Bankhead Presents Program | February 2026
Sponsored in part by the generous support of
Selected Shorts
SUN FEB 15 @ 3 PM
Hosted by Joshua Malina
The Duck by Ben Loory
Performed by Wendie Malick
Voices by Daniel Kehlmann
Performed by Geoffrey Arend
INTERMISSION
Outage by John Updike
Performed by Joshua Malina
The Magician’s Wife by Mary Gordon
Performed by Wendie Malick
THE ARTISTS (in alphabetical order)
Geoffrey Arend starred in and directed for 5 seasons on Madam Secretary. His screen credits include Deli Boys, Paradise, Good American Family, Physical, Office Race, The Offer, Goliath, Body of Proof, Body of Proof: The Musical, Trust Me, and (500) Days of Summer, among others. Arend’s voice can be heard in the Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths series, on BBC Radio in Central Intelligence, Buzz, in which he plays Buzz Aldrin, and the video games Grand Theft Auto IV, Manhunt 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Red Dead Revolver, Daria’s Inferno, and countless more. Forthcoming projects include The Leader and CATnip.
Daniel Kehlmann is a German-language novelist and playwright. His novels include Measuring the World, Fame, The Director, Me and Kaminski, F, and Tyll, which was shortlisted for the 2020 International Booker Prize. His novels and plays have won numerous prizes, including the Candide Prize, the Doderer Prize, the Kleist Prize, the Welt Literature Prize, and the Thomas Mann Prize. Measuring the World has been translated into more than forty languages and is one of the biggest successes in post-war German literature. His plays include The Mentor, Christmas Eve, Die Reise der Verlorenen, and Geister in Princeton, which won him the Nestroy Theatre Prize for best play in 2012. He’s written several screenplays such as Nebenan, Confessions of Felix Krull, Verhör in der Nacht, Das letzte Problem, and Measuring the World. In 2024 he was awarded the Ludwig Börne Prize and in 2025 he was awarded the New York Public Library Library Lion. He currently lives in Berlin and New York.
Mary Gordon is a novelist, essayist, memoirist, literary critic, and was the McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College until 2020. She is the author of many books, including Final Payments, Circling My Mother, Reading Jesus, The Shadow Man, The Company of Women, On Thomas Merton, Payback, and three collections of short fiction, including The Stories of Mary Gordon, which was awarded the Story Prize. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lila Wallace–Reader’s Digest Award, an O Henry Award, and an Academy Award for Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In March 2008, Governor Eliot Spitzer named Mary Gordon the official New York State Author and gave her the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction. She was inducted as a member of the inaugural class of the New York Writers Hall of Fame in 2010.
Ben Loory’s first collection, Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day, was a selection of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program. His second collection, Tales of Falling and Flying, was named a Favorite Book of the Year by the staff of The Paris Review, and one of the 50 Best Fantasy Books of All Time by Esquire Magazine. Loory’s fables and tales have appeared in The New Yorker, BOMB Magazine, Fairy Tale Review, and Electric Literature, and been heard on This American Life and at WORDTheatre. He lives and teaches short story writing in Los Angeles.
Wendie Malick is a two-time Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, best known for her work on Shrinking, Dream On, Just Shoot Me!, Frasier, and Hot in Cleveland. Select film and television credits include Grace & Frankie, BoJack Horseman, This Is Us, American Housewife, Mom, The Ranch, Physical, Darrow & Darrow, Dear White People, Young Sheldon, Billions, About Fate, Acapulco, Mother of All Shows, Night Court, Mack & Rita, The American President, Waiting, Jerome, 50 Nothing, and The Surrogate. Onstage, she was last seen at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Big Night. Malick is on the Environmental Media Association Board and the Advisory Board of Return to Freedom, a wild horse sanctuary. Malick and her husband, Richard Erickson, support an orphanage in Tijuana and a hospital in Congo.
A co-star on The West Wing and Sports Night, Joshua Malina also appeared in Aaron Sorkin’s The American President, Malice, and the Broadway production of A Few Good Men. More recently, he played David Rosen in Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal, and President Siebert on The Big Bang Theory. His 400 episodes of television include Inventing Anna, American Horror Story, House, Shameless, Law & Order, American Auto, and The Larry Sanders Show. Joshua’s film appearances include Bulworth, In the Line of Fire, and A Few Good Men. In 2023, Joshua appeared on Broadway in Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award–winning play Leopoldstadt. He starred in the world premiere of Nathan Englander’s play What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank at The Old Globe in San Diego, and reprised his performance last year at the Marylebone Theater in London. Josh can be seen in the upcoming film Ethan Bloom, which premiered at The Miami Film Festival.
John Updike (1932 – 2009) is the author of over sixty books, spanning fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He is the recipient of the Rea Award for the Short Story, the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, the American Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the National Arts Club Medal of Honor, and the 1998 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Beginning in 1954, he contributed hundreds of essays, stories, and poems to The New Yorker. He is best known for the series of novels that includes Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Is Rich (Pulitzer Prize 1981); Rabbit at Rest (Pulitzer Prize 1990); and Rabbit Redux; and the story collections Too Far to Go (The Maples Stories), Trust Me, My Father’s Tears and Other Stories, and posthumously, The Stories of John Updike.
CREDITS
“The Duck,” by Ben Loory, from Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day (Penguin Books, 2011). Copyright © 2011 by Ben Loory. Used by permission of the author.
“Voices,” by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Carol Brown Janeway, from Fame: A Novel in Nine Episodes (Knopf, 2011). Copyright © 2011 by Daniel Kehlmann. Used by permission of Rogers, Coleridge & White Literary Agency.
“Outage,” by John Updike, from The New Yorker (December 30, 2007). Copyright © 2007 by the John H. Updike Literary Trust. Used by permission of The Wylie Agency, LLC.
“The Magician’s Wife,” by Mary Gordon, first published in Temporary Shelter (Random House Inc., 1987) and collected in The Stories of Mary Gordon (Pantheon, 2006). Copyright © 1987, 2006 by Mary Gordon. Used by permission of the author.
Symphony Space Staff
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Senior Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Sarah Montague Selected Shorts Radio Producer
Miles B. Smith Selected Shorts Recording Engineer
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Program Associate, Literature and Education
Lili Raynaud Literary Intern
Gabriela Weaver Literary Intern
Selected Shorts is supported by the Dungannon Foundation, creator of The Rea Award for the Short Story. This program is also made possible by the generous support of Susan Bay Nimoy, Seedlings Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Michael Tuch Foundation, Axe-Houghton Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America, and Theatre Development Fund.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Exclusive management for Selected Shorts:
Alliance Artist Management 5030 Broadway, Suite 812, New York NY 10034
For our 2026 North American tour, International Guitar Night (IGN) founder Brian Gore has assembled the most virtuosic and fiery lineup in our 26-year history, featuring exquisite classical, lightning-fast flamenco, mind-bending fingerstyle, and our first-ever ukulele player.
Each year, International Guitar Night brings together the most innovative players from across the globe—each with a distinctive voice and deep roots in their musical traditions—showing how diverse cultures and styles can harmonize.
Sign up using the QR code below for our mailing list and a chance to win a D’Addario gift pack (includes strings, capo, tuner, and winder). Winners will be contacted after the tour.
International Guitar Night
FRI FEB 20 @ 8 PM
This year’s lineup features: Taimane, a genre-blending ukulele player from Hawaii known for mesmerizing performances; Alexandr Misko, a Russian fingerstyle innovator redefining technique and arrangements; Lucas Imbiriba, a virtuosic Brazilian combining flamenco and rock influences; and true prodigy Thu Le.
TAIMANE (Hawaii)
Taimane is a groundbreaking ukulele virtuoso known for her high-voltage performances and genre-bending creativity. By perpetually upending the potential of the ukulele, she has become one of the instrument’s most influential ambassadors. Her concerts take audiences from Bach to Led Zeppelin, all powered by a magnetic stage presence. As IGN’s first ukulele artist, Taimane expands the festival’s sonic palette with passion, precision, and fearless imagination.
ALEXANDR MISKO (Russia)
Alexandr Misko is a modern fingerstyle trailblazer whose inventive technique and imaginative arrangements have earned him a global following. Rising to prominence through widely shared videos, he now tours internationally, records prolifically, and performs worldwide. The first-ever left-handed player to join IGN, his custom guitar enables drumming and on-the-fly retuning. His music is a fusion of percussive innovation and deeply melodic storytelling.
LUCAS IMBIRIBA (Brazil)
Lucas Imbiriba is an internationally recognized guitarist celebrated for his dynamic fusion of flamenco speed, Latin American rhythms, classical lyricism, and rock intensity. After earning top prizes in multiple European competitions, he embarked on this eclectic creative path that has earned him viral acclaim and tours across the world. His electrifying solo arrangements of classic rock and cinematic themes have captivated millions online.
THU LE (Vietnam)
A true prodigy, Thu entered the National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi at just seven years old, becoming its youngest student ever. A favorite among IGN audiences, she’s celebrated for her distinctive style and impeccable technique. Her repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary works, complemented by Latin American and other global influences that showcase her broad artistic vision while also playing music close to her cultural roots in Vietnam.
LVA Sponsor
LVA Sponsor
LVA Sponsor
UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater
MODERN CURRENTS: Contemporary Asian Voices
Art at the confluence of memory, tradition, and transformation.
Thru March 8, 2026
New Hours Thursdays — Saturdays, 12 pm — 5 pm*
FREE & OPEN to the Public
*PLEASE NOTE: The Art Gallery is CLOSED Sundays through Wednesdays, as well as on Saturdays when matinee performances take place at The Bankhead.
This exhibition brings together contemporary artists with Asian backgrounds whose works explore the layered intersections of heritage and modernity. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, these artists reflect on ancient traditions, personal and collective memory, and the rapidly shifting landscapes of their homelands. Modern Currents also opens space for dialogue with neighboring cultures across Asia—highlighting shared histories, spiritual motifs, and evolving identities in a globally connected world. The Reception for “MODERN CURRENTS,” also free and open to the public at the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery, was on Saturday, January 17, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Learn More …
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Earlier This Month
Sponsored in part
The Peking Acrobats
MON FEB 2 @ 7 PM
For the last thirty-two years, The Peking Acrobats® have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs and display their technical prowess at such arts as trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. They push the limits of human ability, defying gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. The Peking Acrobats are often accompanied by live musicians who skillfully play traditional Chinese instruments; the time-honored Chinese music coalesces with high-tech special effects and awe-inspiring acrobatic feats, creating an exuberant entertainment event with the festive pageantry of a Chinese Carnival.
Since their founding in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have been featured on numerous television shows and celebrity-studded TV specials, including Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous, The Wayne Brady Show, That’s Incredible, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, and NBC’s Ring In The New Year Holiday Special. The Peking Acrobats set the world record for the Human Chair Stack on FOX Network’s Guinness Book Primetime television show in 1999: they balanced six people precariously atop six chairs, twenty-one feet up in the air without safety lines, astounding audiences with their bravery and dexterity. The Peking Acrobats have also made their way onto the silver screen – company members were featured in Steven Soderbergh’s hit film Ocean’s Eleven playing alongside Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney. Alumnus Shaobo Qin also appeared in that film’s two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen.
The Peking Acrobats achieved another milestone in the fall of 2003, when they made their orchestral debut at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. They performed as part of the Hollywood Bowl’s Fireworks Season Finale, where the company blended their unique brand of acrobatics with the majestic sound of the 100-piece Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by John Mauceri. Since their Hollywood Bowl debut, The Peking Acrobats have performed with many of the most prestigious Symphony Orchestras in North America today, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; the San Diego Symphony Orchestra; the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The Peking Acrobats return often to the Hollywood Bowl, where they perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as Special Guest Artists.
The Ten Tenors
THU FEB 5 @ 7:30 PM
CAMERON BARCLAY
The first New Zealander to join the group, Cameron hails from Auckland and studied extensively in his early years, graduating from both the University of Auckland and the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington. Prior to joining TTT, Cameron kept busy as a member of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus, and performed in numerous shows and concerts, including The Phantom of the Opera in Japan, The Pirates of Penzance in New Zealand, Die Fledermaus, Albert Herring, Handel’s Messiah and Margaret Wegener’s Ode to a Nightingale with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in the first recording of this work.
DANIEL BELLE
Sydney-sider Daniel joined TTT after studying at both the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Institute of Music, and has been a vital member of the group across several tours and albums. He has managed to balance his work with TTT with an exciting line up of extra gigs including roles in Jerry Springer the Opera (at the Sydney Opera House), Les Miserables (on tour throughout Australia and Asia), Sideshow at the Hayes Theatre and My Fair Lady in Sydney.
AMMON BENNETT
Ammon is a tenor from Rockingham, Western Australia. In 2017, he left the mining industry to undertake WAAPA’s Classical Voice program. Ammon performed a variety of operatic roles at WAAPA such as the Dean of the Faculty in Cendrillion, Alfredo in Die Fledermaus, and Frederic in WAAPA’s production of The Pirates of Penzance.
Whilst at WAAPA, Ammon studied with Fiona McAndrew and Michael Lewis. He has also performed as tenor soloist in the Mozart Requiem and performed for Richard Bonynge when he visited Perth in 2019.
In 2022, Ammon was a Wesfarmers Arts Young Artist with West Australian Opera and performed the roles of Almeric in Iolanta, Giuseppe in La traviata, and The Judge in Tosca. Ammon also performed the role of Nick in Freeze Frame Opera’s production of La Fanciulla del West.
Ammon is proud to continue as a Wesfarmers Arts Young Artist with West Australian Opera in 2023. In his spare time, Ammon practices Brazilian Jiu jitsu, and tutors in his current hometown.
BEN CLARK
Ben, a VCA alum has forged a career that has seen him perform in all corners of the globe. Ben appeared in Opera Australia’s productions (indoor and outdoor) of The Phantom of the Opera (2022/23) as The Hairdresser, covering the role of Ubaldo Piangi. Touring Australia in the titular role of John Merrick (aka The Elephant Man) in The Marvellous Elephant Man throughout 2023, Ben earned a 2024 Green Room Award Nomination for Leading Artiste in an Independent Musical. Other stage credits include Sweeney Todd (Vic Opera), The Magic Flute (Opera Australia). In 2018, Ben appeared in the hit television show ‘The Voice’. Throughout the show Ben tackled some of the biggest classical, musical theatre & Rock songs. Ben was Delta Goodrem’s final contestant, ultimately finishing 5th Overall. Ben has forged a path as one of Australia’s most sort after National Anthem performers, having performed for some of Australia’s biggest sporting teams. Most recently, Ben performed the Nation Anthem for the 2023/24 Boxing Day Test on the MCG. Ben began touring with The Ten Tenors in 2008 and is thrilled to be back in the road with boys again.
MICHAEL EDWARDS
A love of singing has always been part of life for Michael, who began his career performing with a number of choirs, starting with the Australian Boys Choral Institute at the age of eight. He followed this with stints performing with groups including the National Youth Choir of Australia, the Adelaide Chamber Singers and The Consort of Melbourne before studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (where he was part of an award-winning vocal quartet) and moving into opera. He has performed in a range of productions with the Victorian Opera Chorus, including Nixon in China, La Traviata, and I Pagliacci, and was part of the company’s ANZAC centenary production, Remembrance.
ADRIAN LI DONNI
Adrian is the Broadway king of the group, having spent three years living in New York City studying at the Circle in the Square Theatre School. His time on the Great White Way has served him well, and he’s gone on to perform in productions of many of the most iconic musical theatre shows including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Melbourne Zoo, Jesus Christ Superstar in Slovenia, and Miss Saigon on the Gold Coast. He won a Green Room Award in 2014 for his performance in Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures, and reprised the role of Lun Tha for numerous productions of The King and I in Texas, Melbourne, the UK/Ireland and on an Australian tour that included the Sydney Opera House.
JOSEPH NAIM
Born and raised in Melbourne, Joseph immersed himself in the dynamic world of cover bands from a young age, and found his voice amidst the fusion of pop, rock, and soul music. Joseph began his formal training in 2003 with The Ciccone Academy of Performing Arts and in 2009 trained at APO Arts Academy’s Musical Theatre Course under an elite scholarship program.
Joseph originally joined The Ten Tenors back in 2014 before going on to carve his place in the vibrant landscape of Australian musical theatre. His notable performances span productions such as Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Lion King, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and most recently in the Australian tour of Come From Away.
Joseph has now made a return to The Ten Tenors, bringing with him a wealth of experience, refined skills and a deeper connection to his craft. Joseph is set to captivate audiences once more, blending his style and charisma with the energy and harmony that define The Ten Tenors.
JARED NEWALL
As an ardent fan of musicals from a young age, it was natural for Jared to embrace the musical theatre scene in his hometown of Perth from a young age. He cut his teeth on some of the classics including Oliver and Guys and Dolls, before making his professional debut more than a decade ago in productions of Hair and Rent. This was followed by a busy period studying musical theatre at the University of Ballarat, where he played a range of roles, followed by a variety of professional engagements, and numerous international tours and album recordings with TTT.
BOYD OWEN
Boyd grew up in Melbourne and is a citizen of both Australia and New Zealand. Boyd has extensive experience in the world of opera. The current season has seen him making his debut in a number of other new roles: Rodrigo in Rossini’s Otello (Melbourne, Australia); Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata (Whuan, China); Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Wellington, New Zealand); Evangelist in Bach’s St John’s Passion (Shanghai, China); Elvino in Bellini’s La Sonnambula (Orvieto, Italy). He also won first prize in the Sydney Eisteddfod Operatic Scholarship singing competition.
SAM WARD
Melbourner Sam Ward is the newest addition to The TEN Tenors – and we’re thrilled to have him on board! Although he didn’t take his first formal singing lesson until the age of 17 (when he was cast in the title role of his school production of Sweeney Todd), Sam has made up for lost time since then and performed in a wide range of productions. Since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2016 (where he was awarded the 2015 Cassidy Bequest Scholarship), Sam has toured Europe and the Caribbean performing the role of Frank, and understudying the roles of Tick and Bob, in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on the Norwegian Epic. He’s also had roles in various productions including Jesus Christ Superstar for The Production Company, Les Miserables and 42nd Street for Free-Rain Theatre Company, The Beautiful Game for Manilla Street Productions, and Falsettos for StageArt. In 2017 he was a finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment, and was awarded the ‘Playbill Future Prospect Award.’
Ruthie Foster & Blind Boys of Alabama
FRI FEB 6 @ 8 PM
Ruthie Foster‘s musical journey is as eclectic and vibrant as her soulful voice. Born into a family steeped in gospel tradition, Ruthie’s earliest influences were the voices of her mother, grandmother, and the gospel singers she grew up listening to — artists like the Gospel Keynotes and the Blind Boys of Alabama. However, her path to becoming a solo artist wasn’t a straightforward one. Despite a deep love for music, Ruthie initially shied away from the spotlight, preferring to play guitar, piano, and write songs for others.
Growing up in the rich musical tapestry of Gause, Texas, Ruthie found herself drawn to the diverse sounds and arrangements of local gospel choirs and musicians. Despite her reluctance to take center stage, Ruthie’s talent was undeniable, and her mother encouraged her to step up and sing out. She stood out as a young black girl with a guitar in a choir scene dominated by pianos, but with her grandmother’s vocal coaching and encouragement from her mother and the church community, she recognized her own power — as a songwriter, a musician, and as a captivating singer.
After studying music at a community college in Waco, Ruthie decided to take a break from music and enlist in the Navy. The stage drew her once more, and she was selected to sing for the Navy band Pride, where she honed her skills as a vocalist and performer. A development deal with Atlantic Records led her to New York City, where she immersed herself in the songwriting community and learned the craft of writing songs that spoke to the soul.
However, Ruthie’s journey took a turn when her mother fell ill, prompting her to step back from music and return to Texas once again. It was a period of introspection, caregiving, and deep bonding with her mother, and upon her return to writing and performing, it was to shape her voice as a singer-songwriter and storyteller. Drawing on her experiences and her musical roots, she began to craft blues, folk, and gospel-tinged songs that spoke to the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience.
Turning down a major record deal in pursuit of authenticity, she has stayed true to herself and her vision as an artist, signing with independent label Blue Corn Music to release Runaway Soul in 2002, followed by The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster in 2007, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster in 2009, Let It Burn in 2012, Promise of a Brand New Day in 2014, Joy Comes Back in 2017, and Healing Time in 2022. She has also released three live albums, Stages in 2004, Live At Antone’s in 2011, and 2020’s Live at the Paramount.
Now, with five Grammy nominations to her name, Ruthie Foster has achieved a long-awaited milestone: her very first Grammy win. Her latest album, Mileage, released on the legendary Sun Records, won Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards — a triumph not only for Foster, but also a historic first-ever Grammy win for Sun Records. The recognition underscores the power of Foster’s artistry and the enduring legacy of a label that continues to champion timeless voices. With soulful melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and unwavering commitment to her craft, Foster continues to carve out a path that is uniquely her own — inspiring audiences and fellow musicians alike.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and winners of six GRAMMY® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years. The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material by songwriters such as Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits. They have appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, and Taj Mahal.
Blind Boys of Alabama released ‘Echoes Of The South’ on Aug 25, 2023, which finds the Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees coming home to honor those they’ve lost on a bold declaration of how far they still plan to go. The eleven-song collection is a portrait of perseverance from a group well-versed in overcoming incredible odds – from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South to performing for three different American presidents, soundtracking the Civil Rights movement, and helping define modern gospel music as we know it. Recently, the group’s decades-long mission of spreading light and love has taken on even deeper context as they’ve reckoned with the loss of two of their own, Paul Beasley and Benjamin Moore, both longtime members of the Blind Boys’ tight-knit family. ‘Echoes Of The South’ is released in their honor – as well as for the group’s recently-retired leader, Jimmy Carter – and keeps the Blind Boys’ long-held mission statement at its core: “As long as everybody gives all that they have to give and we sing songs that touch the heart, we’ll live on forever.”
In 2022, the group had a collaborative recording with Béla Fleck, nominated for a Grammy. The nominated collaboration, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,” powerfully reimagines the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, originally made famous by Nina Simone. They also have had collaborative recordings and coinciding tours with both Marc Cohn and afro-pop duo Amadou & Mariam. In 2023, Blind Boys garnered another Grammy nomination for Best Americana Single for ‘The Message’ featuring Black Violin.
2024 started off the year with a return to the GRAMMY® Awards with three nominations and one win for Best Roots Gospel Album – ‘Echoes Of The South.’ This was followed by a sold-out tour in Australia and a sizzling performance with Sir Tom Jones during the Bluesfest Byron Bay (Australia), where video of their rehearsal reached 750K + views in 48 hours on social platforms. The definitive book, titled Spirit of the Century, was released in March 2024. It’s an insider history of the Blind Boys of Alabama, the longest-running group in American music, and the untold story of their world written with band members and key musical colleagues.
The String Queens
FRI FEB 13 @ 8 PM
Praised for its authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens (TSQ) is a dynamic trio that creates stimulating musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine! With an array of repertoire spanning from the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart, TSQ performs versatile programs that take listeners on a rousing musical journey through time and a multitude of musical genres.
Based in Washington, D.C., TSQ has been featured in performances at renowned concert halls and venues across America, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation’s capital. Notable appearances include a special performance dedicated to Vice President Kamala Harris at the “We Are One” Presidential Inauguration Concert in January 2021 and rendering a spotlight presentation of TSQ’s electrifying arrangement of Harry Styles’s hit song “Golden” for the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament “The Championships, Wimbledon” in June 2021. As an ensemble who frequents the D.C. jazz scene, other headlining performances include multiple appearances at the DC Jazz Festival and the Capital Jazz Fest.
Recognized by D.C.’s leading news network WUSA9 as “school teachers by day and concert performers by night”, TSQ’s dedication, service, and innovative work in the field of music education has been acknowledged by the DC Jazz Festival with the “Jazz Education Award” in 2022, Carnegie Hall with the “Music Educators Workshop” Keynote Address in 2021, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with the “Aspire Award” in 2020, Washington Performing Arts’s “Mars Arts D.C” Resident Ensemble in 2019 and 2020, and most recently, a partnership with the Save The Music Foundation to present a series of professional development workshops for performing arts educators around the country on “Social Emotional Learning in the Arts Classroom” and “Trauma-Informed Centered Arts Classrooms” as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2022, TSQ released its third album titled “RISE”, which was made possible by a Sphinx Organization MPower Artist Grant. With this album, TSQ sought to sonically address the problems that are currently plaguing the world by creating unique arrangements of timeless classics rooted in hope, joy, peace, and love. Featuring original compositions by Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Richard Smallwood, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and more, “RISE” takes listeners on a musical journey that starts in a field of loss and hopelessness and ends in a fortress of faith, triumph, and fortitude. Previous albums from TSQ include a self-titled EP released in 2019 and a holiday EP titled “Our Favorite Things” released in 2020. All TSQ albums are available on its website and all major digital music platforms.
