The Scottish guitarist’s Festival debut explores Spanish and British music across five centuries.

Sean Shibe

The Queen's Hall

Broken Branches takes its title from Karim Sulayman and Sean Shibe’s eponymous album, a cornucopia of musical and literary treasures drawn from East and West. Their programme touches on the mystical nature of being, something innate that connects different cultures, religions and regions with deep bonds of common kinship, and the universal stories and emotions that bring people together in union.

EPSG:4326

Karim Sulayman tenor; Sean Shibe guitar

Wigmore Hall

James Toomey-Wilson, guitar

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Nicholas Chesemore, composition

5. Chamber Concert: Time Stands Still

Allerheiligen-Hofkirche

For more than two decades, Magdalena Kožená has captivated global audiences as one of the world's leading voices. The New York Times once described her unique presence as "vocally elegant, emotionally direct, and stylistically accomplished." In the intimate atmosphere of the small hall, the versatile singer, accompanied only by Daniele Caminiti's sensitive lute playing, presents a program of Baroque classics such as Purcell's world-famous lament "When I am laid in Earth" and arias by the composer and prima donna Barbara Strozzi.

Magdalena Kožená / Song recital

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Late Night Concert I: “Music from Five Centuries”

SZENE Salzburg

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. Hear graceful works by Henry Purcell, Dr. John Bull’s expansive Walsingham Variations, Joseph Haydn’s Sonata in C Major, and Beethoven’s stirring and expressive Sonata No. 30 in E Major. 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. In Momen’s hands, this journey through centuries becomes a seamless meditation on introspection, memory, and transformation.

Mishka Rushdie Momen, piano

Washington Performing Arts

The harp is often associated with heavenly sounds, which is naturally a wonderful fit for Christmas. However, the concert with world-renowned musician Xavier de Maistre demonstrates that the instrument offers a far greater wealth of expressive possibilities. De Maistre has long since made a name for himself as a musician who expands the boundaries and repertoire of his instrument with virtuosity and a willingness to experiment. When in doubt, he pragmatically takes to pen and paper and arranges existing works for the harp. In his current Advent program, however, this was almost unnecessary: ​​in concerts by Handel and Boieldieu, the charismatic Frenchman showcases the immense – and unexpected – sound spectrum of his instrument: from delicately shimmering melodies to rich chords and thundering basses. The Festival Strings Lucerne is contributing a true Romantic classic with Tchaikovsky's String Serenade.

Xavier de Maistre / Lucerne Strings Festival

Mahan Esfahani, perhaps today’s best-known harpsichordist, is an eloquent ambassador for the brilliance, beauty and versatility of the instrument.

Mahan Esfahani: Byrd, Dowland & Gibbons

Southbank Centre

We return to the Wimbledon International Festival, conducted by our Principal Bassoon Robin O’Neill.

Enjoy a radiant programme celebrating the refined, sensuous world of Maurice Ravel in his 150th birthday year, with two highlights from the composer’s catalogue: Tombeau de Couperin and Pavane pour une infante défunte.

We’re joined by star violist Timothy Ridout in Britten’s Lachrymae, a piece that showcases the deep emotional depth of the instrument.

Wimbledon International Music Festival: Tertis Memorial Concert

Wimbledon High School

Brass instruments have a history that stretches far back in time, which makes John Dowland’s music a perfect match for brass quintet arrangements. Dowland was a contemporary of Shakespeare, and we’ll hear a selection of his beautiful pieces originally composed for lute.

Soup with Brass Quintet

Stockholm Concert Hall

Travel through time with a concert that bridges the elegance of the Renaissance and the brilliance of the Classical and Romantic eras. Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3, breathes new life into centuries-old melodies, setting the stage for Haydn’s delightful Sinfonia Concertante, where four of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra’s principal musicians shine in a sparkling display of virtuosity. The introspective beauty of Dowland’s Lachrimae Antiquae offers a moment of reflection before Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5, "Reformation" brings the evening to a triumphant close—an awe-inspiring tribute to history, faith, and musical grandeur.

From Courts To Castles

Williamsburg Community Chapel

The ancient worlds of Jacobus Clemens Non Papa and the master musician of Elizabethan England, John Dowland, meet the modern minimalists Philip Glass and Arvo Pärt across the centuries.

Attacca Quartet: Dowland, Glass & Pärt

The French-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre was honored with the Opus Klassik Award for Singer of the Year in 2022. At the age of 21, she was accepted into William Christie's baroque academy, Le Jardin des Voix . Since then, she has enjoyed a meteoric career, performing at all major opera houses and on international concert stages. Together with the brilliant French lutenist Thomas Dunford and the Ensemble Jupiter (Paris), which he founded in 2018, they form a globally acclaimed dream team on the classical music scene.

Songs of Passion

Les Riches Heures de Valère

Stadstheater Arnhem

The Rīga Congress Hall

Zentrum Paul Klee

BOZAR

Auditorium of Normandy

Centre Culturel Spa-Jalhay-Stoumont

Experience the captivating voice of international countertenor Reggie Mobley as he performs a thoughtfully curated program of uplifting songs, arias, and spirituals. Highlights include Dowland’s Flow My Tears, Deep River, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine, written for Queen Anne’s birthday in 1713, and many more.

Reggie Mobley’s Songs of Hope

Bartram's Garden

Esperanza Arts Center

Stoneleigh: a natural garden

Konserthuset Stockholm – the Blue House at Hötorget – is moving out to Järva, bringing with it a taste of the music that fills the house almost every day of the year. Come and say hello – we’ll tell you more about Konserthuset and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Järva Week with philharmonic wind players

Thomas Dunford and his Jupiter Ensemble for a celebration of English repertoire from the Baroque era to the present day.

Jupiter Ensemble

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

A concert full of memorable tunes and toe-tapping dances with the electrifying saxophonist Jess Gillam bringing folk-inspired music for strings to life.

From the Scottish Isles in Macmillan’s punchy saxophone concerto to the idyllic English countryside of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves, the evening showcases the rich variety of folk-influenced classical music. As well as spanning the globe, tonight’s music also traverses time, transporting you from the Renaissance with Dowland’s Flow My Tears to now, with Jessie Montgomery’s spiky Strum.

Music at Oxford: London Mozart Players with Jess Gillam

University of Oxford

From the Scottish Isles in Macmillan’s punchy Saxophone Concerto to the pastoral English countryside of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves, the programme showcases the rich variety of folk-influenced classical music. As well as spanning the globe, tonight’s music also traverses time, transporting you from Dowland’s olde lute-inspired Flow My Tears to the contemporary pizzicato in Jessie Montgomery’s Strum.  

A Place in Time: Jess Gillam and LMP

St Martin-in-the-Fields

Join us for an exhilarating evening as Jess Gillam, the brilliant saxophonist hailed for her dynamic and joyful performances, makes her Grayshott Concerts debut. Known for her infectious energy and unique style, Jess has been enchanting audiences worldwide and breaking new ground for the saxophone in classical music. Together with the London Mozart Players, she will guide us through a diverse programme that showcases the saxophone’s versatility, moving from classical to jazz-inspired pieces.

A Festival of the Saxophone

St Luke's Church, Grayshott

This recital explores the emotional journey of human experience through song, framed around the themes of sleep, dreams, love, heartbreak, and inner strength.

Graduating Student Recital | Yifan Pan, soprano | Beyond the Dream: A Journey of Strength

Longy School of Music of Bard College

Musicians from the Oslo Philharmonic invite you to a relaxed and informal concert at Trekanten. We play with a small orchestra that performs minimalist music.

Chillout Chamber Concert

Oslo Concert Hall

Pre-College Morning Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

LMP in Switzerland

Reformierten Kirche Brugg

Stadttheater Olten

Kirche St. Johann

Theater Casino Zug

Parisian lute virtuoso Thomas Dunford, often hailed as "The Eric Clapton of the lute" by BBC Magazine, brings centuries-old music to life with a modern pulse. Dunford's illustrious career has seen him share the stage with musical legends such as Bobby McFerrin and Anne-Sophie von Otter, and perform at prestigious venues including La Comédie Française, Carnegie Hall, and the Berlin Philharmonic. In 2018, he founded the acclaimed Jupiter Ensemble, which quickly gained recognition with their debut dedicated to Vivaldi.

In this performance, part of the University of Chicago's Early Music Series, Dunford will present a program that spans the rich tapestry of early music. The repertoire includes masterpieces by John Dowland, such as "A Dream" and "Lachrimae," and selections from J.S. Bach's Suite for Cello in G Major, BWV 1007. The concert will also feature Marin Marais' "Les voix humaines" and "L’americaine," as well as well-known melodies by Erik Satie, including "Gymnopédie 1" and "Gnossienne." Additionally, works by Girolamo Kapsberger and Joan Ambrosio Dalza will be performed, showcasing the diverse and intricate beauty of the lute's repertoire.

Dunford's ability to make historical music resonate with contemporary audiences promises an evening of profound musical exploration and exquisite artistry.

Thomas Dunford, lute

Logan Center

Masterclass: David Russell, guitar

### Event Description: Thomas Dunford, Lute

**Date and Time:**  
Sunday, March 23, 2025  
3:00 PM EDT - 6:00 PM EDT

**Location:**  
Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall  
Princeton University

**Event Overview:**  
Join us for an intimate and captivating performance by Thomas Dunford, often hailed as "The Eric Clapton of the lute" by BBC Magazine. This event is part of our "Performances Up Close" series, where the audience is seated onstage alongside the musicians, creating a unique and immersive experience.

**Program:**  
Thomas Dunford will present a program of works for solo lute, showcasing his exceptional talent and deep understanding of historical performance. The repertoire includes:

- **John Dowland:**  
  - A Dream  
  - The King of Denmark’s Galliard  
  - Melancholy Galliard  
  - Mrs. Winter’s Jump  
  - Lachrimae  
  - Frog Galliard

- **Erik Satie:**  
  - Gymnopédie No. 1  
  - Gnossienne No. 1

- **Marin Marais:**  
  - Les Voix Humaines in D Major from Suite No. 3  
  - L’Americaine in E Major from Suite d’un Goût Etranger

- **J.S. Bach (arr. Dunford):**  
  - Suite for Cello in G Major, BWV 1007

- **Girolamo Kapsberger:**  
  - Toccata VI from Primo Libro d’intavolatura de lauto

- **Joan Ambrosio Dalza:**  
  - Calata alla Spagnola from Quarto Libro d’intavolatura de lauto

**Ticket Information:**  
This event is currently available as part of a Deluxe Package Subscription or through the Princeton University Student Early Bird program. Single tickets will go on sale on Monday, August 5 at noon Eastern time.

**Additional Information:**  
- **Venue & Accessibility:** Get directions, see parking and accessibility info, and download seating charts.
- **Subscription:** Purchase this event at a discount as part of a curated subscription or make-your-own series package.

**Contact:**  
For more information, please contact Princeton University Concerts at 609-258-2800.

**Add to Calendar:**  
03/23/2025 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM America/New_York

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience Thomas Dunford's masterful lute performance in an up-close and personal setting.

Thomas Dunford, Lute

Alexander Hall

Pre-College Studio Recital: Scott Cmiel, guitar

Join us at the Gardner Theatre for an inspiring performance featuring John Dowland's Lacrimae Antiquae and Tchaikovsky's triumphant Symphony No. 5. You'll also experience the emotional depth and technical mastery pianist Norman Krieger brings to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor. 

Celebrate musical brilliance through an unforgettable concert showcasing Baroque, Classical, and Romantic masterpieces.

Baroque Laments to Romantic Triumphs

Lancaster Country Day School

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music at Shriver Hall as we present the acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge, accompanied by the masterful pianist Julius Drake, in a performance that promises to be a highlight of the Shriver Hall Concert Series. This special event, part of The Helen Coplan Harrison Concert, will take place on Sunday, March 09, 2025, at 5:30 pm.

Ian Bostridge, renowned for his expressive performances and unique ability to convey emotion and meaning, will bring to life a program rich in literary and musical significance. Featuring a selection of music set to the profound texts of William Shakespeare and the transcendent Holy Sonnets by Britten, with texts by poet John Donne, this concert is a celebration of English lyricism and composition. Julius Drake, celebrated for his partnership with leading artists, will join Bostridge, bringing his exceptional pianism to this imaginative collection.

Before the performance, attendees are invited to a Pre-Concert Talk at 4:30 pm in Shriver Hall, offering insights into the evening's program and enhancing the concert experience. The concert itself will last approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, including an intermission, ensuring an evening filled with beautiful music and compelling interpretations.

This concert is endowed by the sons of Dr. Helen Harrison, a long-time Shriver Hall Concert Series Board member, in her honor. It reflects the series' commitment to presenting performances of the highest caliber in a venue known for its acoustics and intimate setting.

Ian Bostridge's international career has taken him to the world's leading concert halls, and his recordings have received numerous awards. Julius Drake, known as the "collaborative pianist nonpareil," brings his extensive experience and artistry to this collaboration. Together, they promise an evening of unforgettable musicality and emotional depth.

Tickets are available for purchase, and we encourage early booking to secure your place at this not-to-be-missed event. Join us at Shriver Hall for a performance that celebrates the power of music and poetry, performed by artists at the pinnacle of their craft.

Ian Bostridge, tenor Julius Drake, piano

Johns Hopkins University

Conductor Klaus Mäkelä says that a concert is like a journey through time. The composers featured on this programme were clearly inspired by older music. Robert Schumann had just suffered a nervous breakdown when he wrote his Symphony No. 2, a work in which he documents his recovery and overtly draws on the music of Bach, Haydn and Beethoven.

On tour with Klaus Mäkelä and Janine Jansen

Auditorio - Palacio de Congresos Príncipe Felipe

National Music Auditorium

The Concertgebouw Orchestra, its future chief conductor Klaus Mäkelä and Janine Jansen join forces in Britten’s Violin Concerto. The orchestra also performs Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 and music by Dowland and Purcell.

Klaus Mäkelä and Janine Jansen

The Concertgebouw

Immerse yourself in the transcendent harmonies of the Baroque era with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's captivating concert series, "CELESTIALS: MOBLEY VIVALDI." This exquisite musical journey is set to enchant audiences on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm at The Wallis, and on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 4 pm at The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall.

Under the direction of Margaret Batjer, the Chamber Music Director, and featuring the unparalleled talents of countertenor Reginald Mobley, alongside trumpeters Paul Merkelo and David Washburn, this series promises an evening of emotional depth and divine beauty. The program includes a selection of Baroque masterpieces, such as Handel's "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" and "Eternal Source of Light Divine," Tartini's "Trumpet Concerto in D major," and Vivaldi's profoundly moving "Stabat Mater."

The concert will meditate on themes of sorrow, forgiveness, and the divine feminine, with Mobley's interpretation of Vivaldi's "Stabat Mater" as a highlight. Attendees will also enjoy a commissioned concerto for two trumpets by Jeff Beal, adding a contemporary touch to the evening's Baroque repertoire.

This event is a must-attend for lovers of classical music and those looking to experience the timeless beauty of Baroque compositions in the hands of modern masters. Tickets are available for purchase for both The Wallis and The Huntington performances. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's tribute to the celestial harmonies of Mobley and Vivaldi.

Celestials: Mobley + Vivaldi

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

The Huntington

Immerse yourself in an evening of Romantic brilliance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring the exceptional talents of conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and pianist Sunwook Kim. This captivating concert series, taking place on January 9, 11, and 12, 2025, showcases the profound emotional depth and technical sophistication of Schumann and Brahms.

The series kicks off on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM, with subsequent performances on Saturday, January 11, at 8:00 PM, and a matinee on Sunday, January 12, at 2:00 PM. Under the confident baton of Nathalie Stutzmann, experience the heroic grandeur of Schumann's Second Symphony, a work that transforms the composer's inner turmoil into a triumphant fanfare, interwoven with moments of tender adagio and spirited scherzo. Adding to the evening's allure, Sunwook Kim takes center stage with Brahms' Second Piano Concerto, a masterpiece of intimate intensity and creative sophistication that promises to captivate with its nuanced exploration of tonality.

The program also features a poignant interlude with John Dowland's "Lachrimae Antiquae" from Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, adding a touch of Renaissance reflection to the Romantic fervor.

Join us at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a memorable journey through the passionate landscapes of Schumann and Brahms, brought to life by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Nathalie Stutzmann, and Sunwook Kim. This series is not only a celebration of Romantic music but also a testament to the enduring power of these compositions to move and inspire. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the depth of emotion and exquisite craftsmanship of these masterworks.

Schumann & Brahms

Walt Disney Concert Hall

A legendary figure in the establishment and development of the Early Music movement, Jordi Savall has contributed as much as any individual to the current popularity of works from the distant past. He brings with him the ensemble he founded 50 years ago, and which retains the sheer vitality and explorative excellence that has marked his entire career. The programme celebrates a tradition of consort music that lasted for two centuries and traversed many countries – with English composers notable for their prominence.

Jordi Savall director, treble viol; Hespèrion XXI Book now

Jordi Savall director, treble viol; Hespèrion XXI

The question of the authenticity of Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for wind instruments has been discussed for decades without any convincing result. This plays no role for either the audience or the four soloists from the ranks of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra - either way, the Sinfonia concertante is a masterpiece of wind literature. With the tender, lyrical "Siegfried Idyll", Richard Wagner gave his young wife Cosima a personal birthday present. Opera lovers will recognize leitmotifs from Wagner's music drama "Siegfried". Nathalie Stutzmann also presents a rarity: "Lachrimae antiquae" comes from a collection of lamentations by the Renaissance composer John Dowland. Robert Schumann did not look back all the way to the Renaissance, but at least to the Baroque period when composing his 2nd Symphony. His intensive engagement with the works of Johann Sebastian Bach was reflected in the work.

Mozart Wagner Dowland Schumann

Gasteig HP8

A ceremonial, elegant dance is hidden behind the name Pavane, derived from the Spanish word for peacock. Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte" has become particularly famous, and the Celli Family plays it in a version for eight cellos. In addition to this elegiac, dreamy composition, the program also includes works and arrangements of a different kind. A morning full of wonderful cello sounds - the perfect start to an exciting and relaxed Sunday!


Chamber Music Matinee Special Concert: Pavane

NDR Konzerthaus | Kleiner Sendesaal

Join us for an unforgettable evening of early music with Jordi Savall, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and Hespèrion XXI as they present "The Tears and the Fire of the Muses" on October 12, 2024, at 8pm in Zellerbach Hall. This performance, part of the 2024-25 season, promises to be a profound exploration of the works of Claudio Monteverdi and his influence across England, Germany, and Italy, alongside pieces by John Dowland, Anthony Holborne, Samuel Scheidt, and Giacomo de Gorzanis.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall, a revered figure in the world of early music for his boundless curiosity and exceptional musicality, will lead this ensemble alongside the magnificent vocalists of La Capella Reial de Catalunya. The program will feature a rich selection of sacred and secular works, including Monteverdi's "Lamento d’Arianna" and "Sestina Lagrima d’Amante al Sepolcro dell’Amata," Dowland's "Lacrimæ tristes Pavan," and many more, promising an evening of emotional depth and historical resonance.

Tickets start at $48, with season subscriptions available now and single tickets going on sale on August 6 at noon. This performance is supported by The Bernard Osher Foundation, ensuring an evening of unparalleled musical exploration and historical insight. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the legacy of Monteverdi and the early music tradition through the talents of Jordi Savall and his ensembles.

Jordi Savall, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and Hespèrion XXI

University of California, Berkeley

One of the most sought-after countertenors of our time, Tim Mead is constantly busy in the opera house, the concert hall and on the recital platform, bringing his delicate artistry to bear on a wide range of music from the Baroque to the present day. Here he joins with the Mexican lutenist for a programme of English songs from the late Renaissance period.

Tim Mead countertenor; Sergio Bucheli lute

Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn

University of Colorado Boulder

Longtime Aspen alumni artists curate bespoke programs to share music, reminiscences, and stories of their decades in Aspen.

Anniversary Reminiscences Program: Sharon Isbin classical guitar

Aspen Meadows Resort

Signature Performance: EMF Classical Guitar Summit

Temple Emanuel

While Shakespeare was defining English poetry and drama, Dowland was doing the same for English song. After Dowland, the influence of the Italians led to the magnificent achievements of Henry Purcell, arguably the greatest English composer of all time. GRAMMY-winning lutenist Stephen Stubbs, soprano Danielle Reutter-Harrah and violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock, explore the golden age of English song through works by John Dowland, William Lawes, Henry Purcell and others—where time may indeed stand still.

Time Stands Still: English Lute Songs

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (Corona del Mar, CA)

Join us for an enchanting evening of classical guitar music with Shu-Tien Lin, a talented Master of Music student under the guidance of Anne Waller. This recital is set to take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:00pm CDT in the intimate setting of the McClintock Choral and Recital Room, located within the prestigious Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts.

Shu-Tien Lin will perform a meticulously curated selection of works that span the Renaissance to the 20th century, showcasing the guitar's rich history and expressive capabilities. The program includes Luis Milan's "Six Pavanas," Luis de Narváez's "Two Pieces," Francesco da Milano's "Ricercare No. 34, La Compagna," John Dowland's "Six Pieces," Giulio Regondi's "Nocturne Reverie, Op. 19," Isaac Albéniz's "Two Pieces from Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47," and William Walton's "Five Bagatelles."

This event is free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of classical guitar music performed by an emerging talent. No tickets are required for attendance. For those unable to join in person, a live stream of the recital will be available, ensuring that no one misses out on this musical journey.

The McClintock Choral and Recital Room, with seating for 120, provides a cozy and acoustically pleasing environment, perfect for the nuances of solo guitar performance. Located at 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, this venue is a gem within Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, known for its commitment to excellence in musical education and performance.

Don't miss this opportunity to support a rising musician and immerse yourself in the captivating sounds of the classical guitar.

Shu-Tien Lin, guitar

Ryan Center for the Musical Arts

Piano superstar Daniil Trifonov joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and music director Nathalie Stutzmann for the formidable Piano Concerto No. 2 by Johannes Brahms, a piece that is as sunny to the ear as it is fiendish for the pianist. With fistfuls of notes and a hint of Hungarian folk song, this winning concerto remains a concert-hall favorite. Also on the program, Maestro Stutzmann brings out a rarity for the orchestral music world, part of a collection of laments by the Elizabethan composer John Dowland. The evening concludes with the frolicking and exuberant Symphony No. 2 by Robert Schumann.

Stutzmann + Trifonov

Atlanta Symphony Hall

So, the music of the London-born Purcell sits alongside masterpieces by Handel – a German who became English by choice – and Ignatius Sancho, who was born into slavery but found freedom and musical success in Georgian England. Curated by American countertenor Reginald Mobley, Sons of England weaves music and words to explore alternative histories of the English baroque, culminating in a Sancho-inspired new commission by composer Roderick Williams: musical history shaping a shared future.

The Golden Anniversary: Sons of England Academy of Ancient Music

Milton Court Concert Hall

Zoë Chessa is a soprano originally from El Paso, Texas. She is a senior studying under Sari Gruber, majoring in vocal performance with minors in German and Linguistics. Zoë first made her professional debut with Pittsburgh Opera as the First Spirit/The Magic Flute (2021). Zoë’s recent roles at CMU include Miss Sweetsong/The Impresario by Mozart (2023) and Cleonilla/Ottone in Villa by Vivaldi (2024) and The Maiden/Der Kaiser von Atlantis (2023), for which she also served as assistant director. Other roles include Clarice/Die Welt auf dem Monde (2022) with the Middlebury College German for Singers program, Lepido/Silla at Chicago Summer Opera (2021). She is a 3x recipient of the Max Kade scholarship, which has funded her language studies abroad in Freiburg and Berlin. She is a Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society Member in the Theta Xi Division, and received 2nd Place in the undergraduate category of the 2023 CMU Philharmonic Soloist Competition. Zoë is a recipient of the Harry G. Archer Philharmonic Soloist Award as the Highest Scoring Junior, as well as the Derdeyn Scholarship in Voice. Other summer programs include Classic Lyric Arts in the Berkshires (2023), Crittenden Opera in Bethesda, Maryland (2017), and the Honors Performance Series in Sydney, Australia (2019).

Student Recital: Zoe Chessa

Carnegie Mellon University

Departmental Recitals showcase performance departments through its students. Featuring various students and repertoire, and curated by the faculty, performances in this recital highlight SFCM programs and the wide range of study. 

Guitar Department Recital

Study concert with guitar students under Jesper Sivebæk, Per Pålsson, and Henrik Bay Hansen

Study concert with guitar students

The Studio Hall

Continuing with our ongoing exploration of multiple centuries of music, Early Music Princeton (EMP) honors Firestone Library’s exhibit “In the Company of Good Books: Shakespeare to Morrison,” with a tribute to Shakespeare. Vocal and instrumental works featuring the bard’s texts and composers he may have listened to, as well as those that may have passed him by, EMP presents music by Holborne, Dowland, Percy, Weelkes, Morley, Telemann (a programmatic nod to Cervantes and “Don Quixote”), and more…

Shakespeare and Beyond

Princeton University

PC Division Recital

Pre-College Guitar Studio Recital (Students of Scott Cmiel)

Bowes Center

Guitar and Voice Recital

As a learning community we acknowledge that the San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatush Ohlone Peoples. For 1000's of years before our arrival, the Ramatush Ohlone were the custodians of this land and these waterways. We are grateful for their stewardship of the land we work, learn and live on.

Summer@SFCM Vocal Academy Participant Recital

This specially-curated programme is inspired by four of the Garden Follies at Highclere Castle – The Temple of Diana, The Walled Garden, The Etruscan Temple and Heaven’s Gate – arching the line of a love story from first meeting to final parting.

Sansara

Highclere Castle

First-year Boston Conservatory voice performance students perform English art songs with texts by Shakespeare and other Elizabethan poets to brighten the wintry mood.

First-Year Voice Recital: In the Bleak Midwinter

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

A glance at Fretwork’s copious discography reveals the scope of its musical interests and appetite for exploring the glories of the viol consort repertoire. It is joined by a cast of close colleagues and friends to celebrate its 40th anniversary at Wigmore Hall with a programme that reaches back to the consort music of Dowland, John Jenkins and William Lawes and forward to works by Sir George Benjamin and Silas Wollston. ‘Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet’, wrote the London Evening Standard, a view endorsed by sage critics worldwide.

Fretwork; Sir George Benjamin conductor; Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano; Iestyn Davies countertenor; Ian Bostridge tenor; Silas Wollston organ

Samrat Majumder is a Scottish-Indian classical guitarist currently studying for his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore with Professor Manuel Barrueco. In May 2025 he became the inaugural Young Concert Artists Trust 40th Anniversary Artist at Wigmore Hall, a joint Young Classical Artists Guild Artist, and was named a Classic FM Rising Star in February 2026.

Samrat Majumder

Leeds Conservatoire

Love’s many reflections unfold in this captivating programme marking the 400th anniversary of the death of John Dowland, the master of melancholy and one of the most celebrated songwriters of his age.

John Dowland: Flow My Teares

Smith Square Hall

In this evocative programme, soprano Nardus Williams, winner of the Rising Star award at the 2022 International Opera Awards, joins Liz Kenny, one of Europe’s leading lute and theorbo specialists, to trace the musical expression of melancholy across 16th- and 17th-century Europe.

Shut the Gate Against My Thoughts

Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem is the inspiration for this anniversary programme featuring the music of two great composers who died within a year of each other: Orlando Gibbons and John Dowland. The infectious joy of Gibbons’ counterpoint is perfectly matched by Dowland’s forthright and eloquent writing of solo ayres and part-songs. Extracts from Dowland’s monumental collection Lachrimae, or Seven Teares complete the programme.

A Play Of Passion

Royal Academy of Music

This programme is a celebration of John Dowland and Johann Sebastian Bach’s legacy for the lute which the guitar is very fortunate to have inherited. Dowland and Bach were deeply inspired by the sensibilities of their time and their music offers a soundscape that retains the plucked nature of the lute whilst presenting these sensibilities with a different palette of colours unique to the guitar.

Samrat Majumder guitar

In 2026, Jupiter celebrates John Dowland on the 400th anniversary of his death. Born in 1563, the composer and lutenist left us one of the most complete repertoires for his instrument, as well as numerous lyrical pieces contained in songbooks: the Songs of Ayres. Following the recording of Songs of Passion, an album released in September 2025 by Warner Classics and devoted in part to the composer’s passion arias, the ensemble honours him with a major programme that will include several excerpts from the songbooks and Lachrimae – compositions for viol consort – at the crossroads of poetry, lyricism and instrumental music. It will be performed by four singers, five gambists and lutenist Thomas Dunford, for whom ‘John Dowland was the John Lennon of the 16th Century.’ The popular dimension of his compositions is thus honoured, with a desire to highlight the different characters of music that is at once joyful, playful, mysterious, introspective, meditative and even amorous...

Thomas Dunford artistic director, lute; Jupiter Ensemble

One of the oldest string instruments, the lute inspired composers as great as John Dowland and JS Bach to write some of their most memorable music, which modern guitarists are re-discovering. Rising star Samrat Majumder plays exquisite works by both composers, alongside an exciting new commission and a set of historic Scottish melodies.

John Dowland

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 1, 2026

Fretwork; Sir George Benjamin conductor; Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano; Iestyn Davies countertenor; Ian Bostridge tenor; Silas Wollston organ · Wigmore Hall

Oct 21, 2026

Samrat Majumder · Leeds Conservatoire

Oct 27, 2026

John Dowland: Flow My Teares · Sinfonia Smith Square

Oct 30, 2026

Shut the Gate Against My Thoughts · Sinfonia Smith Square

Nov 1, 2026

A Play Of Passion · Royal Academy of Music

Past events

Aug 13, 2026

Sean Shibe · Edinburgh International Festival

Jul 14, 2026

Karim Sulayman tenor; Sean Shibe guitar · Wigmore Hall

About

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