Name: Clayton Stephenson, piano
Start: 2025-03-15T14:00:00
Location: Kennedy Center

Washington Performing Arts presents an extraordinary lineup of events showcasing diverse musical talents and genres. From the iconic pianist Evgeny Kissin's breathtaking recital to Sasha Velour's entertaining drag performances, this season promises a variety of unforgettable experiences. Dive into the musical fusion of Broadway en Spanglish by Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, and celebrate cultural heritage with Akua Allrich's homage to African-American women in music. Experience the uplifting spirit of gospel choirs, the stunning performances by Nikolai Lugansky and Seong-Jin Cho, and more. This season is an artistic journey you won't want to miss.

A Symphony of Diverse Sounds: Celebrating Artistry with Washington Performing Arts

Washington Performing Arts is thrilled to present a rich tapestry of musical and cultural events, each offering a unique and captivating experience. From the virtuosic piano performances of Evgeny Kissin and Nikolai Lugansky to the dynamic theatricality of Sasha Velour, and the cultural fusion of Broadway en Spanglish by Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano, the lineup promises something for everyone. Set in esteemed venues like the Kennedy Center and Union Market, these events showcase exceptional talent, creativity, and inclusivity, making them a must-see for anyone passionate about the arts.

Washington Performing Arts Presents: A Diverse Celebration of Music and Culture

Washington Performing Arts is set to dazzle audiences with an array of captivating performances in the 2024-2025 season, showcasing a blend of classical, jazz, and contemporary talents. From the spellbinding piano recitals of Evgeny Kissin and Nikolai Lugansky to the cultural fusion of Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca's Broadway en Spanglish, the season promises an unforgettable journey across musical landscapes. With events celebrating the legacies of iconic figures like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to tributes to African queens and African-American women in music, this season is a testament to the rich diversity and artistic innovation at the heart of Washington Performing Arts.

A Spectacular Season of Music: Washington Performing Arts 2024-2025 Lineup

The Washington Performing Arts is set to host a remarkable season of musical performances featuring celebrated artists from various genres, including classical music maestros like Evgeny Kissin and Yefim Bronfman, jazz sensations such as Akua Allrich, and world-class tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. From soul-stirring piano recitals to dynamic string quartets and innovative musical collaborations, this season promises to be an unforgettable celebration of artistry and creativity. Explore a diverse lineup of events that showcase the talents of both emerging talents and renowned figures in the world of music.

Washington Performing Arts: A Season of Musical Mastery

Clayton Stephenson

Washington Performing Arts

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, featuring two impressive works rooted in an epic series of themes and variations. He brings his breathtaking technique to Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations—an epic set of variations requiring impressive technical and musical breadth—and Frederic Rzewski’s revolutionary The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, a tour de force of virtuosic brilliance and political fervor. Washington Performing Arts co-commissioned Rzewski’s work in 1976, commemorating the 200th anniversary of United States independence. Levit’s performances are acclaimed for their emotional depth and intellectual rigor, promising an unforgettable evening of musical mastery.

Igor Levit, piano

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.

Ruckus Davóne Tines, bass-baritone

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.

Yo-Yo Ma, cello

The 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.

Living the Dream … Singing the Dream

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.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

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

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.

Ravi Shankar Ensemble

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.

Pacifica Quartet with narrator Sigourney Weaver

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.

Danish String Quartet Danish National Girls’s Choir

Church of the Epiphany

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.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

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.

Sarod Trilogy

The city’s our stage! One of D.C.’s most scenic green spaces, Tregaron Conservancy, welcomes you for an afternoon 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.

Tregaron Meadow Concert

Tregaron Conservancy

Finalist in the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and 2022 Gilmore Young Artist Awardee Clayton Stephenson brings an innate musicality and exuberance to his Hayes Piano Series debut at the Terrace Theater. At age 10 he advanced to Juilliard’s elite Pre-College program, and he now studies in the Harvard-New England Conservatory Dual Degree Program, pursuing a bachelor’s in economics and a master’s degree in piano performance. Stephenson’s captivating artistry will be on full display in a recital program spanning works by Schubert, Stravinski, Gershwin, and more.

Clayton Stephenson, piano

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