STRATHMORE’S 2026-2027 SEASON SPOTLIGHTS

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In: Art, Arts and Theatre, Events, Free Events, Music

GENRE-BENDING LEGENDS AND FAN FAVORITES

Published by Strathmore, July 21, 2026

Slate Features Leslie Odom, Jr., David Foster and Katharine McPhee, UB40, Alton Brown,

Disney Pixar’s “Coco Live-to-Film Concert Tour,” Dave Koz, Ryan Montbleau,

Raul Midón, Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn, Stanley Clarke and Hiromi,

Strathmore Jazz Orchestra Christmas, and More

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NORTH BETHESDA, Md. – July 21, 2026 – Strathmore, a multidimensional creative anchor in the DMV-area, unveils its 2026–2027 season today, bringing together world-class headliners, regional talent, and vibrant, thought-provoking visual artistry.  Connecting with the community both on- and off-campus, the lineup features high-profile performances at the Music Center, intimate chamber music at the Mansion, engaging exhibitions in the Mansion Galleries, free “Bloom at Good Hope” concerts, and more.

Across Strathmore’s 16-acre campus, the new season unfolds in September with a packed calendar of fall arrivals. The Music Center opens with musical icons, beginning with guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny (Sept. 17); five-time Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier (Sept. 28); pop maestro David Foster and chart-topping singer Katharine McPhee (Sept. 29); ’80s and ‘90s reggae-pop giants UB40 (Sept. 30); culinary media star Alton Brown (Oct. 26); and rock favorites Big Head Todd and the Monsters (Nov. 17).

The Concert Hall will also feature notable milestones and cultural celebrations, including a Strathmore and Washington Performing Arts co-presentation of Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane honoring the centennial of Miles Davis & John Coltrane (Nov. 21); Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration (Oct. 18); and a Halloween weekend featuring Disney Pixar’s Coco Live-to-Film Concert Tour paired with a festive Latin Market (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1).

Heading into winter, holiday shows light up the stage with Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Tour 2026 (Dec. 5), Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2026 (Dec. 9), the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra Christmas (Dec. 18) and others.

Spring brings additional Washington Performing Arts collaborations, including jazz phenom Matthew Whitaker’s UPLIFT! (March 6) and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in his final season as music director (May 11 & May 13). The roster also features the Kodo One Earth Tour 2027: Luminance (March 18) and jazz master Stanley Clarke and pianist Hiromi (April 8).

“We eagerly anticipate this new season and the shared memories it will create for all of us,” said Monica Jeffries Hazangles, president and CEO of Strathmore. “Our 2026-2027 programming strikes a beautiful balance between welcoming celebrated artists and uplifting vital regional voices in our community. Such an eclectic mix invites lifelong patrons and newcomers, individuals and families, artists, and appreciators to experience the arts, together.”

Beyond the main stage, the Music in the Mansion season features performances by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Raul Midón (Oct. 11), a cross-cultural collaboration with Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn (Oct. 18), and jazz drummer Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom (Feb. 21), alongside Yaël Weiss (March 4), Trio Karénine (April 15), and more. Spanning folk, jazz, classical, and global traditions, these intimate performances give audiences a rare opportunity to experience the artists up close.

At the Mansion Galleries, diverse exhibitions rotate throughout the year. This season’s lineup includes the 4th Annual Black and White Photography Exhibition (Sept. 12-Nov. 7), Color & Light (Nov. 21-Jan. 9), the 35th Annual Juried Exhibition: Fusion (Jan. 23–Feb. 27), Pedro Ledesma III (March 6-April 27), and works by local and regional artists spanning photography, painting, textiles, and mixed media. The annual Museums & Makers Holiday Market also returns offering a free, three-day shopping event showcasing museum gift shops and local artisans (Nov. 12-14).

Off-campus, Strathmore’s “Bloom at Good Hope” initiative partners with Montgomery County Recreation to bring free, high-energy community concerts directly to Silver Spring. Hosted at the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, the series features vibrant sets from local Artists in Residence alumni, including Joey Antico (Sept. 12), Gëtte (Oct. 10), and a holiday big band show from Elijah Balbed & The JoGo Project (Dec. 12).

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Strathmore’s 2026–2027 season launches with the following lineup:

2026-2027 SEASON SCHEDULE

MUSIC CENTER:

MUSIC IN THE MANSION:

  • Raul Midón(Oct. 11): Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter legend mixes Latin influences, soulful vocals, and guitar virtuosity.
  • Poiesis Quartet (Oct. 15): An award-winning string ensemble of young voices expanding the boundaries of classical chamber music.
  • Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (Oct. 18): A master collaboration fusing Appalachian old-time banjo and Chinese guzheng folk songs.
  • Maryna Krut (Nov. 1): Contemporary Ukrainian folk music blending traditional bandura storytelling with vocal jazz elements
  • Tapestry Vocal Ensemble (Nov. 5): A dynamic ensemble championing women’s historical perspectives and dreams through song.
  • Germán López  (Nov. 22): Canary Island folk traditions meet West African rhythms and jazz in a timple-led performance.
  • Inti Figgis-Vizueta’s Music for Transitions (Dec. 10): An Indigenous composer joins cellist Andrew Yee and the Rothko String Quartet to explore identity and collective improvisation.
  • CelloGayageum(Feb. 7): An innovative melding of Korean and Western musical traditions, combining cello and gayageum textures.
  • Titilayo Ayangade and Edwin Kaplan (Feb. 11): Artists in Residence alum and cellist Titilayo Ayangande and violist Edwin Kaplan explore old and new music through an imaginative and collaborative lens.
  • Argus Quartet (Feb. 18): A vivacious chamber string quartet presenting innovative, contemporary classical works.
  • Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom (Feb. 21): The acclaimed drummer-composer delivers bold, inventive arrangements with her jazz ensemble.
  • Yaël Weiss (March 4): The award-winning classical pianist brings extraordinary emotional power and musical insight to the keyboard.
  • Viva Brasil (March 7): A jazz ensemble showcase highlighting how Brazil’s poetry, rhythms, and harmonies shaped global music.
  • Jason Vieaux & Eunice Kim (March 25): A Grammy-winning guitarist and acclaimed violinist unite for lyrical precision and chamber brilliance.
  • Fabiana Cozza(April 11): The Brazilian vocalist channels Afro-Brazilian roots through powerful storytelling and transformative samba.
  • Trio Karénine (April 15): The award-winning French piano trio delivers acclaimed interpretations of classical and contemporary repertoire.
  • Maximilian Jacobs (April 18): Artists in Residence alum debuts his Chamber Symphony for Jazz Octet, bridging classical, jazz, and klezmer traditions.
  • Imam Collective (May 9): Artists in Residence alum Hasan Imam Hamdan leads an intercultural string dialogue centering global collaboration.
  • Ryan Montbleau (May 20): Soulful folk, Americana, country, and bluegrass songwriting built on uplifting roots performances.
  • Ellen Gira and Friends (June 20): Artists in Residence alum Ellen Gira presents a Celtic and American folk cello concert blending classical and traditional styles. 

BLOOM AT GOOD HOPE

  • Joey Antico (Sept. 12): Artists in Residence alum brings a “jazz-hop” concert blending modern jazz, hip-hop energy, and soulful R&B grooves.
  • Gëtte (Oct. 10): Artists in Residence alum performs an intimate, genre-blending concert exploring love through soul, R&B, pop, and country.
  • Ellington Carthan (Nov. 14): Artists in Residence alum performs a dynamic jazz piano concert featuring original compositions and improvisation.
  • Elijah Jamal Balbed & The JoGo Project (Dec. 12): Artists in Residence alum leads his jazz-infused go-go big band in a festive, high-energy holiday show. 

MANSION GALLERIES

  • 4th Annual Black and White Photography Exhibition (Sept. 12–Nov. 7; Opening Reception: Sept. 17): Juried by Leo Howard Lubow, this exhibition showcases landscapes selected from regional Maryland photo club members.
  • Intersections: Lusmerlin & Kelvin He Hao Low (Sept. 12–Nov. 7; Opening Reception: Sept. 17): Part of Strathmore’s series pairing contrasting viewpoints, featuring Lusmerlin’s vibrant pastel art alongside Low’s woven textiles.
  • Museums & Makers Holiday Market (Nov. 12–14): A specialized three-day seasonal artisan event introducing regional museum gift shops and local craftspeople to the Mansion.
  • Color & Light(Nov. 21–Jan. 9; Opening Reception: Nov. 21): Artists Hirons and Cathy Abramson masterfully capture subtle light and shadow in a joint exhibition of landscapes.
  • Fine Art in Miniature (Nov. 21–Jan. 9; Opening Reception: Nov. 21): The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C., hosts its 93rd annual exhibition, featuring 700 tiny marvels.
  • 35th Annual Juried Exhibition: Fusion (Jan. 23–Feb. 27; Opening Reception: Feb. 4): Original abstract and representational works across diverse media celebrating creative combinations of materials, ideas, and styles.
  • Pedro Ledesma III (March 6–April 27; Opening Reception: March 11): Through research and sustained community engagement, Pedro Ledesma III creates powerful portraits that affirm the vital presence of Black history within the American narrative.
  • Adah Rose Bitterbaum (March 6–April 27; Opening Reception: March 11): A curated showcase celebrating local fine artists, drawing on Bitterbaum’s distinct regional career.
  • Creative Crafts Council (May 29–July 31; Opening Reception: June 3): The council’s 36th biennial exhibition displays the Mid-Atlantic region’s finest handcrafted jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and textiles.

NEW SHOWS, ALL YEAR

Building on this exciting lineup, Strathmore’s dynamic programming allows new performances to be added throughout the 2026–2027 season as artists become available. Visit www.strathmore.org  for the most up-to-date schedule and information regarding the Music Center, the Mansion, and special partner events. Tickets are available online or by calling 301-581-5100.

ABOUT STRATHMORE

Since 1983, Strathmore has inspired, engaged, and connected the Washington, D.C., region through the arts. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit hosts hundreds of accessible performances, exhibitions, and educational initiatives at its North Bethesda, Md., campus and across Montgomery County. Join us at Strathmore, where the arts are everywhere. Follow Strathmore on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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