Announcing The 26th Anniversary Englewood Jazz Festival free events to be held September 16-20, 2025 at the Hamilton Park and Cultural Center, Chicago

CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGENDARY ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CREATIVE MUSICIANS (AACM).

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New York, NY — On Friday May 30, 2025, at 8 PM, the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra will present a concert at Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall conducted by Kenneth Kiesler featuring soloists Karen Slack, soprano, Goitsemang Lehobye, soprano, and Daniel Washington, bass.

Complete Program:
BERNSTEIN On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite
GERSHWIN Selections from Porgy and Bess
DAWSON Negro Folk Symphony
TRADITIONAL “You Can Tell the World” (arr. by Bonds)
TRAD. “Deep River” (arr. Davis)
TRAD. “Witness” (arr. Smith)

Leonard Bernstein’s On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite elevated film music to serious concert status, capturing the film’s urban grit while standing alone as art. Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess selections represent a groundbreaking fusion of classical, jazz, and folk traditions into a distinctly American operatic language. After traveling to Africa, composer William Dawson infused the rich traditions of African folk music into his Negro Folk Symphony, conveying the unique story of African Americans. Its 1934 premiere in Philadelphia and at Carnegie Hall received rare critical acclaim and sparked widespread public excitement. 

Three traditional spirituals, arranged by Bonds, Davis, and Smith respectively, demonstrate how these essential American musical treasures have been preserved through thoughtful arrangements that honor their emotional depth and cultural significance.  In dialogue with the spirituals woven into Dawson’s symphony, and in homage to the unforgettable 1993 concert by Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman, these spirituals will be performed by the acclaimed guest artists: Goitsemang Lehobye, Daniel Washington, and Karen Slack—fresh off her GRAMMY win for Best Solo Vocal Album just weeks ago. 

Kenneth Kiesler, Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting, says, “These performances are not just concerts—they’re conversations across time, place, and culture.” The orchestra will be bringing that spirit with them as they arrive in New York City directly from a 12-day tour of South Africa. Together, these works form a crucial lineage of American music bridging classical traditions with Black American musical heritage.

At University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra’s most recent appearance at Carnegie Hall, they performed Mahler’s Fifth Symphony alongside the New York premiere of The Old Burying Ground, a haunting and deeply moving song cycle by Evan Chambers.

Tickets are $16-70 and are available at carnegiehall.org, the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, or by calling Carnegie Hall at 212-247-7800. Carnegie Hall is located at 881 Seventh Avenue in New York City.          

Watch University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra performing Respighi’s Pines of Rome below:

New York, NY — Composer Steve Bramson and librettist Gayle Hudson proudly present a workshop reading of their intimate new one-act opera, CLICK! This exclusive event will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM at Blue Gallery in New York City.

CLICK! explores the life and legacy of Hungarian photographer André Kertész, a pioneer of modern photography whose innovative compositions and emotive imagery left an indelible mark on the art form. Through a dynamic interplay of music and visual storytelling, the opera delves into Kertész’s artistic struggles and triumphs, guided by the voice of his wife, Elizabeth, whose influence shaped his journey even beyond her passing.

This workshop reading serves as a preview and pivotal development step in anticipation of CLICK!’s upcoming world premiere. The performance features mezzo-soprano Devony Smith and baritone Christopher Dylan Herbert,  conducted by Tyson Deaton and accompanied by pianist Jason Wirth in an adaptation of the full orchestral score. Cori Ellison serves as dramaturg. Following the performance, the audience is invited to participate in the opera’s development by attending a talkback session which will provide invaluable feedback to help shape the opera before its fully staged premiere.

A slideshow of photographs by André Kertész set to music from the opera:

With a libretto inspired by late-life interviews with Kertész, CLICK! captures his odyssey—from his early years in turn-of-the-century Hungary to his rise in 1920s Paris and his creative resurgence in New York. CLICK!  seamlessly weaves together music, historical narrative, and images of Kertész’s work, illuminating a portrait of an artist whose lens transformed the way we see the world.

This will be an extraordinary first look at CLICK!—a timely new opera that celebrates photography, memory, and the unbreakable bond between art and artist.

Tickets are free but limited in quantity and must be reserved at: https://click-opera.com/workshop

Blue Gallery is located in Midtown Manhattan at 222 E 46th St, New York, NY. More information about the opera is available at https://click-opera.com

According to composer Bramson, “The impact of preparing CLICK! for audiences will ultimately widen the circle of people who know and appreciate André Kertesz’s photography and life story, his Hungarian background, and his role in the art of photography.”

Photographer: Mihály Kondella

New York, NY — On Tuesday May 13, 2025, at 8 PM, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall will present “Exploring Inner Landscapes” a concert featuring Hungarian pianist Alexandra Balog in her Carnegie Hall Debut. Ms. Balog won the 2017 Béla Bartók International Piano Competition in Graz Austria, the Talentum Hungaricum award (2020), and the Junior Príma prize, the most prestigious award in Hungary for young musicians (2023).

This intimately crafted program explores the themes of introspection, self-discovery, and depth that can only be reached and expressed through music. The program includes the world premiere of British-Austrian composer Noah Max’s “Piano Sonata, Op. 54, No. 2, ‘The Curve.’”

Listen to Alexandra Balog’s recent appearance on Classical WMHT

Tickets are $45-55 and are available at carnegiehall.org, the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, or by calling Carnegie Hall at 212-247-7800. Carnegie Hall is located at 881 Seventh Avenue in New York City.

Complete Program:
KODÁLY Selections from Seven Pieces, Op. 11
MOZART Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475
CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1
NOAH MAX Piano Sonata, Op. 54, No. 2, “The Curve” (World Premiere)
SCHUBERT Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960

According to Ms. Balog, “My Carnegie Hall program is a reflection of a constant journey of discovery—seeking meaning, depth, and something greater with each passing day. The pieces I’ve chosen are deeply personal, each illuminating a different facet of this journey. Kodály’s works are intrinsically tied to my Hungarian heritage, with one piece capturing the profound bond between mother and daughter. Mozart’s Fantasy feels as though it was written for the future, with its timeless quality. Chopin’s Nocturne delves into the solitude of the human experience—not merely as sorrow, but as a deeply introspective space for self-discovery. Noah Max’s composition, written especially for me, represents a unique moment of new creation. Lastly, Schubert’s final sonata encapsulates a lifetime of memories, dreams, and farewells—perhaps the piece closest to my heart.”

New York, NY — Get ready for an unforgettable “rush hour” concert on Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30 pm, as the New York-based Modus Operandi Orchestra (MOO) takes the stage at Merkin Hall for an electrifying evening of Beethoven masterpieces. Under the baton of Maestro Justin Bischof, the orchestra will be joined by the brilliant pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine, who will perform Beethoven’s majestic Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” Op. 73.

The concert will be held at Merkin Hall, located at 129 West 67th Street, New York. Tickets are available for $39-$59, with discounted tickets at $20 for students and seniors. Purchase tickets at www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/the-3-bs-celebrating-beethoven

For more information about MOO, visit www.moonyc.org.

Complete Program (all works by Ludwig van Beethoven):
Coriolan Overture Op. 62 (1807)
Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” Op. 73 (1809)
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92 (1812)

“Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture grips you with raw intensity, while the Emperor Piano Concerto sweeps you into a majestic world of virtuosity and grandeur. And then, the Symphony No. 7—a vibrant explosion of rhythm and energy that will leave you breathless. These masterpieces showcase Beethoven’s unmatched ability to stir the soul and ignite the imagination!” — Justin Bischof, Conductor