REINEKE, CONDUCTOR
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11–13,
The Legacy of John Williams & Steven Spielberg
Steven
Reineke, conductor
ALL SELECTIONS BY JOHN WILLIAMS (b. 1932)
“Shark Theme” from Jaws Sugarland Express
Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
“The March” from 1941 Hymn to the Fallen, from Saving Private Ryan Theme from Schindler’s List
“Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra” from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Theme from Jurassic Park
INTERMISSION
“Flight to Neverland” from Hook “Viktor’s Tale” from The Terminal “The Duel” from The Adventures of Tintin “Dartmoor, 1912” from War Horse “With Malice Towards None” from Lincoln “Adventures on Earth” from E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial
Please note: this concert is presented without film.
Patrons are requested to turn off cell phones an other electronic devices during the performance. Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSOR
NSO Pops Presenting Sponsor
Welcome
Dear Friends,
As we open the National Symphony Orchestra’s 95th season, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to you, our devoted patrons, supporters, and friends. Your presence this evening and your unwavering support throughout the year mean more than words can convey.
In 1931, Hans Kindler founded the NSO with a bold vision: to build a world-class symphony orchestra in the heart of our nation’s capital. Nearly a century later, that vision continues to drive us. Today, under the dynamic artistic leadership of Gianandrea Noseda, we are more inspired than ever to share powerful performances with our audiences.
The NSO is a family of artists united by a shared love of music and commitment to something greater than ourselves. The NSO is more than what you see on stage. It is a living institution devoted to enriching lives. Our education and community programs reach thousands each year. From the Youth Fellowship Program and Summer Music Institute to Young People’s Concerts, we strive to make music accessible to all, especially the next generation.
This dedication to broadening our reach continues through our vibrant, genre-defying series led by Steven Reineke, our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor. His vision bridges genres and generations, drawing new audiences while captivating longtime fans with the highest levels of artistry.
Thank you for being an essential part of this vibrant and enduring musical community.
With deepest gratitude and warmest regards, Executive
Director
National Symphony Orchestra
From the Conductor
Welcome, from my seat on the podium to yours.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping into the Concert Hall—the shared joy, the anticipation in the air, and the sense of connection that comes with live music.
This season, I’m thrilled to welcome you to a bold, reimagined NSO experience: a genre-defying journey where iconic music meets symphonic fire.
I’m looking forward, along with some special guest conductors, to bringing the full power of the National Symphony Orchestra to everything from the irresistible grooves of the Bee Gees to the cinematic magic of John Williams. We’ll bring you the awe-inspiring acrobatics of Cirque España! with our friends at Troupe Vertigo, push boundaries with the unexpected beauty of Brahms x Radiohead, and fill the Concert Hall with soaring soundtracks from The Princess Bride and Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga performed live-to-picture.
We’ll premiere powerful new music with American Promise, and as the holidays approach, gather for cherished traditions like A Holiday Pops! I’m also excited to bring you Steven’s Classical Mixtape—an evening of handpicked favorites that blend heart, storytelling, and the symphonic sounds I love most.
As we celebrate the NSO’s 95th anniversary, I’m reminded that the NSO reaches far beyond these walls. It lives in every audience we play for, and every community we touch. That’s the power of this orchestra, and it’s all made possible by you.
Here’s to another unforgettable season!
Steven Reineke Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor
National Symphony Orchestra
Meet the Artists
Steven Reineke, conductor
Steven Reineke is one of North America’s leading conductors of popular music and is in his second decade as Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he is Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston and Toronto Symphony Orchestras. Reineke is a frequent guest conductor and can be seen on the podium with the Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
On stage, Mr. Reineke creates and collaborates with a range of leading artists from the worlds of hip hop, R&B, Broadway, television, and rock including: Killer Mike, Maxwell, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Ne-Yo, Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Barry Manilow, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Sutton Foster, Amos Lee, Dispatch, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds, amongst others. In 2024, he led the NSO on PBS’s Next at the Kennedy Center featuring Ben Folds’ DECLASSIFIED® with Jacob Collier, Laufey, and dodie. He was previously seen with the NSO on PBS on Great Performances with hip hop legend Nas performing his seminal album Illmatic.
In 2017, he was featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, leading the National Symphony Orchestra—in a first for the show’s history—performing live music excerpts in between news segments.
As the creator of hundreds of orchestral arrangements, Reineke’s work is performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings.
His symphonic works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Casey at the Bat are performed frequently in North America, including performances by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His Sun Valley Festival Fanfare was used to commemorate the Sun Valley Summer Symphony’s pavilion, and his Festival Te Deum and Swan’s Island Sojourn were debuted by the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras. His numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands perennially.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio (2020 Alumnus Distinguished Achievement Medal), where he earned bachelor of music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition. He currently resides in New York City with his husband, Eric Gabbard.
John Williams, composer
In a career that spans five decades, John Williams has become one of America’s most accomplished and successful composers for film and for the concert stage. He has served as music director and laureate conductor of one of the country’s treasured musical institutions, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and he maintains thriving artistic relationships with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Mr. Williams has received a variety of prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center
Honor, the Olympic Order, and numerous Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He remains one of our nation’s most distinguished and contributive musical voices.
Mr. Williams has composed the music and served as music director for more than one hundred films. His 40-year artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg has resulted in many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful films, including Schindler’s List, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, four Indiana Jones films, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Munich, Hook, Catch Me If You Can, Minority Report, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Empire of the Sun, The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse. Their latest collaboration, The BFG, was released on July 1, 2016. Mr. Williams has composed the scores for all nine Star Wars films, the first three Harry Potter films, Superman: The Movie, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, Memoirs of a Geisha, Far and Away, The Accidental Tourist, Home Alone, Nixon, The Patriot, Angela’s Ashes, Seven Years in Tibet, The Witches of Eastwick, Rosewood, Sleepers, Sabrina, Presumed Innocent, The Cowboys, and The Reivers, among many others. He has worked with many legendary directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler and Robert Altman. In 1971, he adapted the score for the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, for which he composed original violin cadenzas for renowned virtuoso Isaac Stern. He has appeared on recordings as pianist and conductor with Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Jessye Norman and others. Mr. Williams has received five Academy Awards and 50 Oscar nominations, making him the Academy’s most-nominated living person and the second-most nominated person in the history of the Oscars. His most recent nomination was for the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He also has received seven British Academy Awards (BAFTA), 22 Grammys, four Golden Globes, five Emmys, and numerous gold and platinum records.
National Symphony Orchestra
The 2025–2026 season is the National Symphony Orchestra’s 95th season and Music Director Gianandrea Noseda’s ninth season. Since its founding in 1931, the NSO has been committed to performances that enrich the lives of its audience and community members. In 1986, the National Symphony became an artistic affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where it has performed since the Center opened in 1971. The NSO participates in events of national and international importance, including the annual nationally televised concerts on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, live-streamed performances on medici.tv, and local radio broadcasts on WETA 90.9 FM.
Since launching its eponymous recording label in 2020, the NSO has embarked on ambitious recording projects including the Orchestra’s first complete Beethoven Symphony cycle and the release of the firstever cycle of George Walker’s Sinfonias, both led by Noseda. Recent projects include a new series of Four Symphonic Works by Kennedy Center Composer-inResidence Carlos Simon conducted by Noseda, and William Shatner’s So Fragile, So Blue, recorded live with the NSO in the Concert Hall.
The NSO’s community engagement and education projects are nationally recognized, including Notes of Honor and Sound Health. Career development opportunities for young musicians include the NSO Youth Fellowship Program and its acclaimed, tuition-free Summer Music Institute.
National Symphony Orchestra
GIANANDREA NOSEDA , MUSIC DIRECTOR
The Roger Sant and Congresswoman Doris Matsui Chair
STEVEN REINEKE , PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR AND ARTISTIC ADVISOR
VIOLINS
Nurit Bar-Josef, Concertmaster
Ying Fu, Associate Concertmaster, The Jeanne Weaver Ruesch Chair
Ricardo Cyncynates, Assistant Concertmaster
Xiaoxuan Shi, Second Assistant Concertmaster
Jane Bowyer Stewart
Heather LeDoux Green
Lisa-Beth Lambert
Jing Qiao
Marina Aikawa
Peiming Lin
Derek Powell
Regino Madrid**
Merdith Riley**
Marissa Regni, Principal
Dayna Hepler, Assistant Principal
Cynthia R. Finks
Deanna Lee Bien
Glenn Donnellan
Natasha Bogachek
Carole Tafoya Evans
Jae-Yeon Kim
Wanzhen Li
Hanna Lee
Benjamin Scott
Malorie Blake Shin
Angelia Cho
Kei Sugiyama**
VIOLAS
Daniel Foster, Principal, The Mrs. John Dimick Chair
Dana Kelley, Assistant Principal
Denise Wilkinson
Nancy Thomas
Jennifer Mondie
Tsuna Sakamoto
Ruth Wicker
Mahoko Eguchi
Abigail Evans Kreuzer
Rebecca Epperson
Chiara Dieguez**
Jacob Shack**
CELLOS
David Hardy, Principal, The Hans Kindler Chair, The Strong Family and the Hattie M. Strong Foundation
Raymond Tsai, Assistant Principal
David Teie
James Lee
Rachel Young
Mark Evans
Eugena Chang Riley
Loewi Lin
Britton Riley
Noah Krauss
BASSES
Robert Oppelt, Principal
Richard Barber, Assistant Principal
Jeffrey Weisner
Ira Gold
Paul DeNola
Charles Nilles
Alexander Jacobsen
Michael Marks
HARP
Adriana Horne, Principal
FLUTES
Aaron Goldman, Principal
Leah Arsenault Barrick, Assistant Principal
Matthew Ross
Carole Bean, Piccolo
OBOES
Nicholas Stovall, Principal, The Volunteer Council Chair
Jamie Roberts, Assistant Principal
Harrison Linsey***
Kathryn Meany Wilson***, English Horn
CLARINETS
Lin Ma, Principal
Eugene Mondie, Assistant Principal
Paul Cigan
Peter Cain, Bass Clarinet
BASSOONS
Sue Heineman, Principal
David Young, Assistant Principal
Steven Wilson
Sean Gordon, Contrabassoon
HORNS
Abel Pereira, Principal, The National Trustees’ Chair
James Nickel, Acting Associate Principal
Markus Osterlund***
Scott Fearing
Robert Rearden
Geoffrey Pilkington**
TRUMPETS
William Gerlach, Principal, The Howard Mitchell Chair,
The Strong Family and the Hattie M. Strong Foundation
Michael Harper, Assistant Principal
Michail Thompson
Tom Cupples
TROMBONES
Craig Mulcahy, Principal
Evan Williams, Assistant Principal
David Murray
Matthew Guilford, Bass Trombone
TUBA
Stephen Dumaine, Principal, The James V. Kimsey Chair
TIMPANI
Jauvon Gilliam, Principal, The Marion E. Glover Chair
Scott Christian, Assistant Principal
PERCUSSION
Eric Shin, Principal, The Hechinger Foundation Chair
Erin Dowrey, Assistant Principal
Scott Christian
Jason Niehoff*
KEYBOARD
Lambert Orkis, Principal
Lisa Emenheiser*
ORGAN
William Neil*
LIBRARIANS
Elizabeth Cusato Schnobrick, Principal
Zen Stokdyk, Associate
Karen Lee, Assistant
PERSONNEL
Karyn Garvin, Director
Sufyan Naaman**, Coordinator
STAGE MANAGERS
David Langrell, Manager
N. Christian Bottorff, Assistant Manager
The National Symphony Orchestra uses a system of revolving strings. In each string section, untitled members are listed in order of length of service.
*Regularly Engaged Extra Musician
** Temporary Position
***Leave of Absence
National Symphony Orchestra Staff
ADMINISTRATION
Jean Davidson, Executive Director
Sabryn McDonald, Executive Assistant
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Kasama Apfelbaum, Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis
Nigel Boon, Vice President, Artistic Planning
John Roloff, Vice President, Orchestra Operations
ARTISTIC PLANNING
Justin Ellis, Senior Producing Director
Lucia Lostumbo, Artistic Assistant Administrator
DEVELOPMENT
Kate Baker, Assistant Manager, NSO Board and Leadership Campaigns
Laney Pleasanton, Manager, NSO Individual Giving
Pamela Wardell, Senior Director of Development
EDUCATION
Stephanie Baker, Manager, Career and Development Programs
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Eric Rubio, Director of Finance & Administration
HUMAN RESOURCES
Tony Amato, Director, Total Rewards
Chanel Kemp, Talent Acquisition Manager
Patrice McNeill, Director, HR Operations
Lisa Motti, HRIS Coordinator
Ericka Parham, Benefits Analyst
John Sanford, Senior Business Partner
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Dana Cohen, Assistant Manager, Advertising Design
Britney Brewington, Director of Marketing
Scott Bushnell, Senior Director, Creative and Brand Strategy
Lily Maroni, Manager, Advertising Communications
Elizabeth Stoltz, Advertising Production & Special Projects Assistant Manager
Kaila Willard, Marketing Manager, Analytics and CRM Strategy
Derek Younger, Director, Sales & Ticketing Service
ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS & CONCERT PRODUCTION
Brooke Bartolome, Assistant Manager, Orchestra Operations
Joseph Benitez, Media & OPAS Support Coordinator
N. Christian Bottorff, Assistant Stage Manager
Karyn Garvin, Director of Orchestra Personnel
David Langrell, Stage Manager
Sufyan Naaman, Personnel and Auditions Coordinator
Ava Yap, Operations Assistant
Kennedy Center Staff
KENNEDY CENTER EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
The National Symphony Orchestra also warmly acknowledges the work of the following Kennedy Center partners and their teams:
President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Ambassador Richard Grenell
Chief Financial Officer Donna Arduin
General Counsel Elliot Berke
Vice President of Human Resources
LaTa’sha M. Bowens
Senior Vice President, Marketing����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Kimberly J. Cooper
Senior Vice President, Development Lisa Dale
Vice President, Public Relations Roma Daravi
Vice President, Special Events Bronagh Donlon
Senior Vice President, Artistic Programming
Vice President, Facilities
Jeffrey Finn
Matt Floca
Vice President, Education Jordan LaSalle
General Director, Washington National Opera Timothy O’Leary
Chief Information Officer
Concert Hall Staff
Theater Manager
Box Office Treasurer
Bob Sellappan
*Allen V. McCallum Jr.
Deborah Glover
Head Usher Cathy Crocker
Stage Crew
*Represented by ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers.
The technicians at the Kennedy Center are represented by Local #22, Local #772, and Local #798 I.A.T.S.E. AFL-CIO-CLC, the professional union of theatrical technicians.
Zach Boutilier, Michael Buchman, Paul Johannes, April King, John Ottaviano, and Arielle Qorb
Steinway Piano Gallery is the exclusive area representative of Steinway & Sons and Boston pianos, the official pianos of the Kennedy Center.
The American Guild of Musical Artists, the union of professional singers, dancers and production personnel in opera, ballet and concert, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents the Artists and Staging Staff for the purposes of collective bargaining.
The box office at the Kennedy Center is represented by I.A.T.S.E, Local #868.
National Symphony Orchestra musicians are represented by the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 161-710.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
95 th Anniversary Season celebrating the benefiting the
Saturday, September 27, 2025
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
View sponsorship packages by scanning the QR code. For additional information email SpecialEvents@kennedy-center.org or call 202-416-8492.
Gala Chairs
Maria Bartiromo | Ashley E. Davis | Joel Kaplan Doug Kimmelman | Catherine Reynolds
Host Committee
Anne Altman | Andrita J. Andreas | Joan Bialek | Jean Davidson | Shannon Davis
Timothy R. Lowery | Christina Co Mather | Sarah Mills | Rachel Pearson
Thank You to Kennedy Center Supporters
The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees
The National Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
Washington National Opera Board of Trustees
The Kennedy Center President’s Council
The Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts
President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts
National Committee for the Performing Arts
National Symphony Orchestra National Trustees
The Kennedy Center Circles Board
The Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board
The Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board
The Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Committee
Corporate Donors
Individual and Foundation Donors
Endowment Gifts, Bequests, and Legacy Donors
Building the Future Campaign Donors
Visit tkc.co/Support for a full listing of donors and to learn how you can join us by becoming a Member.
Andrew Geraci
Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond with Rajaton
Break out your sequins and bellbottoms—we’re celebrating the best of The Bee Gees, and beyond! World-renowned a cappella sensation Rajaton and the NSO bring smooth harmonies to hits that lit up the disco scene. Relive the magic of an unforgettable era in this high-octane concert!
September 16 & 17, 2025, at 8 p.m.
Troupe Vertigo: Cirque España!
Symphonic, cirque-tastic fun for the entire family! Feast your eyes on Troupe Vertigo’s world-class aerial artists, contortionists, and dancers performing extraordinary feats of acrobatics, classical ballet, and contemporary theater backed by the NSO playing works by Bizet, Lecuona, Albéniz, and more.
September 19 & 20, 2025, at 8 p.m.
Fencing, fighting, giants, monsters, true love, miracles... Experience this all-time favorite as never before, with the NSO performing composer Mark Knopfler’s unforgettable score live-to-picture! Missing this cinematic concert experience would be inconceivable!
23 & 24, 2025, at
Tero Ahonen
2025–2026 CLASSICAL SEASON PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
Season Opening Gala Concert
Noseda & Yuja Wang
Sat., Sep. 27, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Daphnis et Chloé & Simon Trpčeski
Thu., Oct. 2, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 3, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 4, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Schubert’s “Unfinished”
Capuçon plays Berg
Thu., Oct. 9, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 10, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 11, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Eschenbach returns:
An Evening of Beethoven
Thu., Oct. 16, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 18, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19, 2025 at 3 p.m.
NSO Presents*
Matthias Goerne & Daniil Trifonov
Tue., Oct. 21, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Don Juan & Romeo and Juliet Grimaud plays Gershwin
Thu., Oct. 30, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 31, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 1, 2025 at 8 p.m.
NSO Presents*
Alexandre Kantorow
Sat., Nov. 1, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony” Ohlsson plays Beethoven
Thu., Nov. 13, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 14, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 15, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Ferrández plays Lutosławski
Thu., Nov. 20, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 22, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 23, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah
Thu., Dec. 18, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 19, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 20, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 21, 2025 at 1 p.m.
The Rite of Spring
Trifonov plays Brahms
Thu., Jan. 15, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 16, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 17, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Songs of Destiny & Fate
Thu., Jan. 22, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 23, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 24, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Le Poème Divin
Brahms’ Double Concerto
Thu., Jan. 29, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Jan. 31, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Shostakovich’s Eighth
Abduraimov plays Tchaikovsky
Thu., Feb. 5, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 6, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. Sat., Feb. 7, 2026 at 8 p.m.
American Mosaic
Thu., Feb. 19, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 21, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 22, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Shaham & Shaham play Reena Esmail
Robertson conducts Sibelius’ Fifth
Thu., Feb. 26, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 27, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 28, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Hahn & Woods play
Carlos Simon
Brahms’ Third
Thu., Mar. 12, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 13, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 14, 2026 at 8 p.m.
*Please note: The National Symphony Orchestra does not perform in these concerts.
NSO Presents*
Alexandra Dovgan
Sat., Mar. 14, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Death and Transfiguration
Khachatryan plays Sibelius
Thu., Apr. 2, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.
Sat., Apr. 4, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Bruckner’s Seventh Gerlach plays Haydn
Fri., Apr. 10, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 11, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Mozart’s “Jupiter” & Bach’s Brandenburg No. 1
Wed., Apr. 15, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Thu., Apr. 16, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 17, 2026 at 8 p.m.
NSO Presents*
Khatia Buniatishvili
Fri., Apr. 24, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Opera in Concert
Puccini’s Il trittico
Wed., Apr. 29, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Fri., May 1, 2026 at 7 p.m.
Renée Fleming’s Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene
Fri., May 29, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., May 30, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Cann plays Coleman
Fri., June 5, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., June 6, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Philip Glass’ “Lincoln”
Dalene plays Barber
Fri., June 12, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Sat., June 13, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Concerts for Young Audiences
Super Cello!
The city is safe with the help of a unique cellist: professional musician by day, superhero by night. The day begins as usual—from waking up in the morning, to traveling to rehearsal, to getting ready for a concert… but things take a turn when robots and aliens try to take over the music hall. It’s up to Super Cello to use the soothing power of music to save the day! Most enjoyed by ages 5+
Collaboration with Teller Productions of Atlanta, GA
October 18 & 19, Family Theater
Halloween Spooktacular
Trick or treat over to the Concert Hall for some scary good tunes! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians perform spooky fun classics—new and old. Join in the fun of this Halloween celebration concert, conducted by Evan Roider. Arrive early for trickor-treating and a special Haunted Hall Musical PLAYspace! Most enjoyed by ages 5+
October 26, Concert Hall
Musical Tails
A National Symphony Orchestra piano quintet takes you on a journey through the timeless tales of the Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel and the magical world of tails from Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals. The young and young-at-heart are invited to listen and experience these playful stories narrated in English and Spanish and performed through chamber music. Most enjoyed by ages 5+
January 24 & 25, Family Theater
Take home... a musical memory.
Mozart Magic Flute Earrings
These exquisite earrings bring Mozart’s masterpiece to life with fluteinspired details that create a visual symphony. $42
NSO Cap and T-shirt
Our new National Symphony Orchestra cap and tee let you show your pride in our world-class symphony. $30 each
Make Your Own Music Mug
No better way to start your day than with a coffee mug imprinted with blank sheet music and sticker notes so you can compose your own melody. $20
Visit our two gift shops on Level A and in the Hall of States. Shop online 24/7 at tkc.co/shop
A look back at our history
1939
NSO Music Director Hans Kindler leads the Orchestra in a summer outdoor concert on a floating barge anchored at the foot of the stone steps below the Lincoln Memorial.
Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress
A look back at our history
1958
Music Director Howard Mitchell conducts the NSO at Constitution Hall. Photographer unknown, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
1970s A look back at our history
NSO Music Director Antal Doráti conducts the NSO.
Photo by Richard Braaten, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
A look back at our history
1987
NSO Music Director Mstislav Rostropovich conducts the NSO with guest soloist soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, his wife.
Photo by Joan Marcus, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
A look back at our history
1996
Music man Bobby McFerrin wowed Washingtonians when he conducted the National Symphony Orchestra concerts for families and school children.
Photo by Carol Pratt, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
2000 A look back at our history
Pianists John Browning, Sara Davis Buechner, Brian Ganz, Joseph Kalichstein, Lambert Orkis, and Jeffrey Siegel play Franz Liszt’s Hexameron with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Leonard Slatkin for the Piano 2000 festival.
Photo by Carol Pratt, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
2015 A look back at our history
Kendrick Lamar and the NSO led by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke delivered a one-night-only performance featuring some of Lamar’s biggest hits and the first-ever live performances of music from his lyrical masterpiece “To Pimp a Butterfly.”
Photo by Elman Studio, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
2022 A look back at our history
As the concluding event of Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Leonard Bernstein’s MASS returned 51 years after its world premiere at the Center in a dynamic staging featuring the NSO, guest conductor James Gaffigan, and baritone Will Liverman in the role of Celebrant.
Photo by Scott Suchman, Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Archives
Support your ORCHESTRA
The mission of the National Symphony Orchestra, in residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is to engage audiences locally, across the country, and around the world through excellence in performance and education. Each year, the NSO offers approximately 150 concerts as well as some of the country’s most extensive community and educational programming. It regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including performances for state occasions, high-level government events, and regularly televised holiday appearances for Capitol Concerts and local radio broadcasts on WETA, making the NSO one of the most-heard orchestras in the country.
Give your support in this 95th season by becoming a Member, joining the NSO Circles, or pledging a Legacy Gift. Visit tkc.co/SupportNSO or scan the QR code.
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