We have so much to celebrate this season - The BI Database reaching its one-year anniversary, Women’s History Month, Our 6th-annual WoCo fest coming up in April, but most of all the 40th Birthday of our Co-Founder, Artistic and Executive Director, Dr. Laura Colgate.

This concert, performed by our two co-founders, will be a festive occasion to celebrate all that BI has done so far and look forward to all of the exciting things to come. The program will include works for violin and organ by Alexandra Gardner, Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach, Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Florence Price, Isabella Leonarda, and more! We will also be premiering a new piece by Julie Zhu, commissioned by the BI family in honor of Laura’s 40th.

Wine and cheese reception to follow.

Suggested Donation: $40

March 20, 2024, 7:30pm

Location: Christ Lutheran Church, 5101 16th St. NW, DC

PROGRAM

Prelude (1936)

Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)

Cantique

N. Boulanger

Capriccio 

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)

Menuet en Sol Mineur

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729)

Sonata op.16 n.12 in d minor

Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704)

Sanctuary of Joy

I. Yoga Flow

II. Bike Ride

III. Paris Market

IV. Campfire / Stars

Alexandra Gardner

Adoration

Florence Price (1887-1953)

the margin declares (World Premiere)

Julie Zhu

Nocturne

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)

Dr. Laura Colgate, violin

Dr. Joy-Leilani Garbutt, organ

Dr. Julie Zhu, registrant

Program note for the margin declares

…

we know art is fundamental to the [New State] as is evidenced
in village scenes, majestic ancient views,
masses and masses of [generic human figures] marching in columns,
swords coded as plowshares, image as spectacle

we know [name of city], [adjective], [name of major composer]
to recode [reduce] it: Linz, ambiguous, Wagner

we know [name of major historical figure] calls, authentically,
for a more total, more radical war than we can even
dream in the language of the avant-garde

…

the question here is the same as that of a relationship
where does art define our vocabulary?

the margin declares

[it is impossible to speak about something 

it is only possible to speak beside it
...

--Juliana Spahr, Responding from Response 

"The 'breathtaking,' 'paradigm-shifting' (New York Music Daily) string quartet The Overlook is a unifying, community-building force, whose dedication to a more representative musical tradition reverberates throughout their industry."

This March 8, 2023 at 7pm, celebrate International Women's Day with a tantalizing performance by The Overlook Quartet joined by pianist Sayaka Tanikawa co-presented by the Arts Club of Washington*. They will perform some of our all-time favorite works by Amy Beach, Florence Price, and Shelley Washington.

Doors open at 6:30pm, and beverages will be provided. Reception to follow with light refreshments. Don't miss out on this exciting performance by The Overlook in a historic space!

The Arts Club of Washington is located at 2017 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006

*Arts Club of Washington Members, click here for discounted tickets.

International Women’s Day Concert Program

THE Overlook Quartet & Sayaka Tanikawa

Monica Davis, violin
Ravenna Lipchik, violin
Angela Pickett, viola
Laura Metcalf, cello

Sayaka Tanikawa, piano

Piano Quintet in A minor (c. 1935) by Florence Price (1887-1953)

1. Allegro non troppo

2. Andante con moto

3. Juba. Allegro

4. Scherzo. Allegro

Say (2016) by Shelley Washington (b. 1991)

Intermission

Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67 (1907) by Amy Beach (1867-1944)

1.  Adagio - Allegro moderato

2.  Adagio espressivo

3.  Allegro agitato - Adagio come prima - Presto

This piece was written alongside the text for “Say” by Shelley Washington. The piece incorporates voice, body percussion, and strings.

Join Boulanger Initiative for the second performance of its Musical Mondays series featuring the duo Parallel Intersections.

The sounds of the tropical steelpan elegantly punctuates the bold, ethereal lilt of the Chinese dulcimer, creating an absolutely transcendent soundscape.

Parallel Intersections goes beyond the boundaries of each instrument, engaging in musical creations that are based on the exploration of commonness and differences. The duo comprises of Josanne Francis on the steelpan and Chao Tian on the Chinese dulcimer who first met as members of Strathmore’s Artist in Residence Class of 2018. Both are masters of their respective instruments: Francis made history as the first classical steelpan soloist to perform a concerto at Carnegie Hall, and Tian has been presented with the Wen Hua award—the highest honor given to a Chinese musician. Francis and Tian share a similar background in classical music and are able to merge their unmistakably different cultural backgrounds in Parallel Intersections.

One patron described the duo as a “spellbinding and joy-bring combo!”, while another expressed that it was one of the best musical experiences he has had in his life.

Strongin Collection
1631 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Georgetown, Washington DC 20007

Tickets - $40

Reception following the performance.

Join Boulanger Initiative for the first performance of its Musical Mondays series. This concert features the Beau Soir Ensemble, a flute, viola, and harp trio based in the Washington, DC area, dedicated to the performance of standard and contemporary chamber music repertoire spanning a variety of genres. Beau Soir frequently offers performances featuring world and local premiers by various exciting composers as part of its commitment to exposing audiences to contemporary music and new artists.

Program:

• Kathryn Cater: Drowsy Maggie Medley for flute and harp

• Florence Price: Adoration, The Deserted Garden for viola and harp

• Cécile Chaminade: Concertino Op. 107 for trio

• Alyssa Reit: Music of Armenia

• Adrienne Albert: Japanese Gardens, Doppler Effect for trio

Strongin Collection
1631 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Georgetown, Washington DC 20007

Tickets - $40

Reception following the performance.

We are thrilled to finally unveil our newest project at our fundraiser concert—a transformative program that promises national and international impact across the entire music industry. And what better way to celebrate this announcement than with a performance by duo kayo in a newly opened art gallery.

About duo kayo:
duo kayo packs a punch with cellist Titilayo Ayangade and violist Edwin Kaplan. With over 15 years of combined professional experience as members of the Thalea and Tesla String Quartets, this new and unusual ensemble is here to make a statement.

Program:

Works by Tanner Porter, Ayanna Woods, Nina Shekhar, Rebecca Clarke, and Caroline Shaw.

We will require vaccination and masking.

Drinks will be offered but not food (to minimize the time masks are off.)

Thank you to our Changemaker, Jane Kolarik, our Benefactors, Samuel Strongin, Dr. Santi Km Bhagat, Kim Noltemy, and Dr. Joanne Conroy, and our Patrons, Edith Burman, Christine Malcolm, Kirsten Lies-Warfield, Patrick R. Warfield, Lori Laitman, and Baer Technology.

Boulanger Initiative presents: Thalea Quartet Live at Fadensonnen Beergarden on Saturday, May 8th

Show times:

• 12 PM Set, 11:30 AM Doors

• 2 PM Set, 1:30 PM Doors

Program:

Florence Price: Five Folksongs in Counterpoint

Jessie Montgomery: Source Code

Tanya Tagaq: Sivunittinni

Paola Prestini: The Red Book

Rain date if unseasonable weather occurs:

Sunday, May 9th

• 3 PM Set

• 5 PM Set

Learn more about Thalea Quartet here!

Discount tickets are available for individuals who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including music industry folks, essential workers, composers and students.

Street parking, beverages and snacks will be available for purchase. When purchasing tickets, please note the maximum party limit of 6 people.

Upon arrival, each guest will have their temperature taken with a contactless thermometer. Guests with temperatures over 100.4 will not be allowed to attend the performance. Seating will be provided for concerts, with chairs wiped down and disinfected between performances. Seating is extremely limited. Picnic tables will seat 6 people maximum. Tickets and concert programs will be provided by email. Hand-sanitization stations will be available.

Have a picnic with Barclay Brass!

Join Boulanger Initiative and Barclay Brass for a concert in memory of Elizabeth Henriksen, featuring womxn-composed works at the Takoma Park Gazebo, in Takoma Park, Maryland.

This event was originally at President Lincoln’s Cottage, however, we had to relocate due to new COVID regulations pertaining to federally owned property.

Barclay Brass will be performing the works of Lili Boulanger, Jennifer Higdon, Florence Price, and other womxn composers.

Guests may bring their own food and drink.
Limited benches are available, but guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

This event is FREE! Start time is 4 pm.

Click here for parking information on Main Street Takoma.

COVID Protocols:

Everyone will be required to be masked except when eating/drinking.

Boulanger Initiative presents Bergamot Quartet LIVE at Fadensonnen Beergarden, Oct. 11th from 2:30pm - 7:30 pm.

Street parking, as well as beverage options, will be available. When purchasing tickets, please note the maximum party limit of 6 people. Seating extremely limited.

First show at 3 pm (Doors open at 2:30 pm)
Second show at 4:45 pm (Doors open at 3:15 pm)
Third show at 6:30 pm (Doors open at 6 pm)

Program:
Caroline Shaw: Valencia
Tanner Porter: Switchback
Fanny Mendelssohn: String Quartet in E-flat Major, I. Adagio ma non troppo
Jessie Montgomery: Source Code
Suzanne Farrin: Undecim
Ledah Finck: Stars Fall in the Valley/Greenbriar

Upon arrival, each guest will have their temperature taken with a contactless thermometer. Guests with temperatures over 100.4 will not be allowed to attend the performance. Seating will be provided for concerts, with chairs wiped down and disinfected between performances. Seating is extremely limited. Picnic tables will seat 6 people maximum. Tickets and concert programs will be provided by email. Hand-sanitization stations will be available.