MAY EVENTS
Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman, and Baroklyn
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium
10 First Street SE. Washington DC 20540
Reserve Tickets Here
Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman and the Baroklyn ensemble perform an evening of chamber works by J.S. Bach. Baroklyn’s arresting new arrangements and transcriptions of the chorales, concerto and cantata on the program were chosen by Dinnerstein, “a unique voice in the forest of Bach interpretation” (New York Times). Created for the group’s recent Complicité project, they reveal an intimate and thoughtful reimagining of Bach’s music that allows us to experience his genius through contemporary ears. Rescheduled from November 6, 2025.
Pre-concert Conversation: Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100.
Book Talk with co-authors Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres and David H. Plylar, PhD. Books will be available for purchase.
6:30 pm, Whittall Pavilion
JUNE EVENTS
Live! At the Library: “The Disappearance of Miss Scott” [TV-14], 1h 27mins (2025)
Thursday, June 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
James Madison Building, Mumford Room
101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
Reserve Tickets Here
Introduced by Adam Clayton Powell III
"The Disappearance of Miss Scott" chronicles Hazel Scott’s meteoric rise as a jazz talent and major Hollywood star. The first African American to have her own television show, she was also an influential civil rights pioneer before being blacklisted during the Red Scare of the 1950’s. Produced by 4th Act Actual for the PBS American Masters series, this rich documentary tells the story of Hazel Scott’s extraordinary life fully for the first time.
A display of Hazel Scott's papers will be available.
|
Live! At the Library: Ekep Nkwelle
Thursday, June 4, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium
10 First Street SE. Washington DC 20540
Reserve Tickets Here
An influential musician who transformed the role of the acoustic and electric bass as a frontline instrument in jazz music, Stanley Clarke is a pillar of American music. A co-founder of the legendary 1970s group “Return to Forever” with Chick Corea, Clarke is known for his groundbreaking jazz fusion work, innovative bass techniques and for broadening the bass’s presence across music styles. Stanley Clarke, the bass man, comes to the Library of Congress for a memorable evening of music.
|
Live! At the Library: 2026 Jazz Scholar: Playing with Fire: The Counterpoint of Hazel Scott's Virtuosity, Erasure and Emergence
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Whitthall Pavilion
10 First Street SE. Washington DC 20540
No Tickets Required
Karen Chilton is an author, cultural historian, and biographer whose work focuses on African American music, film, and performance history. She is the official biographer of Hazel Scott and the author of "Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist, from Café Society to Hollywood". Chilton returns to the Library as the 2026 Jazz Scholar to further expand her research on Scott’s enduring legacy.
|
Live! At the Library: Stanley Clarke
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Whitthall Pavilion
10 First Street SE. Washington DC 20540
Reserve Tickets Here
An influential musician who transformed the role of the acoustic and electric bass as a frontline instrument in jazz music, Stanley Clarke is a pillar of American music. A co-founder of the legendary 1970s group “Return to Forever” with Chick Corea, Clarke is known for his groundbreaking jazz fusion work, innovative bass techniques and for broadening the bass’s presence across music styles. Stanley Clarke, the bass man, comes to the Library of Congress for a memorable evening of music.
|
Event Registration
Etix
Concertgoers will receive seat assignments when they register for events. Space available admission will continue to be available for each concert with the RUSH pass program.
Last Minute Ticket Drop
Additional tickets are released to the public at 10:00 a.m. ET, two weeks before the day of the event.
RUSH Passes
Guests without assigned seats are welcome to attend, space permitting, and may register for a numbered RUSH pass upon arrival. Guests with RUSH passes will be seated five minutes before showtime, pending availability of unclaimed seats. Advance registrants who arrive after that time will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager space permitting. RUSH pass distribution starts two hours prior to the concert.
Past Event Videos
Conversation with Zlata Chochieva and Lecture by David Plylar
Pianist Zlata Chochieva speaks with David Plylar of the Library’s Music Division for a brief conversation. Plylar then gives a lecture about the program of fantasies and sonatas called “Avant la lecture de…this program: Freedom and Fiefdom in the Fantasy-Sonata.” The lecture discusses the music of Bartók, Beethoven, Schumann, Sibelius, Bach, Scriabin, and Liszt.
Click here to watch the video
Event Date:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Music Division Blog: "In the Muse"
New Book Celebrates Concerts from the Library of Congress @ 100
Since 1925, the Library of Congress has presented one of the most prestigious and innovative concert series in the United States. Philanthropist Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge founded the series with the purpose of sharing music of the highest caliber with the American people. Her vision was clear: concerts would be free and open to all, the finest touring artists and ensembles would appear, and both traditional and new repertoire would be performed. Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100 shares the history of this remarkable series through the people, music, and collections that have inspired countless listeners. Written by Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres and David H. Plylar.
Available now through the Library Store and from retailers everywhere.
|
Happening at the Library
-
National Recording Registry Inducts Sounds of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Go-Go’s, Vince Gill, Weezer, Reba McEntire and More
-
Library Unveils The Source, a New Experiential Gallery for Young Researchers
-
Annual Summer Movies on the Lawn to Present National Film Registry Selections
-
Library Unveils Spring, Summer Lineup for Family Days in May, June and July
Release Date: 09 Apr 2026 | Library of Congress
-
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze Appointed for a Second Term
- Library Unveils Spring, Summer Lineup for Family Days in May, June and July
Your contributions enable the Library to continue its tradition of offering concerts free to the public today, tomorrow, and for future generations! Your support will help us grow, advance, and make universally accessible the Library's unparalleled performing arts programs.
|
