NSO World Premieres
For 250 Years of US, the National Symphony Orchestra presents the world premiere co-commissions of works by American composers.
Sounds of US
Sounds of US honors the diverse soundscape of America, from its rich heritage to the contemporary voices that continue to shape its musical identity. Performances will include new music, premieres, and celebratory concerts spanning jazz, hip hop, chamber music, pop, rock, country, and more—along with the National Symphony Orchestra commissioning classical works from artists coast to coast.
Original Commission
Monuments: A Suite for DC by Carlos Simon
Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon has created a new orchestral work structured as a multi-movement suite that celebrates the city’s history, complexity, and cultural richness. The four parts—Federal, Faith, Art and Culture, and Memorial—are inspired by the monuments, neighborhoods, and communities of Washington, D.C. The recorded work—played by the Trump Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra—can be streamed on this website or from locations around the city that inspired the piece.
National Symphony Orchestra
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National Symphony Orchestra
American Mosaic (World Premiere)
Feb. 19 - 22, 2026
A true celebration of American music! Thomas Wilkins opens the concert with the world premiere of Peter Boyer and Joe Sohm’s American Mosaic—an NSO co-commission featuring stunning imagery, narration, and American orchestral music celebrating the land, people, and spirit of the United States. Also on the program: Aaron Copland’s iconic ballet Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes along with Copland’s Clarinet Concerto featuring Lin Ma.
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National Symphony Orchestra
Shaham & Shaham play Reena Esmail (World Premiere) | Robertson conducts Sibelius’ Fifth
Feb. 26 - 28, 2026
Visionary maestro David Robertson conducts a program of movement and transformation. Nielsen’s Helios Overture follows the path of the sun across the sky, while the world premiere of Reena Esmail’s Double Concerto puts star siblings Gil and Orli Shaham center stage. To close, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 dances with themes shaped by landscape and time, with its famous finale inspired by the sight of a flock of swans flying overhead.
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National Symphony Orchestra
Noseda conducts Brahms’ Third | Carlos Simon World Premiere
Mar. 12 - 14, 2026
Gianandrea Noseda conducts the world premiere of Carlos Simon’s Double Concerto Suite, a work that expands the dialogue between violin, cello, and orchestra. To close, warmth and bravado unfold in Brahms’ introspective Symphony No. 3.
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National Symphony Orchestra
Porgy and Bess & Coleman Piano Concerto
Jun. 5 - 6, 2026
Michelle Cann, a champion of American composers and “pianist of sterling artistry” (Gramophone), returns to perform a world premiere by Valerie Coleman—named one of the “Top 35 Women Composers” by The Washington Post. Conductor Kellen Gray frames the evening with works reflecting the breadth of our nation’s story: Dvořák’s American Suite, inspired by his time in the U.S., and the Catfish Row suite from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
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More Events
National Symphony Orchestra
Puccini: 3 One-Act Operas – Il trittico
Apr. 29 - May 1, 2026
Step into a world of passion, tragedy, and deception with Puccini’s Il trittico, a trio of one-act operas led by world-renowned opera conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Suor Angelica plunges into the depths of sacrifice behind convent walls. Il tabarro unveils a shadowy tale of love and betrayal along the Seine. Gianni Schicchi turns deception into delight in a sharp-witted comedy of intrigue. Three stories, three distinct worlds—one unforgettable evening of Opera in Concert.
Music Celebrations International presents
National Memorial Day Choral Festival
Sun. May 24, 2026
Music Celebrations International partners with The Capital Wind Symphony and the American Veteran’s Center to present The 16th Annual Memorial Day Choral Festival.
National Symphony Orchestra
Appalachian Spring & Mahler’s First
May 29 - 30, 2026
Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England paints an evocative portrait of history and memory. Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite follows—a radiant work of optimism crowned by its iconic “Shaker” melody. Conductor James Gaffigan closes the evening with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, charting a youthful “Wayfarer’s” journey through darkness to a triumphant, heroic climax.
National Symphony Orchestra
An American in Paris & Barber Violin Concerto
Jun. 12 - 13, 2026
Karen Kamensek leads an evening of color and contrast featuring Adam Schoenberg’s American Symphony, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, and Barber’s lyrical Violin Concerto featuring Johan Dalene in his NSO debut. The program culminates with Gershwin’s enormously popular An American in Paris—a vibrant, jazz-tinged celebration of city life through the eyes of an American abroad.
