Upcoming Events

Winner of the 2025 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artists Competition, French guitarist Virgile Barthe is a rising classical guitar star. Blending traditional technique with fresh, modern interpretations, his performances are compelling and distinctive. This concert program traces a vivid journey across centuries and styles, from Baroque elegance to contemporary works that expand the instrument’s expressive palette and highlight its evolving voice across time.

Acclaimed violinist Yu-Chien (Benny) Tseng takes the stage with sought-after piano soloist Orion Weiss to perform all three Brahms violin sonatas. Experience music of lyrical beauty, warmth, and passion performed by two exceptional musicians whose artistry brings depth, intimacy, and brilliance to this unforgettable recital.

An immersive program centered on the human voice, Mayrig (“mother” in Armenian) pulses with passion and celebration, resilience and rage. Created by Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher, Mayrig weaves recordings of Ouzounian’s mother and grandmother with Armenian melodies from their ancestral Anatolia; songs and stories drawn from their post-genocide Lebanese home; and the beloved music of French and Armenian singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour. 

The Modigliani Quartet, hailed by BBC Music Magazine as "one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years," brings its precision and warmth to the Colburn stage. They will be joined by Pianist Fabio Bidini, Carol Colburn Grigor Piano Chair, for a vibrant finale.

The golden era of big band music is headed to Zipper Hall. Gary Greene, Esq. and His Big Band of Barristers, an award-winning group of law-minded musicians, give an electrifying performance filled with infectious swing rhythms and bold jazz tunes.

Enjoy an afternoon of chamber music masterworks in which the rich, dark sound of the viola plays a central role. Directed by renowned violist Tatjana Masurenko, ViolaPlus returns with another rousing program featuring Tatjana herself, Colburn students and faculty, and special guests.

Celebrate the launch of the new recording partnership between Colburn and the Delos record label with a special concert featuring artists from the first four releases in the Colburn Collection series. The program showcases some of today’s most exciting rising classical musicians, including Trio Azura, Trio Caspar, cellist James Baik, and violinist-pianist Ray Ushikubo. 

Get Tickets Led by Professor of Chamber Music Jonathan Brown, discover how musicians can sound more like the human voice in a special workshop focused on art song melodies. Fall 2027 Art of Song Festival In this two-day exploration curated by James Conlon, renowned guest artists and Colburn faculty examine the interplay of singer and [...]

Enjoy an afternoon of art songs that go beyond the traditional pairing of solo vocalist and pianist. Part of the two-day Art of Song Festival, curated by James Conlon, where renowned guest artists and Colburn faculty examine the interplay of singer and instrumentalist in vocal chamber music.

Following their sold-out 2025 performance, Canadian Brass returns to Zipper Hall for more holiday hijinks, joined this year by Colburn Conservatory students. A beloved tradition for music lovers of all ages, the Grammy-winning ensemble’s joyful seasonal celebration features festive favorites delivered with an “unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity, and humor” (Washington Post).

This program of landmark piano quartets hails from the Romantic era: Schumann contributing the first great piano quartet of the 19th century; Brahms stoking the fire to create new heights of passion; and the young Gustav Mahler dipping his toe into the chamber music genre only once with this surprisingly powerful single-movement work.

Join globally acclaimed pianist Jonathan Biss for an evening of Beethoven and beyond. Praised for his “impeccable taste and formidable technique” (The New Yorker), Biss is a leading scholar and interpreter of Beethoven’s piano music, who will bring to life a program spanning the composer’s middle and late sonatas. Works by Tyshawn Sorey and Kaija Saariaho offer modern contrasts, creating a compelling dialogue across centuries.

Join globally acclaimed pianist Jonathan Biss for an evening of Beethoven and beyond. Praised for his “impeccable taste and formidable technique” (The New Yorker), Biss is a leading scholar and interpreter of Beethoven’s piano music, who will bring to life a program spanning the composer’s middle and late sonatas. Works by Tyshawn Sorey and Kaija Saariaho offer modern contrasts, creating a compelling dialogue across centuries.

Adrian Dunn, Colburn’s Director of Choral Programs, leads a joyous musical celebration of Black History Month featuring a capella spirituals and original compositions for chorus. The program will be performed by the Adrian Dunn Singers, an all-Black professional ensemble founded by Dunn and dedicated to transforming classical music and the music industry at large.

Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and Colburn alumnus Donald Vega—“one of the most exciting pianists on the scene today” (BeBop Spoken Here)—brings his Latin-infused jazz compositions to the Colburn stage. Joined by his trio, he’ll treat audiences to a night of sparkling swing rhythms, inventive improvisation, and vivid musical storytelling.

At just 20, rising star cellist Jaemin Han brings joy and spontaneity to a program that highlights the cello’s unique voice: lyrical, poignant, and intimately connected to the human experience. He is joined by pianist and Colburn alumnus David Fung, praised by The Washington Post for his “poetic and exquisitely sculpted interpretations.” Together, they create a richly expressive musical dialogue full of nuance, warmth, and song-like beauty.

“A Night at the Opera” puts a fresh, playful spin on operatic favorites, using just four cellos to bring big drama to an intimate setting. Iconic works such as Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Bizet’s Carmen are reimagined alongside lyrical and virtuosic showpieces. Remarkable solo artists on their own, as a quartet the Galvin Cello Quartet delivers a program that’s vibrant, engaging, and full of unexpected charm.

In a rare Zipper Hall appearance, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Maestro Ernst H. Katz Chair of Conducting Studies at Colburn, curates and conducts an exploration of dynamic and daring contemporary chamber music. Salonen, who will be joined by Salonen Conducting Fellow Mert Yalniz, will lead Colburn’s talented Conservatory musicians in electrifying contemporary masterworks from the 20th century and beyond. Don’t miss this must-see night of bold new sounds and musical surprises.

The award-winning Trio Azura gives their final performance as Colburn Ensemble-in-Residence. Hailed for their “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone), the ensemble has captivated audiences since forming at the School in 2022. Now award-winning YCA Jacobs Fellows, they conclude their residency with a program of striking artistry, seamless chemistry, and expressive depth that includes the world premiere of a Colburn-commissioned work by composer Carter Pann.

Joined by pianist Joshua Mhoon, violinist and Colburn alumna Geneva Lewis makes a triumphant return to the Colburn stage with a program of 19th and 20th-century violin sonatas. An emerging talent praised for the “remarkable mastery of her instrument” (CVNC), Lewis has been hailed as “clearly one to watch” (Musical America).