One-Hour Live Concerts in the Secret Garden
Opera | Choir | Jazz | Chamber Music | Early Music | Cabaret | Tango | Flamenco
2023-2024 Season Concerts
Friday, September 8, 2023 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto and Brahms, Sonata for Violin with David Kim!
Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster, David Kim, violin | Jeffrey DeVault, piano
Embark on an extraordinary musical journey as we kick off our 2023-2024 concert series with the much-awaited return of David Kim! The illustrious Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s mesmerizing violin performances have dazzled audiences across continents, and his return promises an evening of sheer enchantment. Kim’s solo appearances with The Philadelphia Orchestra and orchestras worldwide have left audiences captivated – join us for a night that sets the stage for an unforgettable concert series!
This concert has been generously sponsored by Norma Dugger
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Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Insingizi – Voices of Southern Africa
INSINGIZI: Vusa Mkhaya Ndlovu | Blessings “Nqo” Nkomo | Roben Mlauzi
Witness the magic of Insingizi in concert – a trio from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, renowned for their exceptional a cappella prowess and harmonious chants. With soul-stirring performances that address today’s struggles, their music resonates with honesty and vulnerability. Get ready for an exhilarating showcase of the traditional “gumboot dance,” a testament to the human spirit’s triumph over adversity. Immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind experience, where cultural richness blends seamlessly with musical mastery.
Sunday, October 15, 2023 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Polished Brass
Musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra: William Gerlach, NSO Principal Trumpet | Michael Harper, NSO Assistant Principal Trumpet | James Nickel, NSO Horn | Casey Jones, NSO Acting Assistant Principal Trombone | Seth Cook, WNO/KCOHO Principal Tuba
Celebrate the Fall season with the vibrant sound of brass performed by Principal brass members of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Join us for this fresh and exciting concert. Hear works by living composers such as Jennifer Higdon, Lauren Bernofsky, and Anthony DiLorenzo, as well as by Morley Calvert and Victor Ewald – all composed specifically for the brass quintet!
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Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Flamenco Fiesta – A Night of Guitar and Dance
Michael “Miguelito” Perez, guitar | Ricardo Marlow, guitar and voice | Sara Jerez, dancer
Immerse yourself in the passionate rhythm and feel the fiery essence of Flamenco at our exhilarating concert! From the intricate melodies of vocals and captivating guitar duets to the electrifying synergy between the guitar and the dancer, the night will pulse with the heartbeat of solea, alegrias, and bulerias rhythms. Come and join us for an unforgettable evening of music and dance!
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Celebrating 150 Years of Rachmaninoff
Dimitry Yudin, Piano | Maia Gonzalez, Soprano | Ben Strong, Bass-Baritone | Alisa Sadikov, Harp
Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff and inaugurate our new one-of-a-kind Steinway A3 piano at our January concert, an evening of enchanting music by some of the world’s most revered composers. This special event will feature the captivating works of Rachmaninoff, De Falla, and Glinka, performed by four of today’s most promising young musicians.
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Sunday, February 4th, 2024 | 5pm
Ayreheart – A Celtic Savory Soiree
Concert with multi-course Celtic cuisine and wine pairings.
Ronn McFarlane, lute | Will Morris, fretless bass, violin and colascione | Mattias Rucht, percussion | Heather Aubrey Lloyd, voice
The festivities begin with a black velvet sparkling cocktail before a feast of scadán (herring) with pickles, red onions and carrots served on potatoes and dill, followed by gearrthóg uaineola (lamb) with rosemary in plum sauce served with celtic dumplings. The third course is císte meala, a honey cake with fruit preserves. Each course is served with a wine pairing, and a tasting of Irish whiskey (or Irish cream) ends the night. Courses are complemented with enchanting Renaissance music from Ayreheart. Get lost in traditional Irish, English, Scottish, and Welsh songs, and listen to a modern renaissance master, Ronn McFarlane, breathe new life into the music with his own inspired compositions.
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2024 | 5pm SOLD OUT, 6:30pm seats remaining
Anna Dmytrenko – A Fundraiser for Ukraine
Anna Dmytrenko, piano
Join Ukrainian pianist Anna Dmytrenko for a concert at The Rectory on Princess Street. Anna will perform on a 1917 Steinway A3 piano. Proceeds of this concert will go to aid for those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Virtuosic knockout!… A fine combination of keyboard mastery and elegant refinement.”
Lyn Bronson, Peninsula Reviews
Thursday, March 21st, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Broadway’s Best
Susan Derry, Voice | Howard Breitbart, Piano
Dive into an evening of iconic musical theater melodies. DC’s own Susan Derry is known from iconic roles in shows like Into the Woods, The Music Man, Phantom of the Opera, and My Fair Lady. From heart-wrenching ballads to toe-tapping numbers, it’s a musical spectacle not to be missed. March has never sounded so mesmerizing; grab your ticket today.
“Soaring Soprano… Striking theatricality” – The New York Times
Monday, March 25th, 2024 | 7:30pm
Portland Youth Philharmonic Centennial Season Tour: A Century of Musical Excellence and Innovation at the Strathmore
Classical Movements presents the Portland Youth Philharmonic at the Strathmore, a momentous celebration of 100 years devoted to youth, musical excellence, inspiration, and unwavering commitment to the arts! This is the oldest youth Orchestra in the country.
To honor this centennial celebration, the Portland Youth Philharmonic combines forces with the GRAMMY-nominated, Imani Winds, to perform Jeff Scott’s “Paradise Valley Serenade,” a brand-new work for wind quintet and orchestra recently premiered by the winds of the Detroit Symphony.
The collaboration between this exceptional youth orchestra and the dynamic ensemble Imani Winds, combined with the diverse and engaging program, ensures that this tour is an event not to be missed! Save the date.
Sunday, April 7th, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Spring Strings – Beethoven’s Archduke Trio
Angelia Cho, violin | Eugena Riley, cello | Efi Hackmey, piano
Piano, violin, and cello at the Rectory on Princess Street!
Join us in April for Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, often referred to as the “Archduke Trio” because Beethoven dedicated it to amateur pianist, patron, and composition student Archduke Rudolph of Austria. Known for it’s prominent piano part, this trio will shine on our new 1917 Steinway A3.
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Thursday, May 9th, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Saxophone Serenades in the Secret Garden
Leigh Pilzer | Saxophone
As May flowers bloom, our Secret Garden prepares for an evening of jazz magic. Saxophonist Leigh Pilzer takes center stage with a blend of ageless jazz melodies and captivating originals, performing selections from the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, and swinging tuneful originals. Listeners might recognize classics like “Sophisticated Lady” by Duke Ellington or “I Thought About You” by Jimmy Van Heusen, and will be thrilled to get to hear originals like “Anyone But You”, “Swinging at the Station”, and “East Coast Andy”. Experience this unique blend of jazz and nature.
“Leigh Pilzer is an astral being of a baritone saxophonist that comes only once in a generation, a talent so rare that even the sharp eye of a Hubble has to be quick off the mark… In the curious case of Leigh Pilzer genius shines with an electrifying flash.” – Raul da Gama, The Jazz World
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Thursday, June 6th, 2024 | 5pm, 6:30pm
Opera in the Garden – Scenes from Mozart’s Don Giovanni
Jordan Gilbert, Soprano | Zeky Nadji, Baritone | Maia Gonzalez, Soprano | Ben Strong, Bass-Baritone | Joshua Bates, Baritone
Featured alumni from Prague Summer Nights Young Artist Music Festival bring scenes from this iconic Mozart opera to The Rectory!
Join us as these rising stars bring Don Giovanni from it’s birthplace in Prague to Old Town Alexandria.
