Presenting Over 1,000 Performances, 90% Free

 

The 2026-27 concert season at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music brings exceptional student talent to the stage, alongside performances by esteemed faculty, alumni, and visiting artists. These events will take place in Eastman’s spectacular concert halls—from the acoustic and historic splendor of Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre to the acclaimed chamber music setting of Kilbourn Hall and the modern elegance of Hatch Recital Hall—each offering a distinctive performance experience.

Carved into the façade of Eastman Theatre is the phrase “for the enrichment of community life,” a value that has been at the core of Eastman’s identity since its inception and drives the decision to make 90% of our 1,000+ performances free and open to the public.

“As Eastman celebrates 105 years of excellence and America commemorates 250, we invite audiences to join us for a range of musical offerings at little to no cost,” shares Joan and Martin Messinger Dean Kate Sheeran. “It is an extraordinary thing to be able to invite our immediate and extended community to experience world-class music almost every day of the academic year. This season offers something for everyone, and we hope that you will join us.”

For ticketed events, seats may be reserved online, in person at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (located at 433 East Main Street; hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), or by calling 585-274-3000.

 

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

The list below represents a limited selection of concerts in 2026/27. Details about all upcoming performances, masterclasses, symposia, and more, can be found on Eastman’s newly improved Event Calendar.

Please note that all listed details and repertoire are subject to change.

KEY
$ | Ticketed
* | Eastman Explores America

 

EASTMAN EXPLORES AMERICA

From the Eastman Philharmonia to vocal jazz and horn choir to Musica Nova, “American artists and Eastman-honed talent take center stage as we mark the United States’ 250th anniversary,” shares Associate Dean for Artistic Planning Katharine Schimmer. “Certain concerts throughout the season have been designated as ‘Eastman Explores America’ events in celebration; these are performances which highlight the manifold traditions and voices which form our national musical identity.” All “Eastman Explores America” events can be found online.

 

FACULTY

Eastman Presents | $ | *
Joshua Conyers, Kiera Duffy, Nicole Cabell & Friends | “In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology”
September 15, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music
October 16, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center, NYC (Purchase tickets)

Grammy-nominated baritone Joshua Conyers, acclaimed soprano Kiera Duffy, and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Nicole Cabell—all Eastman faculty—shine in this rarely performed collection from the Anthology of Art Songs by Black Composers. They are joined by a selection of accomplished Eastman students in a powerful celebration of Afro-American musical tradition and its impact. Beyond the stage, the University of Rochester is working with NYC-based label Lexicon Classics to record and release In Plain Sight as a physical album and on all streaming platforms in the summer of 2026.

“The project brings together artists across backgrounds to interpret these songs, affirming that this music belongs to the world. It is rooted in Black creative genius and offered as shared cultural inheritance.” — Joshua Conyers

 

Eastman Presents | $
Kobrin, Jang & Ying | The Complete Beethoven Piano Trios
October 9, 2026 • January 28, 2027 • April 23, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

Eastman faculty members Alexander Kobrin, 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist; YooJin Jang, Kallaci String Quartet winner, 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition; and David Ying, Naumburg International Cello Competition winner; join forces to perform the complete Beethoven piano trios over three concerts. This is a rare opportunity to hear all these works in chronological order over one season, played by specialists in this repertoire.  

• October 9, 2026: Op. 1, Nos. 1-3
• January 28, 2027: Op. 11, Op. 70, Nos. 1 (“Ghost”) & 2
• April 23, 2027: WoO 38, Op. 97 (“Archduke”)

 

Faculty Artist Series | $ | *
Michael Burritt with the Burritt Percussion Group
November 10, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

Leading percussionist Michael Burritt brings his newly formed Burritt Percussion Group to Kilbourn Hall with a program of original works by several of his Eastman students.

 

Eastman Presents | $ | *
Timothy Long | The North American Indigenous Songbook
January 31, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

Following a much-lauded premiere at National Sawdust, Eastman Opera Artistic and Music Director Timothy Long brings his collection of music by Native American, First Nations, and Métis artists to Kilbourn Hall. Grounded “in traditional styles,” with “forays into avant-garde music and groovier singer-songwriter veins” (The New York Times), this unprecedented anthology ranges from art song to funk and promises a profound, joyful, and entirely unique experience. Featuring creator Tim Long at the piano with Martha Redbone and her funk band, alongside classical musicians and special guests.

“At the 250th anniversary of the United States, we celebrate the entire continent of Turtle Island by bringing hope and unity to the world through words, music, and celebration.” — Timothy Long

 

Faculty Artist Series | $
Anthony Dean Griffey, tenor
February 14, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

Grammy Award-winning tenor Anthony Dean Griffey celebrates Valentine’s Day with “An Afternoon of Love Songs” featuring American and English Art Songs alongside legendary pianist Warren Jones.

 

ORCHESTRAS

Eastman School Symphony Orchestra
October 3, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Neil Varon, conductor

In celebration of the University of Rochester’s annual alumni weekend, ESSO will perform Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Vaughan Williams’ 4 Hymns for tenor, solo viola, strings, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9.

 

Introducing George Lewis | *
Eastman Philharmonia
December 14, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Brad Lubman, conductor

This concert will serve as an introduction to the 2026/27 Howard Hanson Visiting Composer George Lewis. An American composer, musicologist, and trombonist, Lewis serves on the faculty of Columbia University’s Department of Music and will work closely with Eastman students across degree programs next year. His research centers on experimental music, computer music, interactive media, and improvisation, examining their critical connections to race, gender, and decolonization. On December 14, under the baton of Brad Lubman, the Eastman Philharmonia will perform Varese’s Amériques (1921) and Lewis’ Minds in Flux (2021), bookends to 100 years of music.

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH RPO 

A benefit to housing the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre is the incredible access that Eastman students have to performing with, and learning from, working musicians.

 

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra/ESM Student Concerto Concert
January 27, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Neil Varon, conductor

The RPO accompanies Eastman student soloists (to be determined) on the following repertoire: Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, Bloch’s Schelomo for Cello and Orchestra, and Goessens’ Oboe Concerto.

 

Live-to-Picture | $
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Eastman Philharmonia present “Metropolis”
March 5, 2027 | 7:00 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Jeff Beal, conductor and composer

On March 5, esteemed alumnus Jeff Beal returns to Eastman to conduct his original electrifying score to Fritz Lang’s silent film Metropolis (1927). This powerful collaboration between Rochester’s leading orchestras bridges century-old cinema with contemporary composition.

 

WINDS

Eastman Wind Orchestra
March 29, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Mark Davis Scatterday, conductor; Zach Griffin and Luca Peveroni, assistant conductors

This concert features a stylistically diverse program, ranging from Richard Wagner’s solemn eulogy Trauersinfonie to John Corigliano’s playful Gazebo Dances to neoclassical pioneer Germaine Tailleferre’s Suite Divertimento.

 

Eastman Wind Ensemble
March 31, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Mark Scatterday, conductor

The Eastman Wind Ensemble, America’s first and leading wind ensemble, presents a versatile compilation of wind repertoire in March. Audiences can expect to hear Mozart’s Serenade in C Minor, Strauss’ Serenade, Britten’s Russian Funeral, and Kevin Day’s Harp Concerto.

 

CHAMBER MUSIC

Chamber Music Extravaganza
Fall 2026: November 20, December 12, 13 & 14
Spring 2027: April 16, 24, 25 & 26
Various Times | Hatch Recital Hall and Ciminelli Lounge

On average, 300+ students at Eastman are enrolled in chamber music groups and are invited to perform in the biannual Chamber Music Extravaganza. This multiday chamber music festival features an assortment of instruments, from duo piano and wind and brass quintets to string quartets and piano trios. “In chamber music, you feel like you’re really close to the performers. You can see them interacting with each other. There’s no conductor there. It’s just the group and it’s you,” says Anne Harrow, chair of the chamber music department and an associate professor of flute. “Live performances are very exciting, and that sort of feeling really can’t be replicated with a recording.” Details to be determined.

 

ORGAN

“Bach Reflected”
Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festival (EROI)
November 8-11, 2026 | Rochester, NY (Venues TBD)
Register here by Oct. 31

With the aim of making Rochester, NY, a global center for organ performance, research, building, and preservation, the Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative’s biennial festival is one of the premier organ conferences in the world, featuring an unparalleled collection of new and historic instruments throughout Rochester. This year’s theme, Bach Reflected, features special guest Daniel Roth, including a concert launching University of Rochester Press’ new publication “Daniel Roth, Organist of Saint Sulpice,” as well as guest presenters Ludger Lohmann, Joel Speerstra, and Anne Laver.

 

VOICE, OPERA AND VOCAL COACHING

Eastman Opera Theatre (EOT) unveils the key events of its 2026/27 season, individual press releases to follow.

 

Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” (1974) | $
November 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. & November 8 at 2:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

Candide is a fast-paced, witty operetta featuring music by Leonard Bernstein, a book by Hugh Wheeler, and contributed lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It follows the improbable and unfortunate adventures of Candide and his beloved Cunegonde by blending sophisticated music with absurd, comedic storytelling.

 

Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World” (1995) | $
December 10-12 at 7:30 p.m. & December 13 at 2:30 p.m. | Sloan Performing Arts Center, University of Rochester

Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown—who studied at Eastman in the late ’80s—penned this powerful collection of songs that examine life, love, and the choices we make as humans. Songs for a New World transports audiences from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue and everywhere in between. A small but powerhouse cast drives this exquisitely crafted score.

 

Humperdinck’s “Hänsel und Gretel” (1893) | $
April 8-10 at 7:30 p.m. & April 11 at 2:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Hänsel und Gretel, an opera by Engelbert Humperdinck with a libretto by his sister Adelheid Wette, blends German folk songs with a sweeping orchestral score. Inspired by the well-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale, it premiered in 1893 under the direction of Richard Strauss.

The story follows siblings Hansel and Gretel who venture into the forest and lose their way, discovering a witch’s gingerbread house and putting themselves in grave danger. Ultimately the children outsmart the witch, rescue her other victims, and joyfully reunite with their parents.

 

Eastman choral ensembles, under interim director Donald Nally, will present many interesting programs this year, including the following special performances:

 

Eastman Chorale
November 22, 2026 | 3:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

This program spans from sacred polyphony of the Renaissance period to contemporary choral soundscapes, pairing classic works by di Lasso, Schütz, and Brahms with modern pieces by MacMillan, Ešenvalds, Vasks, Hurd, and Woods.

 

Eastman Chorale and Organ Department Collaborative Concert
February 12, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Christ Church

Exploring the rich chemistry between choral voices and organ, this program encompasses four centuries of sacred music. Featuring powerful works by Finzi, Schütz, Bingham, Lang, and Pärt alongside radiant settings of Brahms, Weir, and Howells, this concert will transport audiences to another era.

 

JAZZ

Ray Conniff Jazz Ensemble Series
Eastman Jazz Orchestra
October 7, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Christine Jensen, director

The Eastman Jazz Orchestra, recognized as one of the world’s premier collegiate jazz performing organizations, presents “Legends!”—a program celebrating major jazz centennials with works by jazz legends Ray Brown, John Coltrane, Melba Liston, and Miles Davis.

 

Other jazz performances to mark on your calendar include the Eastman Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Sara Gazarek, on October 27; the Eastman Jazz Lab Band on November 3 under the guidance of celebrated trombonist Marshall Gilkes; and composer/arranger Dave Rivello leads Eastman’s award-winning New Jazz Orchestra on December 1.

 

NEW MUSIC

Eastman Presents | $ | *
Alarm Will Sound “Homecoming”
October 2, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Founded at Eastman 25 years ago, contemporary chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound returns to Rochester to headline the University’s largest annual alumni event Meliora Weekend. The winners of the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble present New Acoustica, an innovative program featuring live performances of complex electronica on acoustic instruments.   

“With New Acoustica, we present the music of Aphex Twin, Jlin, King Britt, Marcos Balter, SOPHIE, Tim Exile, Lucrecia Dalt, and more, bringing the work of these outstanding and groundbreaking artists to you in a way that you’ve never heard before.” — Alarm Will Sound

 

Musica Nova
December 10, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Brad Lubman, conductor; Irvine Arditti, guest violin; Hilda Paredes, guest composer

Musica Nova welcomes Grammy-nominated violinist Irvine Arditti for a program featuring conductor Brad Lubman’s This Is Not A Cadenza (2020/2026), guest composer Hilda Paredes’ Señales (2012), and György Kurtág’s Pieces for Violin and Cimbalom.

 

EARLY MUSIC

Eastman’s Early Music program offers an instructional and performance-based curriculum, focused on historically informed mastery of music from the Renaissance through the Classical periods. Considered one of the strongest early music programs in North America, its primary ensemble, Collegium Musicum, will perform in Kilbourn Hall on December 4, March 2, and April 27, all at 7:30 p.m.

 

STELLAR GUEST ARTISTS 

The 2026/27 Eastman Presents lineup features legendary artists and rising stars alike, performing everything from Brahms and Beethoven to Reich and Dalt.

Tickets to all concerts are on sale now.

 

Eastman Presents | $
Chris Thile and Aoife O’Donovan: “Wassail”
December 4, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Celebrate the holiday season in bluegrass style with Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still, I’m With Her, A Prairie Home Companion) and MacArthur Fellow and mandolinist Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, Live from Here) as they illuminate treasured holiday songs with spellbinding harmonies and joyful musicality. Featuring fresh arrangements of beloved classics, lively stories, and good cheer in abundance, Wassail! is a warm invitation to gather, sing, and revel in the glow of the holidays.

“There was an undeniable chemistry in the way they played together—Thile and O’Donovan’s near-perfect vocal blend…and the playful complexity of their music…” — Atwood Journal

 

Eastman Presents | $
Emanuel Ax: “A Legend Returns”
March 17, 2027 | 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall

The doyen of classical piano brings spring to Rochester with a program of Romantics. Emanuel Ax, beloved for his warmth, elegant yet unassuming playing, and “self-effacing mastery” (The Guardian) performs Schumann’s Papillons, Schubert’s Four Impromptus, and a curated selection of Chopin’s works.

“Mr. Ax…played with youthful brio, incisive rhythm, bountiful imagination, delicacy when called for, and thundering power when the piano fought back.” — The New York Times

 

 

The most up-to-date information about all 2026/27 events at the Eastman School of Music can be found online.

 

Media Only: Lauren Sageer, Associate Director of Public Relations and Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu

 

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