Our inspirational annual tradition returns, and this year our Summer Dinner Theater benefit welcomes the interdisciplinary artist and iconic performer Laurie Anderson to the stage.

A true Renaissance woman, the five-time Grammy-nominated musician, award-winning writer, director, and visual artist treats the audience to an evening of stories and songs.

All proceeds benefit our year-round exhibitions, programming, and artist residency, making The Church a vital source for inspiring art, creativity, and community. Fast becoming one of the most beloved annual ‘un-galas,’ our artful approach to the benefit format is popular and much in demand.

Join us in celebrating the return of the much-loved Reflections in Music series with Turning Points, a program in which each work represents a pivotal moment — personal, artistic, or historical — that changed the course of music and of the composer who created it. Bruce Wolosoff, artistic director, pianist, and composer, is joined by esteemed musicians, composers, and performers Narek Arutyunian (clarinet), Deborah Buck (violin), and Clarice Jensen (cello and electronics) to weave together works spanning three centuries, each marking a distinct turning point.

Join the Gil Guitérrez Trio for an evening of blended musical revelry, spanning classical guitar and jazz, infused with Latin roots. The internationally renowned guitarist and composer, Gil Guiterrez, will be accompanied by three-time Grammy Award winner Oriente Lopez (piano and flute) and master of Latin and ballroom dance Mario Rodriguez (bass).

King of the nylon-string guitar and recognized as one of Mexico’s finest virtuosos for his unparalleled artistry in combining classical, jazz, flamenco, and son Cubano, Guitérrez has a devoted following across Latin America, South America, and Spain. His impressive collaborations include those with music icons Doc Severinsen, Arturo Sandoval, and Ana Gabriel, among others. Beyond performance, Guitérrez is an ambassador of culture and music. As founder of Zandunga: A Musical Haven in central Mexico, Guitérrez uses his power of collaboration to unite international musicians with diverse musical styles, creating a rich cultural experience for audiences from around the world. Join us for what is sure to be an inspiring evening.

“In another time’s forgotten space / Your eyes looked from your mother’s face. . . . If you get confused, listen to the music play” — The Grateful Dead

Celebrate Mom, Grandma, aunties, sisters, and all the maternal figures in your life by joining us for a Mother’s Day sound bath with the incomparable Daniel Lauter. Back by popular demand, the MeditationDJ takes participants on a deeply soothing and relaxing journey through sound, bathing you in the meditative tones that melt away stress and help you recharge and rejuvenate. Bring your yoga mat, pillow, blanket, or anything else you need for your comfort as you enjoy the sounds of crystal bowls, symphonic gong, Himalayan bells, yidaki (didjeridu), rains sticks, and more.

A well-versed student of Buddhist sutras, Daniel is also a classically trained musician who customizes his sound baths with musical phrasing, melody, and harmonic balance. Whether as a gift to mom or a maternal gift of self-care, this Mother’s Day sound bath is a perfect start to a Sunday morning.

We invite you to an evening of warmth and beautiful piano music as multifaceted Italian composer Roberto Scarcella Perino presents his work Per Te (For You), a collection of compositions that serve as dedications. Joined by seasoned performer and rising star Baron Fenwick, Roberto will move audiences with intention, connection, and love for his mentors, friends, and country alike.

An educator and musicologist, Roberto has explored a wide territory of musical composition and has performed worldwide. Operas, piano concertos, movie scores, ballets, chamber music, and choral compositions are all part of his outstanding repertoire.

In good hands, Roberto’s music will be performed by the young and virtuosic pianist and Juilliard doctoral student. Baron’s playing has been described as “elegant, lush, and far more mature than would be expected for a young man of his age,” in the words of Gerald Cochran of Focus Newspaper: “This is an artist to keep your eyes and ears on.”

Have a seat on one of the many quilts that will be laid out in the main floor of The Church and join Emily Johnson as she weaves you into a movement- and sound-based performance that will envelop you in shared histories and experiences. A portal to a way forward through care and awareness, Johnson’s performance invites participants to redefine themselves within space-time, to join her in an act of “reworlding,” and to physically stitch together a work of art.

A site-specific work, Johnson’s performance helps revitalize our integral connections to one another and awaken us to the threads that connect us via our environments, our stories, and our pasts, presents, and futures. This performance is a an art work featured in Eternal Testament, our current exhibition curated by Jeremy Dennis and Meranda Roberts; please find more information on the exhibition here.  

 Though most participants will be seated on the ground on quilts provided, there will be chairs available for those who prefer or need them. 

Symbolizing Terry’s deep connection to her Shinnecock roots and incorporating communal and personal narratives, Dreamcatcher puts a spotlight on material usage — featuring shells, feathers, and wampum pieces — and depicts the Shinnecock seal. Going beyond a traditional dreamcatcher, the work serves as an educational tool and is an act of cultural preservation.

This special Insight Sunday is presented as a part of our current exhibition Eternal Testament, curated by Jeremy Dennis and Meranda Roberts; please click here for more information on the exhibition.

Join us as we welcome Ukrainian power couple Anna and Dimitri Shelest, known as the Shelest Piano Duo, for a dazzling concert of contemporary classical music woven into a program with purpose. With compositions and arrangements for four hands, the critically acclaimed duo will fill The Church with a beautiful tapestry of American composers (including Amy Beach, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, and George Gershwin) and Ukrainian composers (Theodore Akimenko and Myroslav Skoryk), and Cécile Chaminade, in a tribute to International Women’s History Month.  

The pair met in Ukraine during middle school and were married in the United States. Their deep appreciation for the music of both countries and their innovative performances for dignitaries and audiences worldwide have earned them high praise and admiration. Come learn why former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon called their rare achievement “realized diplomacy through music.”

A sincere thank you to our collaborating partners, the Alexander & Buono Foundation, for their continued support in bringing world-class musicians to The Church.

In grand commemoration of the opening of Eternal Testamenton Saturday, March 22, co-curators Jeremy Dennis and Meranda Roberts have created an electric series of events that will inspire, delight, and inform all on the topic of the show. The run down is:

5 PM – 6 PM PANEL DISCUSSION WITH JEREMY DENNIS, MERANDA ROBERTS & DENISE SILVA DENNIS: Join us on our studio level for as co-curators Jeremy Dennis and Meranda Roberts, co-curators of the show are joined in conversation by artist Denise Silva Dennis. The trio will dive deeper into some of the themes, intentions and inspirations for the show, providing guests a unique opportunity of insights before seeing the show. The exhibition invites audiences to “reconsider their perceptions of Eastern Long Island in a way that positively engages with Indigenous history and the land we occupy,” according to the Curators. Following a brief Q&A

6 PM – DRUMMING PROCESSIONAL WITH JEFFREY PEGRAM: At the end of the panel discussion, we will be led up to the exhibition via a performance by contemporary Native TSALAGI Nation (Cherokee) Singer and Composer, Jeffry Pegram. Nominated for various indigenous music awards and a historian of Native American culture, the multitalented speaker and lecturer invites all people into the gallery to reflect, contemplate, and expand their awareness.

6:30 –ELISA HARKINS PERFORMANCE:Elisa Harkins (Cherokee, Muscogee) will present a 15-minute performance of Indigenous hymns and hand-drum songs, transforming the former church — on the homelands of the Montaukett and Shinnecock Nations — into a site of Indigenous presence and resistance. Rooted in language revitalization and Indigenous musical traditions, her work challenges the church’s colonial history of forced assimilation while amplifying themes of sovereignty and reclamation central to Eternal Testament. By filling the space with Indigenous sound, Harkins unsettles historical narratives and invites audiences to reconsider their relationship to land, spirituality, and power.

Join the transatlantic folk duo Sons of Town Hall comprised of American songwriter/author David Berkeley and British songwriter/producer Ben Parker as they fill The Church’s main gallery with their spellbinding songs and stories under the aliases Josiah Chester Jones and George Ulysses Brown. “Think Simon and Garfunkel lost at sea, and you get a sense of the mythic world at play here,” says The Philadelphia Inquirer.  Travel back in time as the 19^th-century vagabonds take us on a lyrical journey in a hand-built boat to escape troubled pasts in search of adventure and love.

Sons of Town Hall’s show is both very funny and surprisingly poignant as the duo weaves hilarious stories of sailing the seas and roaming the land between their bewitching vocal harmonies and rousing songs. It’s a form of performance art that pulls from the duo’s radio-theater, Madmen Cross the Water and promises to be unlike any concert you’ve seen. Join us for what is sure to be an evening of laughter interspersed with moments of deep contemplation about friendship, resilience, and our shared humanity.

This program is supported by the SHS Foundation in honor of Sara R. Throne, Treasurer.

From the mind of choreographer, dancer, and mixed media artist Arien Wilkerson (Tnmot Aztro) comes a bold new performance, CHARITY STARTS AT HOME NADINE RUFF. The daring project reminds artists to remain dangerous while safeguarding their well-being, challenges them to be daring without self-destructing, pushes them to seek art that activates the world around them. This project has been curated for The Church by Malcolm X. Betts.

Nadine Ruff, Wilkerson’s aunt, a Black transgender woman living with HIV for over 38 years is the fourth Black transgender woman in the country to earn a Master’s Degree. For the past 20 years, she has been dedicated to the community, following 21 years of recovery from substance abuse. Nadine collaborates with LGBTQ communities, focusing particularly on transgender individuals living with and without HIV/AIDS. Charity Starts at Home Nadien Ruff exemplifies the intensity of artists ready to be unleashed into the world. Wilkerson’s intentional simplicity connects deeply with their exploration of danger—not merely as a political commentary on harm or societal oppression, but as a source of power and an embrace of certain darkness.

Wilkerson explores traditional forms and techniques of dance, juxtaposed with boundary-pushing aesthetics, and is joined in the performance by formally trained dancers Mackenzie-Soleil Collyear and Jolie Padilla.

Confronting stories of abuse of power within the art world and general society, the harmful labels placed upon artists of certain appearances, and the societal framing that boxes in the bold, Wilkerson and company deliver a powerful statement about tension and duality in high-society art.

Reflections in Music returns to The Church with internationally acclaimed basso Matthew Rose. The singer, who performs frequently in great opera houses of the world, including over 100 performances to date with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, will fill The Church’s vaulted hall with the melancholy beauty of Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise.  He will be joined by distinguished pianist Brian Zeger.  

Join us for an unforgettable performance as Rose sings the poetic tale of a traveler heading out on a solitary journey through the snow, in winter, to come to terms with the loss of a great love. 

Experience the love in harmony this Valentine’s day as we explore the profound beauty of the natural world with Mary Edwards. With her warm presence, the internationally renowned composer and environmental sound artist will take us on a sonic journey inspired by the Arctic and beyond, connecting us deeply with the rhythms of our planet. The pianist will be joined by her quartet to create an intimate evening of love for the natural world.

This program is supported in part by Susan Lacy, Michele & Steve Pesner, Clifford Ross & Nicolette Donnen, and the Friends of the Fund for Music.

Clack-clack-clackity-clack, ping! It’s time for different type of music in a whole new key at The Church as we welcome audiences to a live performance with the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. By way of rhythmic typewriter manipulation, this collective of keystroke musicians entertains audiences of all ages with performance, comedy, and satire. The rhythm-heavy performance will see typewriters mimicking a wide variety of sounds, from bongo drum grooves to heavy metal (no pun intended) jams. For more than 20 years, the Boston Typewriter Orchestra has been the only typewriter orchestra in existence, and the evening is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

This program is supported in part by Steve and Michele Pesner, Clifford Ross and Nicolette Donen, Susan Lacy and the Friends of the Fund for Music at The Church.

COME BE THE FIRST TO HEAR THREE NEW WORKS PERFORMED BY ROOMFUL OF TEETH!

Two-time Grammy winners Roomful of Teeth present a performance featuring new music by some of today’s most visionary composers, including Christopher Cerrone, Mingjia Chen, and Eliza Bragg. The Church is thrilled to welcome the vocal ensemble back for a week-long residency as they workshop these three new works, in preparation for their premiere performance at The Church on Thursday, January 23, to be followed by a sold-out show at Zankel Hall presented by Carnegie Hall on Saturday, January 25 to include an additional world premiere new work by Gabriela Ortiz. This residency and performance will continue the group’s exploration of creating and performing meaningful and adventurous music using a continuously expanding vocabulary of singing techniques.

Help us welcome back the Roomful of Teeth ensemble: Estelí Gomez, Mingjia Chen, Eliza Bagg, Martha Cluver, Virginia Kelsey, Jodie Landau, Steven Bradshaw, Thann Scoggin, and Cameron Beauchamp, and join us for an unforgettable evening.

This residency is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.  

Kick off the New Year with dance and be the first to see three new performances commissioned by Works & Process on Long Island’s East End at The Church in Sag Harbor, Guild Hall of East Hampton, and The Watermill Center. The inaugural Dance Out East culminates week-long creative residencies, and provides unique insight into the process and preparation of new choreographed works that will sequence into the Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival at the Guggenheim Museum.

Reflections in Music returns to The Church with internationally acclaimed basso Matthew Rose. The Metropolitan Opera singer will perform Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise and will be joined by pianist Bènèdicte Jourdois.

Join us for an unforgettable performance that reverberates in The Church’s vaulted corridors as Rose sings the story about a traveler heading out on a solitary journey through the snow in winter to come to terms with the loss of a great love.

The innovative Reflections in Music series is returns with artistic director Bruce Wolosoff and a group of all-star musicians inviting audiences to explore the influence of blues and jazz in classical music with Blue-Tinged Classics. This program, features composer and pianist Bruce Wolosoff, clarinetist Narek Arutyunian, and violinist Deborah Buck performing music by George Gershwin, Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Aaron Coplan, and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson.

The evening will also include two premieres: A new work by renowned film composer Carter Burwell, and Blue Mantra, the latest composition by Bruce Wolosoff, inspired by a painting by Margaret Garret.

It is with joy and gratitude we welcome back Arta Jēkabsone for the premiere performance of her original work, composed here at The Church. The singer-songwriter is joined by her duo pianist partner Krists Saržants for an incredible evening of jazz music infused with Latvian folk and other traditions. Our former May artist-in-residence has since completed several of the works she began here and the two will present them as Songs from the Sag Harbor Diaries.

Arta’s ethereal voice takes audiences on a musical journey through light, warmth, and sound. Anyone who has heard her sing will assure you this is not a concert to be missed. As composer and Pianist Edgards Cīrulis says, “Arta Jēkabsone is a voice that will soothe any pain or suffering. She is the guardian and ambassador of light, love, and peace. Yet, she still can bedazzle you with complex, but not overwhelming lines and melodies, and she freely takes command of harmony and rhythm."

Let’s take a trip around the world with the magic of jazz as our pilot! Join us as East End Jazz invites audiences to a concert that brings us a captivating blend of lullabies, love songs, traditional folk tunes, and soundtracks from around the world, reimagined and transformed through the improvisational spirit of the beloved genre.  Led by vocalist Olivia Foschi and Bassist Iris Ornig and featuring pianist Cecilia Coleman and drummer Brian Woodruff, the talented and accomplished quartet presents an impressionable evening written through the language of jazz.

Tap your feet, clap your hands, dance, and sing along as a talented quartet leads you through a fun and interactive play-along experience. Join the family fun designed for music enthusiasts of all ages as East End Jazz musicians create a memorable afternoon of music, laughter, and connection Led by vocalist Olivia Foschi, bassist Iris Ornig, pianist Cecilia Coleman, and drummer Brian Woodruff, participants will learn about the building blocks of jazz through call and response exercises, movement-based lessons, improvisation techniques and more. No prior musical experience is necessary!

We are thrilled to announce the six opera stars who will comprise the roster at the Third Annual Sag Harbor Song Festival presented in partnership between The Church and The SHSF on the third weekend in September.

As you will see, the singers have already appeared at many of the world’s major opera houses and recital halls. We are incredibly excited to hear what they will be offering all of us at the 2024 Festival!

Artistic Director Brad Woolbright once again leads the Festival, working closely with Music Director Robert Tweten who will also accompany the singers at the piano.

We are thrilled to announce the six opera stars who will comprise the roster at the Third Annual Sag Harbor Song Festival presented in partnership between The Church and The SHSF on the third weekend in September.

As you will see, the singers have already appeared at many of the world’s major opera houses and recital halls. We are incredibly excited to hear what they will be offering all of us at the 2024 Festival!

Artistic Director Brad Woolbright once again leads the Festival, working closely with Music Director Robert Tweten who will also accompany the singers at the piano.

We are thrilled to announce the six opera stars who will comprise the roster at the Third Annual Sag Harbor Song Festival presented in partnership between The Church and The SHSF on the third weekend in September.

As you will see, the singers have already appeared at many of the world’s major opera houses and recital halls. We are incredibly excited to hear what they will be offering all of us at the 2024 Festival!

Artistic Director Brad Woolbright once again leads the Festival, working closely with Music Director Robert Tweten who will also accompany the singers at the piano.

An Americana acoustic rock troubadour, an international cabaret singer, and a lesbian punk rock band walk into a Church … and treat us to an evening of laughter, joy, and camaraderie! Our Summer Thursday Concert Series concludes with a musical showcase of women and humor with guests Inda Eaton, Susanne Mack, and The Fisties.

In tandem with the theme of our exhibition, each performer will present a selection of songs they feel explores humor through music. Come celebrate the final days of our summer exhibition, with a song and a laugh, as we head into fall remembering why women’s voices matter.

The Church is thrilled to welcome Michael Blake’s Chroma Nova 5, for an evening of paradoxical yet seamless jazz. With a sinuous blend of Brazilian rhythms and modern jazz, the quintet is said to “bring to mind palm trees growing out of frozen tundra.” Join us as Hamptons Jazz Fest returns to The Church with one more great concert.

In the span of four decades the New York City musical force known as Michael Blake has contributed an impressive body of work to contemporary jazz. This has led to widespread critical acclaim and an identifiable refined sound, that embraces sonic multidimensionality. Dance of the Mystic Bliss, the debut album of Chroma Nova 5, landed on The Guardian’s Album of the Month in June 2023.

For Living Lovers, the acoustic duo of guitarist/composer Brandon Ross and acoustic bass guitarist Stomu Takeishi comes to the East End! The stringed duo, primarily based out of New York City, has gained international success performing and recording in Japan, U.S., and Europe receiving rave reviews for their uniquely adventurous musical “sound-world”. The music of For Living Lovers, developed from the worlds of Jazz and Creative Music, will carry you into the gestures and rhythms of sound and silence, as they reveal hidden depths in Ross’s compositions and layer each moment with keen intentionality and poise.

TORRES makes her East End debut at The Church! Join us as the indie-rock songwriter invites audiences to a solo set of an artistically self-aware artist who defies conventional standards of popular music to deliver contemplative and authentic tones.

Treating songwriting as a craft and more than just an art form, Torres began redefining her skills as she separated from the polished commercial songwriting she learned in university and began carving out her own unique sound. Check out her latest album What an Enormous Room on Spotify and learn why with over 70K listeners, TORRES is on the rise.

Grace McLean brings her “electrifying” presence (Huffington Post), “whip-smart” songwriting (New York Times), and “pathetic” journal entries (Grace’s ex-boyfriend) to Sag Harbor for a musical Monday event. Join us for an evening of original music, re-imagined covers, stories about boys, and bubbles.

Mercer Quintet returns to The Church! After a sold-out performance in February, popular demand has called the collaborative modern jazz ensemble to return to Sag Harbor for a summer evening concert of original compositions steeped in musicality, philosophy, and curiosity.

Comprised of Mercer Shavelson (Keyboard), Adam Cordero (Saxophone), Joey Curreri(Trumpet), Nick Panoutsos (Upright Bass), and Alex Yoo (Drums), the quintet takes listeners on a rhythmic journey that invigorates and inspires. Drawing from many influences including Hip-hop, Avant-garde Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, and Folk music from around the globe, Mercer Quintet invites audiences to enjoy newly developed pieces and contemplate the next generation of rising jazz stars.

Albino Mbie, the multi-award-winning Mozambican musician and sound renaissance man, returns to The Church for an evening of sound, story, and inspiration. The Church is thrilled about his return and invites audiences to an evening of a developed unique sound, peppered with stories of heartfelt experience and rooted in Jazz. Come listen and learn from the man who built his first guitar from a 5-liter can of oil, scrap wood, and strings made out of electrical chords.