Mainstage Concerts

Both Mainstage events March 8 & 9 will take place at the Blind Whino, 700 Delaware Ave SW DC 20024

PLEASE NOTE: The March 10 Concert will take place at Amp by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda MD 20852

Full daytime event schedule may be viewed below:

Headliner Concert

Jennifer Koh and Missy Mazzoli

March 8, 8:00 PM

Pre-Concert Discussion at 7PM with William Robin and Missy Mazzoli

Co-Presented by Strathmore
at Blind Whino

Boulanger Initiative kicks off its groundbreaking Launch Festival on International Women’s Day with two artists that have shattered barriers and entered the classical music industry with earthquake intensity. In a rare combined performance, violinist Jennifer Koh and composer Missy Mazzoli will present a program of all Mazzoli works for violin / violin & electronics with selections from Mazzoli’s 2018 Grammy nominated Vespers album. Koh’s commanding virtuosity and intense curiosity of new and unusual collaborations, combined with Mazzoli’s cutting edge and masterful compositions make this an ideal first concert of Boulanger Initiative’s inaugural festival, and a harbinger of extraordinary future endeavors.

Headliner Concert

The Aizuri Quartet

March 9, 8:00 PM

Pre-Concert Discussion at 7PM with William Robin and composer Katherine Balch

at Blind Whino

Ariana Kim and Miho Saegusa, violins

Ayane Kozasa, viola

Karen Ouzounian, cello

Praised by The Washington Post for “captivating” performances that draw from its notable “meld of intellect, technique and emotions,” the Aizuri Quartet will perform as the WoCo Fest Headline Concert on Saturday, March 9th. This groundbreaking group of mesmerizing performers present an engaging and thought-provoking program of women from Hildegard von Bingen to fresh young composers on the scene today. The Quartet has garnered critical acclaim for bringing “a technical bravado and emotional power” to bold new commissions, and will be performing two exciting commissioned works by composers Caroline Shaw and Gabriella Smith from their Grammy-nominated debut album, Blueprinting.

PROGRAM:

Hildegard von Bingen: Columba aspexit, arr. Alex Fortes, 8”

Nina C. Young (b. 1984): Memento mori (2013), 8”

*Caroline Shaw (b. 1982): Blueprint (2016), 8”

Sky Macklay (b. 1988): Many, Many Cadences (2014), 9”

Katherine Balch (b. 1991): With Each Breathing (2015), 10”

^Gabriella Smith (b. 1991): Carrot Revolution (2015), 12”

*commissioned by Wolf Trap for the Aizuri Quartet

^commissioned by the Barnes Foundation and Curtis on Tour for the Aizuri Quartet

Closing Concert

Clarice Assad, Washington Women in Jazz & Friends at Amp by Strathmore Nightclub

March 10, 7:00 PM

Boulanger Initiative concludes their inaugural Launch Festival with a truly grand finale: a celebratory concert featuring Clarice Assad, Washington Women in Jazz and Arco Belo at Amp by Strathmore. The program will highlight the works of composer-performers who have been featured in previous WWJ concerts, as well as fresh collaborations with Arco Belo and special guest Clarice Assad! Powerful compositions break the boundaries of improvised music and blur the lines between genres showcasing women who forge their own paths around world of improvised music.