Eastman Concerts & Events: September & October 2026
With a new school year upon us, we are pleased to highlight some of the concerts and events taking place at Eastman this fall. Presenting a wide range of events featuring internationally accomplished faculty and guest artists, in addition to world-class student ensembles, these events will be held in Eastman’s stunning performance spaces: Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall and Hatch Recital Hall.
Most of the concerts listed are free and open to the public, and ticketed events may be booked through Eastman’s online box office or by calling 585-274-3000. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible to secure the best seats and savings.
SEPTEMBER
Faculty Artist Series
Various dates, times and locations
The Eastman Faculty Artist Series will present 15 performances by our internationally acclaimed faculty members throughout the fall 2026 semester. Tickets are $10 for the general public and free to University of Rochester ID holders.
Horn Choir: 9/11 25th Anniversary Remembrance Concert
Wednesday, September 11 at 11:30 a.m. | Kilbourn Hall
At the center of the September 11 remembrance concert will be the Eastman Horn Choir, whose 26 student musicians will perform a program of music that Peter Kurau ’74E, professor of horn and director of the ensemble, describes as “sorrowful, but soothing.” The concert will also feature performances by Eastman alumni who now serve in the U.S. Army, including Colonel Ted Price ’97E and Army Field Band members Master Sergeant J.G. Miller ’06E and Staff Sergeant Morgan Chalmers ’25E. This program is part of Eastman Explores America.
EASTMAN PRESENTS
In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology (Ticketed)
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Eastman voice students and faculty, led by opera superstars Nicole Cabell, Kiera Duffy, and Joshua Conyers, will perform selections from their historic album In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology, recorded at the University of Rochester in 2025 and released on Lexicon Classics this summer. This project marks the first complete recording of The Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers, featuring works by Florence Price, William Grant Still, Adolphus Hailstork, and many others, with text by artists including Langston Hughes. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate a landmark album release with this live performance. This program is part of Eastman Explores America.
REICH AT 90
Musica Nova and Eastman Percussion Ensemble
Friday, September 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Musica Nova and the Eastman Percussion Ensemble will present a free concert featuring Steve Reich’s Percussion Quartet, Radio Rewrite, and Double Sextet. This program, in celebration of Steve Reich’s 90th birthday, is part of Rochester Fringe Festival and Eastman Explores America.
REICH AT 90
Mivos Quartet: The Reich String Quartets (Ticketed)
Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The internationally renowned Mivos Quartet will celebrate Steve Reich’s 90th birthday with a full performance of his string quartets, including WTC 9/11, Triple Quartet, and Different Trains. Featuring Eastman alum Olivia de Prato, the program honors one of contemporary American music’s most influential composers. This program is part of Eastman Explores America.
Eastman Wind Orchestra
Monday, September 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: Lindsay Bronnenkant’s Tarot, Ulysses Kay’s Solemn Prelude, Curnow’s Australian Variant Suite, and Holst’s Suite in E-flat.
Eastman Wind Ensemble with guest Colleen Bernstein, percussion
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
The Eastman Wind Ensemble will be joined by guest percussionist Colleen Bernstein for Daugherty’s Passacaglia in Primary Colors, Lansky’s Touch and Go, and Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat.
Eastman Philharmonia
Monday, September 28, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: Khachaturian’s Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra.
OCTOBER
Meliora Weekend | Oct. 1-4, 2026
The University of Rochester’s annual Meliora Weekend brings together alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and friends for reunions, family weekend, academic programs, performances, athletics, and community events. Eastman will mark the weekend with performances by students and faculty from across the school, as well as a headlining performance by Grammy Award-winning ensemble Alarm Will Sound.
EASTMAN PRESENTS
Alarm Will Sound: “Homecoming” (Ticketed)
Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
2026 Grammy Award-winners Alarm Will Sound return to Eastman! Founded at Eastman 25 years ago, and led by Eastman alumni Alan Pierson and Gavin Chuck, Alarm Will Sound has been hailed as the future of American classical music. This program features multi-genre arrangements of electronic music for small orchestra, drawing inspiration from jazz, film, classical music, contemporary music, and everything in between. With music that has something for everyone, this promises to be a musically diverse and inspiring evening. This program is part of Eastman Explores America.
Alarm Will Sound’s visit is generously supported by the Elizabeth Ward Chicares ’86 Distinguished Visiting Artist Program.
Morning Chamber Music
Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
Tuba Mirum: A Celebration of Cherry Beauregard
Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Eastman School Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Vaughan Williams’ 4 Hymns for tenor, solo viola, and strings, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9.
First-Year Wind Quintet Chamber Concert
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. | Howard Hanson Hall
Valenza Horn Recital
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
Eastman Chorale
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
On the program: Choral works by Lang, Holten Tallis, Schütz, Bach, Tsupryk, and Tulev, reflecting the ensemble’s broad repertoire across centuries and traditions.
Eastman Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
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. This performance is part of the Ray Conniff Jazz Ensemble Series.
EASTMAN PRESENTS
Kobrin, Jang & Ying: The Complete Beethoven Piano Trios (Ticketed)
Friday, October 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Eastman faculty members Alexander Kobrin, YooJin Jang, and David Ying will open a three-concert cycle of Beethoven’s complete piano trios, offering audiences a rare opportunity to hear these works performed in chronological order across the season. The opening program features Beethoven’s Op. 1, Nos. 1–3.
Repertory Singers and Treble Chorus
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
On the program: Otmar Mácha, Mendelssohn, and Haydn, with additional repertoire to be announced.
Eastman Wind Orchestra
Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: Milhaud’s Suite Française, Barnes’ Symphony No. 3, Reena Esmail’s Tuttarana, and Grainger’s Colonial Song.
Eastman Wind Ensemble
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: John Williams’ Sinfonietta and A Nostalgic Jazz Odyssey, Adolphus Hailstork’s American Guernica, and Michael Tilson Thomas’ Street Song.
EMuSE
Friday, October 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
EMuSE continues Eastman’s tradition of experimental music-making, bringing together technology, composition, and performance to expand how sound can be created and experienced.
EASTMAN PRESENTS
Chanticleer: Our American Journey (Ticketed)
Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The Grammy Award-winning male a cappella ensemble Chanticleer will present Our American Journey, a program celebrating 250 years of the United States through spirituals, folk songs, bluegrass, and American classics. This program is part of Eastman Explores America.
Eastman School Symphony Orchestra
Monday, October 26, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
The Eastman School Symphony Orchestra returns to Kodak Hall with a free program featuring Rossini’s Overture to William Tell, Elgar’s String Serenade, and Respighi’s Pines of Rome.
Vocal Jazz
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
Eastman’s Vocal Jazz ensemble will present a free concert in Hatch Recital Hall, showcasing the creativity, style, and expressive range of our jazz voice students.
Eastman Philharmonia
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall
On the program: Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, Smetana’s Die Moldau, and Mussorgsky and Ravel’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Click here to view the full 2026-27 Eastman Presents season and to purchase tickets.
For all other happenings at Eastman, visit our Events Calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Media Only: Lauren Sageer, Associate Director of Public Relations and Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
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About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprising more than 170 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy and EMMY Award winners, Guggenheim Fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 1,000 concerts to the Rochester community and beyond. Additionally, over 1,700 community members, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.