This Year’s NSO (National Symphony Orchestra) In Your Neighborhood Kicks Off this Week

From a press release:

“The National Symphony Orchestra will make Capitol Hill and H Street, NE, the focus of its free community engagement activities in January 2014. Between January 7 and 13, members of the NSO will break into small ensembles to perform chamber music and educational activities as requested by more than 20 community organizations. The events will include three free orchestral concerts, one at Atlas Performing Arts Center, and two at Union Station.

The first orchestral event will be a performance at Atlas Performing Arts Center on January 8. Built in 1938, in the area then known as Swampoodle, this recently renovated art-deco cinema has been key to the revitalization of the Near Northeast portion of DC. Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl will lead this performance and the two at Union Station.

Two performances will take place in the East Hall of Union Station on January 11, one at 3 p.m. aimed for children and families, and a second at 7 p.m. Works by John Adams (A Short Ride in a Fast Machine), Aaron Copland (John Henry – A Railroad Ballad), and more round out this travel-themed program. The Women’s Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra will present the ever-popular “Instrument Petting Zoo” at 1:30 p.m. outside the East Hall.

All NSO events are free, but not all events are open to the public. Events at schools, for example, may be closed except to the students and faculty. Some venues may have a cover charge or service charge. Please check with the venue in advance.

A complete schedule of the week’s events can be found here“.