Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 25, 2016
The Kennedy Center
announces the
Millennium Stage Schedule for
April 2016
Free Daily Performances
Featuring
The Conservatory Project
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
Events honoring the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters
An exciting look at WNO’s production of the Ring cycle
Special preview of the Funk Parade
South African band The Muffinz
and many more!
(WASHINGTON)—The Kennedy Center announced today its schedule of performances for April 2016,
which includes the return of the Kennedy Center Conservatory Project (April 5–10), featuring talented
musicians from top music schools across the country. The calendar also welcomes back the Kennedy
Center American College Theater Festival with a special preview of Every 28 Hours—a project that
focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement—as well as performances of original works from the national
finalists of the Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play Award and the recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg
National Student Playwriting Award (April 12 & 13). For the first time, the Center will host celebrations
for the newly honored 2016 NEA Jazz Masters, including two Millennium Stage concerts performed by the
United States Air Force Airmen of Note (April 3) and students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts
(April 4). This month also features an exciting look at Washington National Opera’s production of
Wagner’s Ring cycle. The Ring, comprised of four separate operas, is one of the largest single productions
ever performed at the Kennedy Center. Audiences can preview the epic operatic cycle with musical
excerpts from The Rhinegold and The Valkyrie (April 26) and Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods (April
28). The Funk Parade also hits the Millennium Stage in a promo show (April 24) before the annual event
on May 7, 2016. Additionally, the South African band The Muffinz makes its Kennedy Center debut with
music uniquely described as “hybrid African music on steroids,” “eclectic soul trip,” and “liberated Afro
retro” (April 29).
Now in its 19th year, the Millennium Stage is the only place in the United States to offer a free
performance every day of the year that is streamed live on the web. A full schedule of Millennium Stage
performances for the month of April 2016 is below. Unless otherwise noted, performances will take place
in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer and no tickets are required. Performances are open to television and
radio news coverage. Media crews must request access at least one week prior to the performance date.
Full Chronological Schedule for April 2016
DATE
Fri., April 1
TIME
6 p.m.
Sat., April 2
6 p.m.
Sun., April 3
6 p.m.
Mon., April 4
6 p.m.
Tues., April 5
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Wed., April 6
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Thurs., April 7
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
PERFORMANCE
Vocal Arts DC presents the winners of the 2015 Vocal Arts DC Art
Song Discovery Competition on the Millennium Stage. The concert
features soprano Vanessa Vasquez accompanied on vocals by Danielle
Orlando; and mezzo-soprano Shabnam Kolbasi with Andrew Hsu on
piano. Vocal Arts DC Board Member Elizabeth Daniels will provide
commentary to introduce the vast richness of the classical song literature,
with an emphasis on contemporary American works.
Members of the National Symphony Orchestra perform chamber
works, including Brahms’s Violin Sonata in G major and Viola Sonata in
E-flat major. The program features violinist Joel Fuller, violist Mahoko
Eguchi, and pianist Lisa Emenheiser.
The United States Air Force (USAF) Airmen of Note, the premier jazz
ensemble of the USAF, performs in recognition of the 2016 NEA Jazz
Masters Tribute Concert (4/4 in the Concert Hall), an annual event
honoring the 2016 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters.
Students from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts perform in
recognition of the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert (8 p.m. in the
Concert Hall), an annual event honoring the 2016 National Endowment
for the Arts Jazz Masters.
Conservatory Project: Students from the Berklee School of Music
Global Jazz Institute present an evening of jazz and contemporary music.
The ensemble is joined by special guest performer, NEA Jazz Master,
and vibraphone virtuoso Gary Burton. Free general admission tickets will
be distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately 5:30 p.m.,
up to two tickets per person.
Conservatory Project: Students from the New England Conservatory
of Music perform popular songs including Kern’s “The Song is You,”
Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm,” and Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 3 in
G minor. Free general admission tickets will be distributed in the States
Gallery starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., up to two tickets per person.
Conservatory Project: Students from the Eastman School of Music at
Rochester University present works by Steve Reich, often called the
greatest living American composer, performed by the prestigious
Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble, the school’s major performing group
for 20th- and 21st-century music. Free general admission tickets will be
distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., up
to two tickets per person.
Fri., April 8
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Sat., April 9
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Sun., April 10
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Conservatory Project: Students from the Indiana University Jacobs
School of Music perform compositions by Bach, Alec Roth, and Ravel
featuring an ensemble of tenor, piano, guitar, cello, violin, and viola.
Free general admission tickets will be distributed in the States Gallery
starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., up to two tickets per person.
Conservatory Project: Students from the Manhattan School of Music
Chamber Choir perform a diverse repertoire, including compositions
from Byrd, Haydn, and Stephen Sondheim. Free general admission
tickets will be distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately
5:30 p.m., up to two tickets per person.
Conservatory Project: Students from The Peabody Institute present a
varied repertoire including Brahms and Waxman, among others. The
ensemble features the Trio Mesama—composed of clarinet, piano,
and cello—as well as baroque violin, baroque flute, harpsichord,
violin, viola, and mezzo-soprano. Free general admission tickets will
Mon., April 11
6 p.m.
Tues., April 12
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Wed., April 13
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Thurs., April 14
Terrace Theater
6 p.m.
Fri., April 15
6 p.m.
Sat., April 16
6 p.m.
be distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately 5:30 p.m.,
up to two tickets per person.
The Maryland Youth Chamber Orchestra presents the MCYO Harp
Ensemble, a unique group of seven harpists playing heavenly music
together, and the Liedergeld String Quartet, national chamber
competition finalists and the pride of MCYO of Strathmore.
As part of the 2016 Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival, a special preview of the Every 28 Hours plays will be
performed. The project consists of more than 30 one-minute plays
inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, with participation by
playwrights and theaters across the nation. Free general admission tickets
will be distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately 5:30
p.m., up to two tickets per person.
As part of the 2016 Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival, national finalists of the Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play Award
perform on the Millennium Stage. Additionally, a selection from the
recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting
Award will be performed. Free general admission tickets will be
distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately 5:30 p.m., up
to two tickets per person.
Theater Alliance presents Word Becomes Flesh, a critical and lyrical
performance with Marc Bamuthi Joseph leading a talented group of
performers through spoken word, dance, DJ-ing, and visuals. Within the
constructs of Hip Hop Culture, the performance examines the domestic
phenomenon of the varying experiences of men and women who are
about to embark on the journey of parenthood. Free general admission
tickets will be distributed in the States Gallery starting at approximately
5:30 p.m., up to two tickets per person.
Tamagawa University Dance and Taiko Group, one of the top-ranking
taiko groups in Japan, presents nearly 30 drummers and dancers in a
performance where thundering taiko drumming meets traditional
Japanese dance.
Participants in the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship
training program—horn player Susannah Greenslit, violinist Amelia
Bailey, and cellists Isabella Lorenzo-Giguere, Joha Kim, and Joshua
Choi—perform solos on the Millennium Stage.
Sun., April 17
6 p.m.
Mon., April 18
Concert Hall
6 p.m.
Tues., April 19
6 p.m.
Wed., April 20
6 p.m.
Thurs., April 21
6 p.m.
Fri., April 22
6 p.m.
Sat., April 23
6 p.m.
Sun., April 24
6 p.m.
Mon., April 25
6 p.m.
Tues., April 26
6 p.m.
Wed., April 27
6 p.m.
A preview of KC Jukebox: New Voices, Old Muses, Kennedy Center
Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates and Chicago electric violist and
DJ Dominic Johnson present “Beats, the Bauhaus, and the Birth of
Abstract Film,” a survey of short animated films from the 1920s with a
soundtrack composed and performed live by Johnson. The full
performance of New Voices, Old Muses will take place April 18 at 8 p.m.
Presented in conjunction with the Embassy of Italy, Banda dell’Arma
dei Carabinierias presents Protecting our Heritage: A Musical Tribute.
With splendid uniforms and formal musical precision, the famous
Carabinieri band brings to life traditional marches and classical music to
honor those who lost their lives to protect Italian cultural heritage. The
Banda dell’Arma dei Carabinierias is sponsored by Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles and Banca Intesa Sanpaol. Free general admission tickets
will be distributed in the Hall of Nations starting at approximately 5
p.m., up to two tickets per person.
Gunston Middle School Jazz Band from Arlington, VA and West
Springfield High School Jazz Guitar Combo of Fairfax County, VA
perform as part of Music in Our Schools Month.
Marriotts Ridge High School String Orchestra of Howard County,
MD and Woodbridge Senior High School’s Viketones of Prince
William County, VA perform as part of Music in Our Schools Month.
From Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, Esma Redzepova sings in more
than 10 languages and earned the title “Queen of Romani Songs” at the
1976 World Festival of Romani Music in India. Presented in
collaboration with Voice of Roma and the Center for Traditional Music
and Dance as part of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center’s
Homegrown: The Music of America series.
Students from The Washington Ballet at THEARC present an evening
of vibrant and visual dance. The program at TWB’s satellite campus in
Southeast D.C. provides intensive and community-oriented ballet training
for youth, ages 4–18, with programs that run throughout the calendar
year with classes in the evenings and on weekends.
Dancer and choreographer Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, in collaboration
with Meredith Bove, Matthew Cumbie, and Sarah Beth Oppenheim,
presents Alongside, a rousing evening of contemporary dance that will
spark and transport. Also featured are members of the Wake Forest
University Dance Company, and the haunting tunes of electric violinist
David Schulman.
Target Family Night: Funk Parade comes to the Kennedy Center in a
special preview of the one-of-a-kind parade, street fair, and music
festival. Funk Parade seeks to bring people together and make them feel
all right through music, dance, and the visual arts. Funk Parade
celebrates U Street, D.C., and the spirit of funk on Saturday, May 7,
2016.
Sammy Miller and the Congregation are on a mission to put the
generosity back into jazz and bring art back to the people. Playing joyful
jazz—music that feels good—the band shares the power of community
through music in a style that entertains, enriches, and most of all uplifts.
WNO Preview: Join cast members of Washington National Opera’s The
Ring for musical excerpts from The Rhinegold and The Valkyrie,
combined with narration highlighting the opera’s story and background.
Saxophone quartet 4Saxxes, presented on the occasion of the 25th
anniversary of Slovenia’s independence and to commemorate
International Jazz Day, performs a night of classical music as well as
genres such as ethno, jazz, and crossover. Presented in collaboration
with the Embassy of Slovenia.
Thurs., April 28
6 p.m.
Fri., April 29
6 p.m.
Sat., April 30
6 p.m.
WNO Preview: Join cast members of The Ring for musical excerpts
from Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods, combined with narration
highlighting the opera’s story and background.
James A. Johnson Young Artist Series: Five-piece guitar-inclined
South African band The Muffinz presents an evening of music described
by electric guitarist Sifiso Buthelezi as “Liberated Afro Retro.” The band
features Karabo Moeketsi on bass, Simphiwe Kulla on electric guitar,
Keke Mabusela on drums, and acoustic guitarist Mthae Sibanda. This
performance is part of the James A. Johnson Young Artist Series, made
possible by Target
For International Jazz Day, Offlines Project feat. Yinon Muallem &
Guy Mintus presents a border-defying duet that marries influences from
Turkish makam to Indian rhythms, Jewish melodies, and originals treated
through the lens of jazz improvisation.
All performers and programs are subject to change without notice.
ABOUT THE KENNEDY CENTER MILLENNIUM STAGE
The Kennedy Center is the only U.S. institution that presents a free performance 365 days a year. Created
in 1997 and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, the Millennium Stage features a broad
spectrum of performing arts each day at 6 p.m. Brought to the public by Target Stores and The J. Willard
and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, the Millennium Stage helps fulfill the Center’s mission of making the
performing arts accessible to everyone. In the past 17 years, more than 3 million visitors have seen 6,000
groups with performances as varied as: jazz, ballet, storytelling, popular music, contemporary dance, opera,
choral music, tap dance, theater, chamber music, symphonic music, puppetry, stand-up comedy, and
cabaret. Of the more than 43,000 performers that have appeared on the Millennium Stage, approximately
25,000 have been Washington-area artists and more than 4,500 have been international performing artists
representing more than 50 countries. The Millennium Stage has also hosted artists representing all 50
states, and has presented more than 15,000 artists in their Kennedy Center debuts. Since 1999, each night’s
performance has been broadcast live over the Internet, and more than 4,430 of these performances have
been digitally archived on the Kennedy Center’s website, kennedy-center.org.
Need a Lift?
The FREE Kennedy Center Shuttle, the Center’s link to Metro’s Foggy Bottom/George Washington
University Metro station (blue/orange/silver lines), departs every 15 minutes from 9:45 a.m. to midnight,
Monday – Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturdays; noon to midnight, Sundays; and 4:00 p.m. to midnight
on Federal holidays. Free parking is not available when attending free events.
FUNDING CREDITS
The Millennium Stage is brought to you by Target and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
The Conservatory Project is made possible by
Michael F. and Noémi K. Neidorff and the Centene Charitable Foundation.
The Millennium Stage was created and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs to make the
performing arts accessible to everyone in fulfillment of the Kennedy Center's mission to its community and
the nation.
Additional funding for the Millennium Stage is provided by Bernstein Family Foundation, The Isadore and
Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Inc., The Meredith Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Foundation, Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A.J. Stolwijk, U.S. Department of Education, and the
Millennium Stage Endowment Fund.
The Millennium Stage Endowment Fund was made possible by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs,
Fannie Mae Foundation, James V. Kimsey†, Gilbert† and Jaylee† Mead, Mortgage Bankers Association of
America and other anonymous gifts to secure the future of the Millennium Stage.
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by
David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the
National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the John F. Kennedy
Center of the Performing Arts' Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Additional support is provided by The Honorable Stuart Bernstein and Wilma E. Bernstein; the Blanche
and Irving Laurie Foundation; the Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; Beatrice and Anthony
Welters and the AnBryce Foundation.
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
Generous support for the Youth Fellowship Program is provided by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Foundation, Sandra K. and Clement C. Alpert, U.S. Department of Education, The Charles Engelhard
Foundation, The Markow Totevy Foundation, Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund, and National
Symphony Orchestra musicians.
Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the
National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
New Artistic Initiatives are funded in honor of Linda and Kenneth Pollin.
Major support for WNO and the Ring is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.
WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.
General Dynamics is the Presenting Sponsor of WNO’s 2015-2016 Season.
Generous support for the Ring is provided by Constance Milstein de La Haye St. Hilaire & Mr. Jehan
Christophe de La Haye St. Hilaire, Panasonic, Lynn and John Pohanka, Ken and Dorothy Woodcock, and
an anonymous gift.
Additional support for the Ring is provided by The Theodore H. Barth Foundation; Robert and Lynn
Downing; Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros, on behalf of The Law Offices of Kenneth R.
Feinberg, PC; James A. Feldman and Natalie Wexler; Ms. Wilhelmina Holladay; Prince Charitable
Trusts; and Renaissance Tours.
For more information on the Millennium Stage,
please visit the Millennium Stage event page or Millennium Stage Facebook page.
Discover the Kennedy Center on social media:
#MStage365
# # #
PRESS CONTACT
Camille Cintrón Devlin
(202) 416-8447
[email protected]
PUBLIC INFORMATION
(202) 467-4600; (800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org