The Eastman School of Music is pleased to highlight some of the premier concerts and events taking place on Gibbs Street this April. From a Rochester debut performance by GRAMMY-winning supergroup säje to Eastman Opera Theatre’s evocative presentation of Dialogues des Carmélites, these events have something for everyone. All are held in Eastman’s stunning concert spaces: Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall and Hatch Recital Hall.
The following events are TICKETED unless otherwise noted. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible to secure the best seats and savings by visiting EastmanTheatre.org or calling 585-274-3000.
Faculty Artist Series: Alexander Kobrin, piano
Monday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
Eastman’s Faculty Artist Series continues with Van Cliburn winner, pianist Alexander Kobrin as he completes the entire Beethoven Sonata cycle over the course of this school year — an exceptional endeavor. This evening’s program features Sonata Nos. 24-28.
Kilbourn Concert Series: David Russell, guitar
Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Inducted into the Guitar Foundation of America Hall of Fame in 2018, GRAMMY award-winning classical guitarist David Russell will display his superb musicianship in works of Brocá, Marcello, Kleynjans and more.
Kilbourn Concert Series: säje, vocal group
Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The GRAMMY-winning vocal supergroup säje (rhymes with beige), including Eastman’s Associate Professor of Jazz Voice Sara Gazarek, presents an unforgettable night full of “silk-smooth vocal blend…heightened harmonic insight…” and “hair-trigger dynamic sensitivity” (WBGO) in their Rochester debut.
Eastman Opera Theatre: “Dialogues des Carmelites”
Thursday, April 4 – Sunday, April 7 | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Join Eastman Opera Theatre for four nights of Poulenc’s haunting “Dialogues des Carmélites,” April 4-6 at 7:30 p.m. and April 7 at 2:30 p.m. in Kodak Hall. Directed by Pat Diamond and conducted by Timothy Long, it will be sung in French with English supertitles.
This quasi-historical opera, with music by Poulenc and libretto by Georges Bernanos, is set in Paris at the close of the 18th century. As signs of the French Revolution begin to unsettle the country, a fearful young noblewoman seeks sanctuary in a convent, where, in the midst of unspeakable tragedy, her faith in God will be tested.
Tuesday, April 9 at 2:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall | FREE & open to the public
Grand Prize-winners of the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, The James E. Clark Chamber Music Residency excitedly welcomes the versatile and vibrant musicians of WindSync back to Eastman for their second Clark Residency.
Eastman Ranlet Series: Takács Quartet
Sunday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
In a highly anticipated return to Eastman’s Ranlet Series, the GRAMMY-winning Takács Quartet presents a program inspired by “the natural world,” featuring works by Haydn, Beethoven and a new piece by Phoenix-based composer, Nokuthula Ngwenyama. Featured Image: Takács Quartet, photographed by Amanda Tipton
Eastman Ranlet Series: Ying Quartet with Xavier Foley, double bass
Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Double bassist and composer Xavier Foley joins the Ying Quartet for the world premiere of his new work. Foley, first prize-winner of both the 2014 Sphinx Competition and the 2016 Young Concert Artists Auditions, has been described as “a dazzling player who hears borders between styles as limitations best ignored.” (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Barbara B. Smith World Music Series: Oumou Sangaré, voice
Friday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Global superstar Oumou Sangaré fuses her distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues, folk and rock resulting in a timeless body of work free from borders and genres. Her vocals soar above driving grooves and inescapably danceable rhythms.
Sunday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall | FREE & open to the public
The Links Scholarship, a cooperative effort between the Rochester, NY Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the Eastman School of Music, recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary talent and academic achievement of an African American scholar musician. The 2024 scholarship winner has not been announced at the time of this press release.
Click here to view the full 2023-24 Eastman Presents season and to purchase tickets. For all other happenings at Eastman, visit our Events Calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Media only: Lauren Sageer, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
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About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854–1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.