing from Washington, D.C., Gagliano is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and a mentee of Sir András Schiff at the Kronberg Academy in Germany. Lauded by The Philadelphia Inquirer as “a pianist who conveys a vivid musical personality and bold imagination,” Gagliano is a familiar and beloved presence on Washington Performing Arts stages. Her program traverses Romantic fervor, American lyricism, Hungarian fire, and the introspective intensity of late-Romantic Russian works—each piece a canvas for her expressive brilliance.

Program:
R. Schumann – Selections from Novelletten, Op. 21
Barber – Nocturne, Op. 33
Bartok – Piano Sonata, BB.8, Sz 80
Chopin – Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61
Rachmaninoff – Selections of Preludes from Op. 23 & Op. 32

Presented by Washington Performing Arts in cooperation with the Peabody Institute and Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

Philharmonia Orchestra (London, U.K.)
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, music director
Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
Monday, October 27, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore
One of Britain’s most celebrated ensembles, the Philharmonia Orchestra returns after two decades, under the baton of its electrifying music director, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, in his highly anticipated Washington Performing Arts debut. The program begins with the East Coast premiere of a new work by visionary Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, followed by Ravel’s jazzy and luminous Piano Concerto in G Major, performed by the incomparable Víkingur Ólafsson—praised for his “ferocious keyboard technique with a razor-sharp intellect that puts those gifts to powerful interpretive use” (On a Pacific Aisle).

The evening concludes with Sibelius’s majestic Fifth Symphony, an elemental and heroic work by the great Finnish composer that perfectly showcases the Philharmonia’s richness and the dynamic leadership of his compatriot, Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

Program:
Gabriela Ortiz – Si el oxígeno fuera verde
Ravel – Piano Concerto in G Major
Sibelius – Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82

Midori, violin
Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
A cherished presence on Washington Performing Arts stages, Midori returns with pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute for a program that traverses lyricism, passion, and brilliance. Anchored by Beethoven’s radiant “Spring” Sonata, the recital interweaves romantic nuance in the works of Clara and Robert Schumann, Poulenc’s bold contrasts, and the virtuosic sweep of Schubert’s Rondo Brillante—all brought to life with Midori’s musical insight and expressive power. A new work written for Midori by New York-based violinist and composer Che Buford combines violin and electronics. Buford describes their compositions as exploring the possibilities of timbre and acoustical phenomena and connecting them to elements of place, memory, poetry, and the quotidian.

Midori’s performances of this repertoire have drawn critical acclaim. The Classic Review noted the “depth and commitment” in her Beethoven interpretations, while Classics Today hailed her as “a chamber player of great insight and taste,” praising the nuance and texture she brings to works like Poulenc’s sonata. These accolades speak to her rare ability to uncover fresh emotional resonance in both classic and lesser-heard works.

Program:
Che Buford – Resonances of spirit
Beethoven – Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 “Spring”
Poulenc – Violin Sonata
Clara Schumann – Three Romances, Op. 22
Robert Schumann – Three Romances, Op. 94
Schubert – Rondo Brillante in B minor, D.895

Igor Levit, piano
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
Hailed as “one of the most probing, intelligent and accomplished artists of the new generation” (The New York Times), Igor Levit returns to Washington Performing Arts with a recital of monumental variation that challenges and inspires with a tour-de-force recital featuring two monumental works rooted in an epic series of themes and variations. Levit brings his breathtaking technique to Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, and to Frederic Rzewski’s revolutionary The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, an iconic work of virtuosic brilliance and political fervor. Washington Performing Arts co-commissioned Rzewski’s work in 1976, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the United States’s independence. Levit’s performances are acclaimed for their emotional depth and intellectual rigor, promising an unforgettable evening of musical mastery.

Program:
Beethoven – Diabelli Variations, Op. 120
Rzewski – The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

Ruckus
Davóne Tines, bass-baritone
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Ruckus and Davóne Tines invite us to reflect: What is your hand in this? Through a bold reimagining of songs, hymns, and ballads spanning four centuries, this arresting program confronts the tensions and aspirations at the heart of the American experiment. With Ruckus—“the world’s only period-instrument rock band” (San Francisco Classical Voice)—and the “immense power and fervor” (Los Angeles Times) of boundary-breaking vocalist Davóne Tines, the performance channels the spirit of revolution to pose timeless questions of justice, compassion, and community.

This performance is in cooperation with the Washington Bach Consort.

Program:
Charles Wesley, Arr. Davóne Tines & Doug Balliett – “Jesus Lover of My Soul”
George Frederick Handel – “Convey Me to Some Peaceful Shore” (1748)
“Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” (Traditional)
“What Mean Ye” (1720/1837)
Julius Eastman – “Buddha” (1983)
John Dickinson, Arr. Doug Balliett – “The Liberty Song” (1768)
Joshua McCarter Simpson, Arr. Tines & Ruckus – “To The White People of America” (1854)
Benjamin Carr, Arr. Balliett – “The Federal Overture” (1793)
George Frederick Handel – “Why Do the Nations” (1741)
Clyde Otis – “This Bitter Earth” (1960)
Doug Balliett – “Steps to Compassion”
Lewis Allan & Earl Robinson – “The House I Live In” (1942)
Davóne Tines, Doug Balliett – “What is My Hand in This?”

ANNUAL DALLAS MORSE COORS LEGACY CONCERT
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore
Experience an evening of profound music making with Yo-Yo Ma, the world-renowned cellist and longtime Washington Performing Arts collaborator, celebrated for his expressive artistry and deep connection to the music he performs. In this rare solo recital, Ma invites audiences into an intimate musical journey, showcasing works that span the breadth of the cello repertoire. Juxtaposing Bach suites alongside works by contemporary composers he has championed through his solo career, and as the founder of The Silk Road Project, Ma’s performances are known to transcend mere technical mastery, offering listeners a glimpse into the soul of the music. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes, “Yo-Yo Ma’s playing captivates the ear and charms the imagination,” highlighting the emotional power and integrity he brings to each piece. This performance is the second-annual Dallas Morse Coors Legacy Concert – a yearly recital celebrating artists who create lasting cultural impact, connecting generations through the universal language of music. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a true cello virtuoso at the height of his craft.​

Program:
Zhao Jiping  – Summer in the High Grasslands
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Ahmet Adnan Saygun – Allegretto from Partita No. 1, Op. 31
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
George Crumb – Sonata for Solo Cello
J.S. Bach – Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012

Living the Dream… Singing the Dream
A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore
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—as thousands of Living the Dream attendees over the years can attest. Join us as the combined Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel choirs of Washington Performing Arts, and the Choral Arts Chorus raise their voices in tribute both to Dr. King’s achievements and to his ongoing, indelible impact. Through song, inspirational stories, and special tributes by community leaders, Living the Dream…Singing the Dream ​unites all who honor Dr. King’s ideals.

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

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä, music director designate
Music Center at Strathmore
Friday, February 27, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
One of the world’s most revered ensembles, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns under the baton of electrifying music director designate Klaus Mäkelä, hailed for his “mesmerizing presence and interpretive depth” (The Guardian). Mäkelä leads a program that pairs two revolutionary masterworks of symphonic form: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, a pulse-quickening triumph of rhythm and vitality that Wagner called “the apotheosis of the dance,” and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, the wildly imaginative, hallucinatory tale of love, obsession, and dreams gone awry. Together, conductor and orchestra promise an unforgettable evening of high drama, orchestral brilliance, and virtuosity.

Program:
Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92    
Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique     

Mishka Rushdie Momen, piano – Hayes Piano Series
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
The Hopkins Bloomberg Center Theater
Acclaimed for her “imaginative intelligence and warmth” (The Guardian), British pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen crafts a hauntingly beautiful program traversing centuries of English music, illuminating the lineage between early keyboard works and modern soundscapes. Beginning with sacred plainsong and William Byrd’s intricate Clarifica me, Pater, the recital unfolds through melancholy variations, including Byrd’s Pavana Lachrymae—a poignant response to Dowland’s Flow My Tears—and Dr. John Bull’s expansive Walsingham Variations. The shadowed lyricism of John Dowland’s In Darkness Let Me Dwell echoes forward into Thomas Adès’s spectral Darknesse Visible, blurring time and texture. Momen deepens her exploration with Byrd’s Prelude and Fantasia in A minor, Sir George Benjamin’s crystalline Shadowlines, and graceful works by Henry Purcell, concluding with Byrd’s mesmerizing The Bells. In Momen’s hands, this journey through centuries becomes a seamless meditation on introspection, memory, and transformation.

Program:
Plainsong – Clarifica me, Pater
William Byrd – Clarifica me, Pater:I, II, III
Byrd – Pavana Lachrymae (after Flow my tears, by John Dowland)
Dr. John Bull – Walsingham: 30 Variations
John Dowland – In Darkness Let Me Dwell (arr for piano)
Thomas Adès – Darknesse visible
Byrd – Prelude and Fantasia in A minor, MB 12/13
Sir George Benjamin – Shadowlines
Henry Purcell – Ground, Z.T681
            Suite in G Major, Z.662
Byrd – The Bells

Presented by Washington Performing Arts in cooperation with the Peabody Institute and Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts Present
Ravi Shankar Ensemble
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore

“An unforgettable homage to the spirit of Ravi Shankar.” – The Washington Post

“A stirring confluence of tradition and imagination.” – NPR Music

Curated by Sukanya and Anoushka Shankar, the Ravi Shankar Ensemble is a multi-generational collective of world-class musicians dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the uniquely legendary musician, Ravi Shankar. In its debut tour, the ensemble presents a special program featuring visual elements from the Ravi Shankar archives alongside a dynamic selection of Shankar’s soul-stirring music.

Shankar was instrumental in introducing Western audiences to the classical tradition of Indian ragas. He popularized Indian classical music globally through his teaching, performances, and collaborations with Western musicians like Yehudi Menuhin, Philip Glass, and George Harrison.

Co-presented with Strathmore, in cooperation with District Raga.

ANNUAL RUTH BADER GINSBURG MEMORIAL RECITAL
Pacifica Quartet with narrator Sigourney Weaver
Revolutionary Portraits: Our Better Angels
Sunday, April 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
Join the acclaimed Pacifica Quartet and legendary film actor Sigourney Weaver for a moving evening of music and storytelling that celebrates the enduring spirit of American resilience and transformation.

Described by The Telegraph as “nothing short of phenomenal,” the Pacifica Quartet brings its signature virtuosity and emotional depth to a stirring program that honors trailblazing women who shaped our world. The evening features two world-premiere commissions for narrator and string quartet: Jennifer Higdon’s tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Gabriela Lena Frank’s portrait of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson—each blending powerful narration with vivid musical storytelling. Both works were co-commissioned by Washington Performing Arts.

The program opens with a rarely heard gem by Florence Price and culminates in Beethoven’s revolutionary String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130, performed with the audacious Grosse Fuge, Op. 133—a masterwork that continues to astonish and inspire. This performance is the fourth-annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Recital—a yearly performance honoring a dear friend of Washington Performing Arts and elevating new work of established and renowned artists.

Program:
Florence Price – String Quartet in G major
Gabriela Lena Frank – new work for narrator and string quartet
Jennifer Higdon – new work for narrator and string quartet
Beethoven – Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130 with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Danish String Quartet 
Danish National Girls’ Choir
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Epiphany
Experience a captivating journey through sound and story as the acclaimed Danish String Quartet joins forces with the radiant Danish National Girls’ Choir. Blending contemporary works, reimagined classics, and Nordic folk traditions, this program explores themes of memory, identity, and our bond with the natural world.

Praised by Gramophone for their “intense blend, extreme dynamic variation, perfect intonation even on harmonics, and constant vitality and flow,” the Quartet brings its signature warmth to the stage. The 50-member Choir, described as a “powerhouse” with a “highly sophisticated repertoire” (The Santa Barbara Independent), deepens the concert’s emotional impact with its luminous voices.

Featuring music by Caroline Shaw, Lotta Wennäkoski, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Franz Schubert, Rune Sørensen, and traditional Nordic songs, the evening culminates in David Lang’s in wildness—a new work co-commissioned by Washington Performing Arts and a consortium of global partners.

Program:
Caroline Shaw – Allemande from “Partita for 8 Voices”
Lotta Wennäkoski – “Girl”
Franz Schubert – Theme from Death and the Maiden, D.810
Anna Thorvaldsdottir – Þann heilaga kross
Trad (arr. Sørensen) – Kisti du kom
Trad – En Skomager har jeg været
Trad (arr. Sørensen) – Dronning Dagmar ligger udi Ribe syg
Rune Sørensen – Once a Shoemaker
Astrid Sonne – How far
Caroline Shaw – And so
Turlough O’ Carolan (arr. Danish String Quartet) – Captain O’Kane
Carl Nielsen/Ingemann (arr. Sørensen) – T*t er jeg glad og et brudestykke
David Lang – in wildness (co-commission)

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore

Internationally acclaimed pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, praised by the Los Angeles Times as “a master colorist” whose “every note he plays is a pearl,” brings his unparalleled artistry to Debussy’s complete Préludes, Books I & II. Across 24 luminous miniatures. Each bears a special, evocative title (“The Girl with the Flaxen Hair,” “Footsteps in the snow,” through which Thibaudet conjures wind and water, myth and memory, in a rare full performance of this impressionistic masterwork—an unforgettable journey through Debussy’s sound world.

Program:
Debussy – Complete Preludes, Books I & II

SAROD TRILOGY
with Maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash, and Ayaan Ali Bangash
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
“Amjad Ali Khan’s music speaks the language of the soul… his sons carry forward that voice with brilliance and heart.” – The New York Times

An icon of Indian classical music, Amjad Ali Khan returns to the stage joined by his gifted sons and fellow sarod virtuosos, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, in a rare and deeply moving musical encounter. With a lineage spanning six generations, the trio brings to life the rich traditions of the Senia Bangash Gharana, fusing intricate ragas with heartfelt improvisation and rhythmic interplay. Known for their global collaborations and innovative spirit, this family ensemble offers an unforgettable evening of musical mastery, cultural legacy, and intergenerational artistry.

Mars Arts D.C.
Tregaron Meadow Concert
Sunday, May 3, 2026 / 3:00 p.m.
Tregaron Conservancy

The city’s our stage! One of D.C.’s most scenic green spaces, Tregaron Conservancy, welcomes you for an afternoon of jazz performances by Mars Arts D.C. artists. In the Meadow, the magic of live performances and the tranquility of nature come together for an unforgettable experience of sensory delights. Tregaron performances are free and great for all ages.

Artist details to be announced. Registration will be available in spring 2026.

Vadym Kholodenko, piano
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I

Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko, praised for his “precipitous muscularity and high spirits” (New York Classical Review), comes to Washington Performing Arts with electrifying artistry and a program of epic scope at Sixth & I. The evening opens with Beethoven’s monumental “Hammerklavier” Sonata, followed by the dark lyricism of Ukrainian composer Borys Lyatoshinsky’s Three Preludes, Op. 38. Kholodenko concludes with a virtuosic flourish: Liszt’s original Six Paganini Études, a breathtaking showcase of pianistic brilliance that has long been a hallmark of Kholodenko’s playing.

Program:
Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”
Lyatoshinsky – 3 Preludes, Op. 38
Liszt – Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141

Julia Hamos, piano – Hayes Piano Series
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
The Hopkins Bloomberg Center Theater

Hungarian-American pianist Julia Hamos presents a program that bridges centuries and styles and features two of the most important composers from Hungary. Beginning with a selection from Kurtág’s Játékok, she navigates through Haydn’s Sonata in E minor, Ligeti’s Études (Arc-en-ciel, Der Zauberlehrling, Fanfares), and Mozart’s Sonata in A minor, culminating in Schumann’s beloved Fantasie in C Major. Hamos’s adventurous spirit and compelling artistry promise an evening of compelling musical exploration.

Program:
Kurtág – selection from Játékok (Games)
Haydn – Keyboard Sonata in E minor, Hob.XVI:34
Ligeti – Selections from Etudes, Books I & II: Arc en Ciel, der Zauberlehrling, Fanfares
Mozart – Piano Sonata No. 8  in A minor, K.310
Schumann – Fantasie in C Major, Op.

Presented by Washington Performing Arts in cooperation with the Peabody Institute and Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

SEASON FINALE
Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir & Alumni Choir
Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Cramton Auditorium – Howard University

Experience a night of unforgettable harmonies, powerful praise, and soul-stirring performances as the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir and Children of the Gospel Alumni Choir inspire with an evening of soaring music and impressive artistry. With the energy of a dynamic five-piece band, enhanced movement, vivid imagery, and a timely message, the choirs gloriously celebrate this uniquely American art form in a performance for all ages.

ABOUT WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS
One of the most established and honored performing arts institutions in America, Washington Performing Arts 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.”