The National Symphony Orchestra is bringing back its NSO in Your Neighborhood initiative, this year to Capitol Hill. From January 7-13, the NSO will present a variety of activities, with an emphasis on chamber performances, education, and community engagement programs for audiences of all ages.
Union Station, public libraries, the Marine Barracks, coffee shops, and art centers on Capitol Hill will host everything from Shakespeare-inspired shows to violin ensembles to youth orchestra performances to instrument petting zoos to chamber music — and even more in between. And all of the events are free and open to the public.
The performances highlighted below are geared especially toward young audiences, but all of them can be appreciated by any age. You can view the complete schedule on the Kennedy Center website.
ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Viva Violins: From Baby Talk to Mozart
10–11am | EBENEZERS COFFEEHOUSE, 201 F ST., NE
The violin grows up in the spotlight in this program which tells the tale of three little violins and how their mother teaches them to “sing.” Join violinists Elisabeth Adkins, Paula Akbar, Holly Hamilton, and Jane Bowyer Stewart as they grow the musical experience from sweet lullabies like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” all the way to breathtaking Bach. Immediately following the performance, young people will enjoy the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo,” a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO
1:30–2:30pm | UNION STATION, 50 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., NE
Hands-on fun with instruments! Children (and their parents) have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they will see professionally played on stage. The musical instrument “petting zoo” is a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.
NSO AT UNION STATION
3 & 7pm | UNION STATION, EAST HALL,
50 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., NE
Led by NSO Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl and featuring WUSA Channel 9’s Andrea Roane as host, the National Symphony performs two full “train-themed” concerts at Union Station.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO
10:30am–12:30pm | DC SOUTHEAST LIBRARY, 403 7TH ST., SE
Hands-on fun with instruments! Children (and their parents) have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they see professionally played on stage. The musical instrument “petting zoo” is a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO.
