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.

Interdisciplinary artist and performer Olga Tomkowiak joins us at The Church for a performance of Visual Poetry. Accompanied by words written by Frederic Tuten, Tomkowiak will show a selection of short visual poems which incorporate body, object, space, and sound. By exploring the connection between them, Tomkowiak creates worlds and scenarios in which the ordinary becomes odd and the distinction between subject, object, and space begin to blur. Tomkowiak describes her practice as a mixture of theatre, dance, poetry, and fun.

The Church welcomes Masayo Ishigure, renowned musician, and Koto player for a beautiful and intimate performance in our studio space alongside her gifted students. After the performance, there will be a brief Q&A with the performer and an opportunity to learn more about the beloved instrument. Named by Newsweek as one of the “100 Japanese People the World Respects,” Ishigure makes this special appearance at The Church before departing to join the Japanese Matsuri Festival, a day-long celebration of Japanese culture at Sen Restaurant.

Our Summer Dinner Theater benefit returns with yet another outstanding evening that will inspire, delight, and entertain you: a unique performance by multi-award-winning comedian, actor, and entertainer Martin Short.

Martin Short currently stars alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building. Over a forty-plus-year career, he has been nominated for more than 78 International Awards and has won two primetime Emmys.A truly rare opportunity for an intimate experience - only 160 seats available!

New this year: the evening will conclude with an after-party featuring dessert and a DJ'd disco.

After-party tickets are included with all dinner theater tickets and will be available as a stand-alone ticket. Release date TBD.

The innovative Reflections in Music series returns with artistic director Bruce Wolosoff inviting audiences to Music Inspired by Music. The evening includes music inspired by Bach by Villa-Lobos, music written in the style of Borodine by Maurice Ravel, a musical portrait of Chopin by Robert Schumann, and the premiere of Bruce Wolosoff’s epic variations on House of the Rising Sun.

It is time to rethink everything you thought you knew about pirates. Join Thymaya Payne, as he presents a screening of his documentary film, “Stolen Seas,” which follows pirate translator and negotiator Ishmael Ali, tells the story of 13 powerless men trapped on a ship, and explores why their captors feel justified in their tyranny. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with the acclaimed writer and filmmaker.

Meet Rupert Boyd, an Australian classical guitarist. Meet Laura Metcalf, an American cellist. Now come to The Church and meet Boyd Meets Girl, the musical duo who has toured the world sharing an eclectic mix of music from Debussy and Bach to Radiohead and Beyoncé. Join us for an acoustic performance from artists that bring pop to classical, traverse the musical terrain with ease, and create engaging experiences with their audiences.