Historic Dumbarton Church

Towering Beethoven and lush French classics from young stars. It’s not quite April in Paris, but March at Dumbarton ushers in the Quatuor Van Kuijk with a musical fête. This quartet of young Frenchmen has already been lauded by the international press. Most recently, they were awarded one of the “Best Classical Music Tracks of 2022” by the New York Times for a recording “expressed with refreshing, sometimes revelatory, straightforwardness.” The young Frenchmen present Beethoven’s monumental Quartet No. 14 in the first half, followed by a delectable selection of mélodies from their home country. With such other venues on their schedule as Salzburg’s Mozarteum and Carnegie Hall, don’t miss these vibrant young stars on our very own stage.

An intimate cabaret evening with a Broadway icon Few. names have the staying power in the Broadway world like the inimitable Judy Kuhn. A four-time Tony award nominee, Ms. Kuhn is beloved not only for her dazzling vocal talent, singing the title role in Disney’s Pocahontas, but also her versatility and thoughtfulness as an actor. With principal roles in such classics as Les Misérables, Chess, and She Loves Me, and most recently originating a role in Tony Best Musical Fun Home, she is a true musical theater legend. Judy Kuhn brings her signature Broadway cabaret evening back to the intimate stage at Dumbarton in a triumphant return. Witness this icon with the only accompaniment a Broadway star truly needs: a piano and a microphone.

Elegant, thoughtful European classics for wind quintet. From the venerable halls of Trafalgar Square’s Academy of St. Martin in the Fields comes the institution’s formidable Wind Ensemble. This quintet, each member at the top of their craft, presents a sophisticated and varied program celebrating the versatility of wind instruments. A foursome of 19th and 20th-century works opens the program, from the turbulent lyricism of Poulenc to the vibrant neo-classicism of Francaix. Mozart’s timeless Quintet for Winds and Piano, from a composer who famously adored both the clarinet and the horn, ties up the program with an effortlessly intricate bow. These musicians carry the Academy’s signature intellectual musicality to the Dumbarton stage for this fascinating program.

Resplendent Baroque music written and inspired by women. We are honored and grateful to welcome the Washington Bach Consort back to our stage after over thirty years with a graceful mix of vocal and instrumental music of the Baroque period. Led by Artistic Director Dana Marsh and featuring their star soprano Amy Broadbent, the Consort brings a program centered around solo cantatas by Barbara Strozzi and Francesca Caccini, two of the “under-sung” female composers of the Baroque period, accentuated by Bach and Handel arias for soprano as well as interludes of instrumental excellence that the Consort is so known for.

Fresh and vibrant Latin American works for string quartet. The chill of January is offset by the warm breezes of Latin America in this captivating program by the renowned Cuarteto Latinoamericano. With a 40-year pedigree as an ensemble, this quartet of luminaries is acclaimed the world over for their interpretations of both the Latin American greats and staples of the European canon. In their Latin American Miniatures program, you will be transported from the sensual slow dances of Argentina to the invigorating rhythms of Puerto Rico. Featuring well-known favorites by Carlos Gardel and Piazzolla as well as contemporary works written for the quartet, this distinguished ensemble’s program demonstrates what Chamber Music Magazine described as the “technical flair and musical imagination listeners have come to expect.”

Whirling winter rhythms and exciting bluegrass and folk music! As the snowflakes swirl, so do the rhythms of Celtic dance music, warming the heart and lifting the spirits. Helicon returns to Dumbarton this year with its annual Winter Solstice program. From Scotland to the hills of Kentucky, and from French Canada back to the Irish homeland, music of the Celtic diaspora captivates all who hear. Helicon and its fearless leader Ken Kolodner bring their bright and festive program back to our historic stage. This holiday favorite program for the folk and bluegrass enthusiast will leave you tapping your toe, swaying in your seat, and carrying the holiday glow back to your home.

The warm and cozy hometown holiday favorite returns to Dumbarton! The 40-year Washington favorite returns to the sanctuary of Dumbarton Church this holiday season, as we celebrate the comfort and joy of the time of year with the classic sounds of the Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort. Led as ever by Linn Barnes and Allison Hampton and featuring the Washington institution known as Robert Aubry Davis, the Consort leads audiences on a universally-beloved journey, through poetry and folk music, from the briskness of winter into the coziness of the hearth and home. Join us once again for our yearly community Christmas celebration.

Warm and exciting holiday jazz from a local luminary A force of nature comes to the Dumbarton stage in the form of Marcus Johnson. The multi-talented Mr. Johnson and his band bring essential jazz excellence with a warm and exciting program of classic jazz for the Christmas season. Marcus’s talent and grit have led him to meteoric success in the jazz charts, with fifteen Billboard-charted albums since 1997. After years of sold-out shows at other Washington jazz institutions, the Marcus Johnson experience finally ascends the Dumbarton stage. In the words of Marcus himself, let yourself be guided on the “journey through which we discover those things in life that fulfill us and make each experience a little better.”

Music by female composers from a blockbuster piano soloist The internationally-renowned concert pianist Jeremy Denk returns after nearly two decades. One of the foremost American pianists of his generation, Mr. Denk is the winner of both a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize. His career has been marked by regular appearances at Carnegie and Royal Albert Halls as well as with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra. Mr. Denk brings to Dumbarton a brand new program of music by female composers from the 19th century to the present day. Be sure to experience this famously intellectual superstar in a uniquely intimate setting.

Powerful blues and roots music from a visionary artist Billboard Magazine called Martha Redbone “…a true original; the kind of artist who sets trends, as opposed to following them." The raw power of this Afro-Indigenous vocalist, songwriter, composer, and educator challenges and inspires all who hear her. She is known for her “unique gumbo” of folk, blues and gospel from her childhood in Harlan County, Kentucky infused with the eclectic grit of pre-gentrified Brooklyn. The “taut determination of mountain music and the bite of American Indian singing" (The New York Times) infuse her performances. American Roots music takes a new form in her hands, with an intellectual and critically-minded approach to the genre that, in the words of NPR, “brims with potency and freshness."

Solo cello through time: Bach, Brahms, and a world premiere We kick off our 46th season with one of the most beloved instruments of all time: the cello. In the hands of David Teie, the instrument sings its way through musical history, from Bach to Brahms and right up to the present day. The program finishes with a brand new piece by Mr. Teie himself, specially commissioned by Dumbarton Concerts co-founder Connie Zimmer in honor of our founding Board Chair, Angelo Cicolani. A member of the National Symphony Orchestra since 1984 and a veteran of no less than nineteen concerto performances with the orchestra, David Teie is a true storyteller of the instrument.

A swinging evening with a legend of jazz. A season celebrating excellent women in music comes to a stunning conclusion with Diane Schuur, the incomparable jazz vocalist and pianist. With an incredible twenty-six albums under her belt, not to mention two GRAMMY wins, Ms. Schuur is a clear leader in her field. She has made eleven appearances as Johnny Carson’s guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show, had a guest spot on Sesame Street, and performed for three U.S. Presidents. Appearing with her trio in a show featuring tunes from across the spectrum and history of jazz and influences from Latin, gospel, pop, and country, you won’t want to pass up this opportunity to see a legend up close and in her element.