The importance of attending live concerts cannot be overstated! Supporting the arts through participation in live concerts and hearing acoustic musicians will not only help the community at large, but foster the development of the individual’s relationship with the arts, Experiencing music in real time with real people is a completely different experience than listening through a speaker or computer. Become a lifelong patron of the arts, and expand your scope of the musical world!
Extra credit opportunities will be given to students who attend outside performances and write about their experiences. Please click below for the extra credit writeup worksheet (psst…it’s not that difficult, and mainly a completion grade). Don’t forget to attach a copy of your ticket or program for proof. Carpool and make it an event…bring your friends and family! Take photos!
Here is a list of local family-friendly performing venues, ensembles, and concert halls that frequently perform classical, jazz, and wind band music at a professional level. Please browse the calendar of events on each ensemble’s website, find concerts that fit your schedule, and purchase tickets! There are many free concerts available if you search. Student discounts, sometimes even free entry, are often available.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is located in Washington, D.C. It is a cultural center, producing a wide array of performances encompassing the genres of theater, dance, ballet, and orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, and folk music, offers multi-media performances for adults and children, and is a nexus of arts education. The National Symphony Orchestra frequently performs at this venue, one of the best orchestras in the country.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, is a nonprofit performing arts center located in Fairfax, Virginia, offering over 100 performances across all genres every summer. Home to the architecturally stunning Filene Center and the charmingly intimate Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, the 117-acre Park offers dining and hospitality amenities throughout the summer season, and year-round recreational opportunities, including hiking trails, picnic areas, and sledding.
Strathmore is a nonprofit multi-disciplinary arts center in North Bethesda, Maryland. The Music Center at Strathmore is home to several arts and education partners including hundreds of performances and events per year by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Levine Music, interPLAY Orchestra, and others. The complex is easily accessible for patrons coming from Washington, D.C. High quality arts programming, designed for audiences of many tastes, served with the hospitality and warmth of a family enterprise, are the hallmarks of Strathmore. Seasonal outdoor events seek to be inclusive in their programming appeal, reaching out to people of all ages, interests, and cultural heritage.
The Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA welcomes hundreds of thousands of community members to its Concert Hall for performances by renowned professional artists, accomplished faculty, and emerging student artists. The season consists of national and international artists featuring the best of classical music, opera, jazz, world music, dance, theater, global music, and more. The Center for the Arts is also the performing home for the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland is a large performance hall hosting a wide variety of artistic performances. According to their website, “We are building the future of the arts by educating, training and presenting the next generation of artists and creative innovators. The Clarice regularly features music, theater, and dance productions, as well as an extensive music library. MilkBoy is expanding to Maryland and the College Park community, bringing both great music and elevated American comfort food. A hub of innovation and possibility, The Clarice is building the future of the arts now!
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Today, the Marine Band performs in approximately 500 events every year, including concerts, parades, state dinners, state arrival ceremonies/funerals, and a fall concert tour, a tradition that began in 1891 under its most famous director, composer John Philip Sousa. The U.S. military bands hire the highest-quality wind and percussion musicians around under a rigorous audition process, performing exciting concert repertoire for wind band, old and new! Visit their website to view their performing dates and locations.
http://www.marineband.marines.mil/
.
The United States Navy Band, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served as the official musical organization of the U.S. Navy since 1925. The band performs all styles of music — from ceremonial pieces to classical, rock, jazz, and country hits. Comprised of six primary performing groups, including the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters, Commodores (jazz), Country Current, and Cruisers, 170 musicians recruited from the finest music schools and professional organizations perform over 270 public concerts and 1,300 ceremonies each year. Visit their website to view their performing dates and locations.
The United States Army Band, “Pershings Own,” is the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army, founded in 1922. There are eight performing ensembles in the unit: The U.S. Army Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Army Chorus, Army Blues, Army Band Downrange, Army Herald Trumpets, Army Strings, and Army Brass Quintet. The ensembles provide musical support for the leadership of the United States, to include all branches of government, and to a wide spectrum of national and international events in support of Soldiers and their families, public diplomacy, memorial affairs, community and international relations, and recruiting initiatives. Visit their website to view their performing dates and locations.
The United States Air Force Band, formed in 1941, is the Air Force’s premier musical organization and is based at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. Within the band, there are six performing ensembles: The Concert Band, Singing Sergeants, Airmen of Note (jazz), Air Force Strings, Ceremonial Brass, and Max Impact. Collectively, these musical groups perform a wide spectrum of styles, including classical, jazz, popular, patriotic and ceremonial music. The mission of the Band is to deliver musical products that inspire emotions, create positive impressions and communicate information. The bands honor, inspire and connect reaching over six million listeners at over five thousand live and televised performances each year. Visit their website to view their performing dates and locations.
Outside of these groups, there are countless others to check out! Please visit the websites of these other performing ensembles and venues in the area to find a good fit for your available time and location. Some of these ensembles may be much closer to you, or have cheaper/free tickets! CLICK on the picture to visit each ensemble’s website.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS:
BAROQUE MUSIC:
Early Music DC (Links to various early music ensembles in D.C. Area)
http://www.earlymusicdc.org/emdc/groups.htm
JAZZ:
Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.
Twins Jazz in Washington, D.C.
The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA
Bethesda Blues in Bethesda, MD
Alice’s Jazz and Cultural Society in Washington, D.C.
JV’s Restaurant, Falls Church, VA
Jammin Java, Vienna, VA