James Lee News

Renowned cellist Steven Isserlis will perform works by Beethoven, Schumann, and others at Shriver Hall, Baltimore, marking the end of the venue's 60th mainstage season.

Shriver Hall Concert Series continues its 60th anniversary and 2025-26 concert season with its first performance on the new year, featuring pianist Emanuel Ax on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 5:30 pm.

The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) will present Curtis New Music Ensemble: We the Artists on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Buttenwieser Hall at The Arnhold Center.

The commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Dmitry Shostakovich’s death continues at this year’s Proms, as Chineke! took on his epic Symphony No. 10 in E minor, headlining this concert with this composition brought to life in the wake of Stalinist oppression. Also on the programme were two premières: Valerie Coleman’s Fanfare for Uncommon Times and James Lee III’s Visions of Cahokia. As with their 2023 Proms appearance, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor rounded off the selection - this time with The Bamboula.

The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) has unveiled its 2025-2026 highlights, marking its 49th year. The season includes new works from Tamar Muskal, Elijah Daniel Smith, Mazz Swift, and more.

Dear Viv, an original documentary feature film honoring the life and legacy of drag icon and stage performer The Vivienne will premiere August 28 on WOW Presents Plus in the US and on BBC Three and iPlayer in the UK. Watch the trailer now.

Dear Viv, an original documentary feature film honoring the life and legacy of drag icon and stage performer The Vivienne will premiere August 28 on WOW Presents Plus.

Following their 2024 Gregory Award-winning production of Vietgone, SIS Productions and Pork Filled Productions, in association with Theatre Off Jackson, will present the Northwest premiere of Exotic Deadly: OR the MSG Play by Keiko Green. Directed by Mimi Katano, the production will run September 6–20, 2025 at Theatre Off Jackson.

Every once in a while, a show comes along that feels like you are catching something before the rest of the world does. That is the experience with Here and Their, now performing at 12th Ave Arts. This original musical production epitomizes local Seattle theater at its finest. It is original, funny, tender, layered, and filled with heart. That it is happening in a small black box space makes it all the more impressive.

The world premiere of nonbinary musical HERE AND THEIR, with book by local artist Jasmine Joshua, music/lyrics by Heather Ragusa, and story by Jasmine Joshua and Alexei Cifrese, will run on Capitol Hill throughout Pride Month. 

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will present the fourth annual Summer for the City. The 2025 festival will include world and New York premieres, participatory events, and more.

Featuring more than 80 performances covering a wide range of genres, the Nashville Symphony has announced its 2025/26 season. Classical Series programs offer seminal works to showcase the virtuosity and versatility of the Orchestra’s musicians, including Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Holst’s The Planets, Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”), and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2.

Gateways Music Festival in association with Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester celebrates the transformative power of Black classical artistry with Spring Festival 2025 in Rochester, NY (April 21–24) and New York City (April 24–27).

The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University has announced the spring 2025 programming for its Peabody Performance Series at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County will present award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax and New York Philharmonic principal clarinetist Anthony McGill in a special recital on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 8pm at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has announced an extension for Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director Jonathon Heyward’s contract with the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center through the 2029 season.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that drag queen The Vivienne, aka James Lee Williams, has died at age 32. The performer died over the weekend, as confirmed by Publicist Simon Jones on social media.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), led by Music Director Andreas Delfs, has announced the launch of Voices of Today, a five-season commissioning, recording, and storytelling initiative.

Tanglewood has announced additional programs and updates to its 2024 season (June 20–August 31), which celebrate the legacy of Seiji Ozawa and reflect the BSO's commitment as a service organization to advancing the humanities and enriching the lives of Berkshire residents: 

The highly anticipated Tony- Award winning musical Parade opens this week in Sydney. A true story about an unsolved murder that divided a nation, Jason Robert Brown's powerful and poignant production will commence a limited three week season at the Seymour Centre from Thursday 9 May.