Colburn Presents
The Colburn Presents series brings renowned guest artists from the worlds of classical music to the Colburn stages. In 2026–27 we will be welcoming established artists and up-and-coming talents including Chamber Society of Lincoln Center, Canadian Brass, Jonathan Biss, Donald Vega Trio, Geneva Lewis, and more!
2026–27 Season Performances
Strings Across Centuries: Guitarist Virgile Barthe
Friday, September 18 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $25
Winner of the 2025 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artists Competition, French guitarist Virgile Barthe is a rapidly emerging force in the classical guitar world. Blending traditional technique with fresh, modern interpret ations, his performances are both compelling and distinctive.
This concert program traces a vivid journey across centuries and styles, revealing the guitar’s remarkable expressive range. Buxtehude’s Suite in E Minor unfolds with Baroque elegance and clarity while Scarlatti’s Three Sonatas bring brilliance, wit, and Iberian fire to the fore and Michael Abels’s Yarn offers a striking and cinematic contemporary contrast. Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte distills Romantic lyricism into intimate, song-like reflections before Nicholas Maw’s Music of Memory closes the program with a meditative, searching sound world that lingers long after the final note.
Program Information:
BUXTEHUDE Suite in E Minor
SCARLATTI Three Sonatas
MICHAEL ABELS Yarn
MENDELSSOHN Selections from Lieder ohne Worte (Songs without Words)
MAW Music of Memory
Yu-Chien (Benny) Tseng and Orion Weiss: The Poetry of Brahms
Friday, October 2 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $30
Yu-Chien (Benny) Tseng is an internationally acclaimed violinist whose grace, poise, and blistering virtuosity have made him one of the most compelling concert soloists of his generation. He will take the stage with Orion Weiss, a sought-after pianist and Colburn audience favorite, admired for his insightful musicianship and exceptional sensitivity as a chamber performer.
Together, they present Brahms’s complete violin sonatas, works of lyrical intimacy and profound emotional depth. Across these three masterpieces, Brahms moves from tender, singing lines to moments of fiery intensity, revealing a rich mix of themes and emotions.
This recital offers a rare opportunity to hear two distinguished artists in close musical dialogue, illuminating some of the most beloved chamber works in the repertoire with clarity, warmth, and imagination.
In collaboration with Olympia Philharmonia.
Program Information:
BRAHMS Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major
BRAHMS Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major
BRAHMS Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor
Mayrig: A Mother’s Voice
Sunday, October 18 at 3 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $30
Mayrig (“mother” in Armenian) is an immersive, intimate program centered on the human voice that pulses with passion and celebration, resilience and rage. This 60-minute show created by Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher for cello with electronics, piano, and vocals weaves the voices of Ouzounian’s mother and grandmother with original arrangements of Armenian music from her family’s past home of Anatolia, songs and stories drawn from their post-genocide home of Lebanon, and the beloved music of Charles Aznavour. New compositions by Lembit, Layale Chaker, Nathalie Joachim, and Niloufar Nourbakhsh expand upon themes of generational transmission, rootedness, and uprootedness. Opening and closing the program is Marin Marais’s Les Voix Humaines, music from hundreds of years ago providing a window into the present. Through the specifics of family history, Mayrig creates an absorbing world of memory and association, leading the audience to an experience that is universal and shared, allowing space to consider the layers of meaning and history contained within music and the twisting paths that have led us all to this time and place.
In collaboration with Ravinia’s Steans Institute.
Program Information:
Karen Ouzounian, Cello
Lembit Beecher, Piano and Electronics
The Modigliani Quartet with Pianist Fabio Bidini
Thursday, October 22 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets from $35
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 a program built on contrast. They open with Kurtág’s 12 Microludes, twelve brief, tightly concentrated movements that shift through contrasting musical moods in just a few measures each, then turn to Schumann’s lively First String Quartet, a Romantic masterpiece of deep lyricism and virtuosic energy. Pianist and Colburn faculty Fabio Bidini joins them for a vibrant finale of Schumann’s Piano Quintet, a work full of heart that revolutionized the genre by treating piano and strings as equal partners in dialogue.
KURTÁG 12 Microludes for String Quartet
SCHUMANN String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor
SCHUMANN Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44
ViolaPlus
Sunday, November 15 at 3 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $25
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.
DENISOV Three Pictures after Paul Klee for Viola and Ensemble
BRIDGE Three Songs for Voice, Viola, and Piano
SCHUMANN Sonata No. 1 in A Minor for Violin and Piano (arranged by Tatjana Masurenko)
FRANÇAIX String Trio
KORCHMAR Paraphrase on the Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 for Two Violas
Colburn Collection Live
Monday, November 23 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $20
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
In this two-day exploration curated by James Conlon, renowned guest artists and Colburn faculty examine the interplay of singer and instrumentalist in vocal chamber music. The weekend includes a lecture by Professor of Chamber Music Jonathan Brown and an intimate recital showcasing the lyricism and passion of this dynamic genre.
The Fall Art of Song Festival is generously supported by Dr. Laura Danly.
Art of Cantabile Workshop
Thursday, December 3 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets $10
Discover how musicians can sound more like the human voice in a special workshop focused on art song melodies.
Chamber Art Song Recital
Saturday, December 5 at 1 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $25
Enjoy an afternoon of art songs that go beyond the traditional pairing of solo vocalist and pianist.
Canadian Brass Holiday Extravaganza
Monday, December 7 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $60
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).
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Masters of the Piano Quartet
Wednesday, January 20 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $50
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. The concert is anchored by CMS’s longest-serving artistic directors, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, who make a rare appearance on the same tour.
Program Information:
MAHLER Quartet in A Minor for Piano and Strings
BRAHMS Quartet in C Minor for Piano and Strings
SCHUMANN Quartet in E-flat Major for Piano and Strings
Wu Han, Piano
Arnaud Sussmann, Violin
Matthew Lipman, Viola
David Finckel, Cello
The Piano Sonatas: Jonathan Biss on Beethoven
Tuesday, February 16 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $15
“Thoughtful and probing,” pianist Jonathan Biss has become “one of today’s foremost Beethoven exponents” (Chicago Tribune). Jonathan’s infectious enthusiasm for Beethoven’s music shines through in his rich performances, captivating recordings, and in-depth lectures. Experience Biss’s insight and artistry firsthand as he unpacks Beethoven’s late piano sonatas in an engaging lecture.
Jonathan Biss, Piano: Beethoven and Beyond
Wednesday, February 17 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $40
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.
Program Information:
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor
TYSHAWN SOREY For Anthony Braxton
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major
SAARIAHO Arabesques et Adages
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, “Waldstein”
Adrian Dunn Singers
Saturday, February 27 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $25
Adrian Dunn, Colburn’s Director of Choral Programs, leads a joyous musical celebration of Black History Month featuring acapella 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.
The Language of Jazz: Donald Vega Trio
Monday, March 1 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $40
Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and Community School 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.
Jaemin Han, Cello and David Fung, Piano
Tuesday, March 9 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $40
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 came to international attention in May 2021 when he was awarded the Grand Prix of the George Enescu International Competition, becoming the youngest prize winner in its history. Jaemin is joined by pianist David Fung, a Colburn Conservatory graduate praised by The Washington Post for his “poetic and exquisitely sculpted interpretations,” who regularly performs as a soloist with the world’s premier ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Together, they create a richly expressive musical dialogue full of nuance, warmth, and song-like beauty.
Program Information:
RACHMANINOFF Vocalise
PROKOFIEV Cello Sonata
MILHAUD Elégie
CHOPIN Cello Sonata
A Night at the Opera with the Galvin Cello Quartet
Friday, April 9 at 7 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $40
“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 Marriage of Figaro and Bizet’s Carmen are reimagined alongside lyrical and virtuosic showpieces which capture the essence of storytelling through music.
Remarkable solo artists on their own, as an ensemble the Galvin Cello Quartet, whose membership includes Colburn Conservatory alumnus James Baik, delivers a program that’s vibrant, engaging, and full of unexpected charm. They explore the limitless range of a cello ensemble by bringing together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world.
This program is generously supported by Preston and Nicole Geeting.
Program Information:
MOZART Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
MASSENET “Meditation” from Thaïs
BEETHOVEN Twelve Variations on a Theme from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus
PAGANINI Variations on a Theme of Rossini
CLARA SCHUMANN Selections from Six Lieder
STRAUSS Sr. Jelačić-Marsch
BIZET Suite from Carmen
BELLINI “Casta Diva” from Norma
BRITTEN The Salley Gardens
STRAUSS Jr. Overture to Die Fledermaus
Sydney Lee, Cello
Haddon Kay, Cello
Luiz Fernando Venturelli, Cello
James Baik, Cello
Contemporary Voices with Esa-Pekka Salonen
Saturday, April 10 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Tickets start at $40
In a rare Zipper Hall appearance, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Maestro Ernst H. Katz Chair of Conducting Studies, 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.
This performance is generously sponsored by Judith Locke.
Trio Azura: Ensemble-in-Residence Finale
Wednesday, April 14 at 7 pm
Zipper Hall
Pay What You Can (minimum $5)
The award-winning Trio Azura’s 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. It will be an unforgettable farewell from a remarkable young ensemble.
Program Information:
Duncan McDougall, Violin
Yejin Hong, Cello
Yanfeng Tony Bai, Piano
Geneva Lewis, Violin & Joshua Mhoon, Piano, in Recital
Sunday, May 16 at 3 pm
Thayer Hall
Tickets start at $35
Joined by pianist Joshua Mhoon, violinist and Community School of Performing Arts 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)
Program Information:
RAVEL Violin Sonata No. 1
ANTHEIL Violin Sonata
POULENC Violin Sonata
STRAUSS Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat Major