April is Jazz Appreciation Month, created in 2001 by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History as a time to celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz, and encourage people of all ages to participate in and appreciate this uniquely American art form. Join the celebration!
Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS New Orleans Songbook
Sunday, April 6, 5pm
The Purchase PAC
Vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs join pianist Luther S. Allison to bring “the soul of New Orleans and the spirit of Mardi Gras” to us right here at Purchase. Let the good times roll!
Learn more about the event and get tickets
Listen to Quiana Lynell – Full Set | The OnBeat Sessions
Listen to Milton Suggs | Sing a Song of Song (There Is A Song)
Listen to Luther Allison (piano solo in Samara Joy’s concert at Wave Hill, Bronx, NY)
Speaking of jazz vocalists, here’s a look at two more of our favorites, who also happen to be Purchase College Conservatory of Music alums.
Samara Joy
With three GRAMMY wins and a chart-topping debut album already under her belt, 24-year-old Samara Joy makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation recorded by the venerable Verve Records.
Live at Philharmonie de ParisARTE Concert on March 15, 2025
Cyrille Aimée
Cyrille Aimée has developed a remarkable multi-award-winning, continent-spanning career as a singer, songwriter, lyricist, and educator, while always remaining true to her roots.
“After You’ve Gone” w/ Emmet Cohen & Cyrille Aimée
View the entire set on Emmet’s Place, recorded live on March 24, 2025
2025 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert
The Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8pm
Celebrate the esteemed recipients of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship: Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins. Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran hosts this special concert event, which will feature performances by 2025 recipients, powerful tributes, special guest artists, and more.
Watch the live stream at Kennedy-Center.org or arts.gov
And of course, there is a lot more than just jazz going on this month…
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Livestream: Late Night Rose
Premiere: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Available on-demand until Sunday, April 13, 9pm
Luigi Boccherini | Quintet in D major for Flute, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, G. 430, “Las Parejas” (1774)
Charles Koechlin | Sonata for Flute and Piano (1913)
Josef Suk | Quintet in G minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 8 (1893)
Watch Late Night Rose on CMS’s website
Great Performances at the Met presents: Les Contes d’Hoffmann
Premiere: Sunday, April 13, 2025
Great Performances at the Met is produced by the Metropolitan Opera in association with PBS and The WNET Group, bringing the best of the Metropolitan Opera into the homes of opera fans across the country. Benjamin Bernheim performs the title role of the tormented poet for Offenbach’s final work. Hoffmann’s trio of lovers are sung by Erin Morley as the mechanical doll Olympia, Pretty Yende as the plagued diva Antonia, and Clémentine Margaine as the Venetian seductress Giulietta.
Learn more on PBS.org
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Livestream: Sonic Spectrum IV
Premiere: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Available on-demand until Sunday, April 20, 7:30pm
Pierre Jalbert | New Work for Clarinet and String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission, New York Premiere) (2024)
Sebastian Currier | New Work for Harp and String Quartet (CMS Co-Commission, New York Premiere) (2024)
Andy Akiho | Selections from LIgNEouS for Marimba and String Quartet (2016)
Samuel Carl Adams | Sundial for String Quartet and Percussion (2021)
Watch Sonic Spectrum IV on CMS’s website
The Westchester Philharmonic presents “Classical Paradise”
Sunday, April 27, 3pm
The Purchase PAC
Kazem Abdullah, conducting. Simone Porter, violin
Mozart: Overture to Cosi fan tutte
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4
Hear Simone Porter play Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor (3rd movement)
MetLiveArts presents: Gavin Creel: Walk On Through
On-demand
In 2019, Tony-winning actor Gavin Creel visited The Met for the very first time. Over the following two years, Creel spent countless hours in the Museum’s galleries, falling in love with the collection and finding inspiration for a brand-new theater piece. Now, as we remember the life and legacy of Gavin Creel (1976-2024), we are honored to publish the full recording of Walk On Through, Creel’s love letter to The Met.
Watch “Walk on Through” on YouTube
The Purchase PAC 2024-2025 Season Final Performances & Alumni Showcase
Saturday, May 3 at The Purchase PAC
Purchase College Alumni Showcase
Saturday, May 3, 1:30 – 7:30 pm
The Purchase PAC Upper Lobby
Join us for an afternoon celebrating the passion and purpose of the creative and entrepreneurial Purchase alumni community! Presented in partnership with the Purchase College Alumni Association and sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
Learn more about the Alumni Showcase
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Saturday, May 3, 5pm
The Purchase PAC
Live streams are great, but experiencing these extraordinary musicians in person is even better. This concert will offer an opportunity to hear cellist David Finckel (Artistic Director of CMS since 2004 with his wife, pianist Wu Han) with five colleagues in selections ranging from Bach to Tchaikovsky. A pre-show Artist Talk will take place at 4:15pm, free with your ticket.
Learn more about the program and get tickets on The Purchase PAC website
MOMIX: Alice
Saturday, May 3, 8pm
The Purchase PAC
Seamlessly blending dance, illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX’s Alice will take you on a mind-bending adventure inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
Get tickets to see “Alice” at the Purchase PAC on May 3
Watch the official 2-minute promotional trailer of MOMIX’s Alice
“Journal La Terrasse” interviews MOMIX dancers Seah Hagan and Cotton Wall about Alice (in English with French subtitles)
Moses Pendleton of MOMIX on Creativity
MOMIX Founder & Artistic Director speaks with French Television M6 in the scenic Theatre Champs d’Elysees in Paris. From natural inspirations to how he works with his dancers, Pendleton goes in-depth on the creative process behind his work.
Watch “Moses Pendleton on Creativity” on YouTube
Culture Picks celebrates the performing arts. In each post, PAC staff member Coni Guhl shines the spotlight on work by artists that you know and love from their appearances at The Purchase PAC, and offers recommendations about other performing arts events that you really should not miss. Experience them all!
All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.
Pictured: Title. Photo (c) photographer.
