Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; January 8, 2026)—In 2026, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) continues to offer a wide range of programming initiatives that harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. A collection of more than 15 innovative low cost or free programs—that serve schoolchildren, educators, rising musicians, families, justice-involved people, and others—connect hundreds of thousands of people each year with musical experiences, including many that feature collaborations with some of the world’s greatest artists.

“When we think about building programming within WMI, we look at our mission,” said Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer and Director of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. “How can music play a meaningful role in people’s lives? Where can it be the most supportive and help us to connect more deeply? We see this firsthand through the bonds it builds in families in our early childhood programs, the nurturing effects of our Well-Being Concerts, the life-changing peer relationships developed through The B-Side and our national youth ensembles; the list goes on. We are proud to elevate this work and offer distinctive opportunities for our participants and partners in New York City and around the world.”

Upcoming WMI highlights include Well-Being Concerts with vocalist Somi (Jan. 11) and vocalist esperanza spalding (Feb. 7); SongStudio master classes led by Anthony Roth Costanzo, Lisette Oropesa, Lawrence Brownlee, and Bryan Wagorn, plus an innovative Young Artists Recital featuring all participants directed by visual artist Doug Fitch (Jan. 12–18); and Musical Explorers concerts for New York City-area schoolchildren (Jan. 13–16) and public Family Concerts (Jan. 17).
 

SELECT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

♦ Well-Being Concerts Feature esperanza spalding, Somi, and James Austin Smith

Through May, Carnegie Hall presents Well-Being Concerts, hour-long concert experiences that combine elements of deep listening and mindfulness with performance. On Sunday, January 11, Grammy-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning vocalist Somi leads a Well-Being Concert that blends jazz, soul, and pop. Oboist James Austin Smith, artistic director of Tertulia Chamber Music, brings music and humor to his curated concert on Jan. 24. Five-time Grammy winner esperanza spalding explores themes like elder care, play, and food cultivation in a Well-Being Concert centered around collective wellness practices (Feb. 7).

Just added: Khorikos, one of New York City’s most distinguished vocal ensembles, performs music from today’s most dynamic choral composers alongside music from the Medieval and Renaissance eras in The Guggenheim New York’s iconic rotunda on the occasion of their exhibition, Carol Bove (Apr. 11).

Photo: Fadi Kheir

♦ Anthony Roth Costanzo Leads SongStudio, Featuring One-of-a-Kind Culminating Recital

From January 12–18, Carnegie Hall presents the eighth year of SongStudio, an innovative program exploring the future of the vocal recital, building on the legacy of The Song Continues. The annual workshop brings eight emerging vocalists and eight collaborative pianists from around the world together with leading artists and coaches for a week of instruction, public master classes, and performance at Carnegie Hall. This season’s SongStudio program is under the creative guidance of countertenor and General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia Anthony Roth Costanzo, who worked with the program in 2022 and 2025.

Public master classes will be led by Mr. Costanzo, soprano Lisette Oropesa, tenor Lawrence Brownlee, and pianist Bryan Wagorn. An adventurous recital in Zankel Hall directed by visual artist Doug Fitch pushes the boundaries of the traditional recital experience, exploring music from the past—including Poulenc, Finzi, Satie, and Gershwin—to the present—such as Tom Cipullo and Reena Esmail—alongside iconic songs by Freddie Mercury and Joe Raposo (Jan. 18).

Photo: Jennifer Taylor

♦ Musical Explorers School District Partnership Connects Carnegie Hall and Classrooms

Over the past six years, Musical Explorers has expanded tremendously with free online classroom resources now available for teachers and students nationwide. Carnegie Hall is facilitating Musical Explorers directly with 15 partners representing 37 school districts across the US, deepening the connection between classrooms across the country and Carnegie Hall. Through this expansion, participating teachers join a global network of educators participating in Musical Explorers. Last year’s pilot program served more than 15,000 students and 60 teachers across the US.

From January 13–16, thousands of schoolchildren visit Carnegie Hall for Musical Explorers concerts, high-energy performances that encourage kids to sing and dance to music from around the world. This fall, in classrooms across New York City, elementary students have been studying bomba and plena, freedom songs, and Indian classical music, building singing, listening, and basic music skills as they learn about these musical and cultural traditions. The upcoming concerts feature father-daughter duo Juan Gutiérrez and Julia Gutiérrez-Rivera, S T A R R busby, and Falu Shah. They reprise performances for families on Saturday, January 17 at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Photo: Stefan Cohen

♦ Young New Yorkers Explore Career Pathways in the Music Industry Through The B-Side

Young New Yorkers (ages 14–22) explore career pathways in the music industry through The B-Side, which returns for a third season in February. Created for future music industry leaders, The B-Side connects young people with music executives, accomplished writers, producers, engineers, performing artists, and more for an in-depth look into the industry. Following a week-long intensive, participants engage in biweekly workshops at Carnegie Hall in addition to attending field trips, concerts, panel discussions, and more. This season, a new intermediate level is available for participants interested in exploring music technology, rights and royalties, and marketing.

The B-Side features a guest faculty of music industry professionals including Corey Williams, vice president of Business and Legal Affairs at Universal Music; Naydeen Rodriguez, director of artist brand strategy & marketing at Roc Nation; and Rob Lewis, acclaimed music arranger, composer, and producer.

Photo: Fadi Kheir

♦ Free Events Offered for Families this Spring Including Return of huddle and Family Day

This March and April, free events are offered for families as part of Carnegie Hall’s suite of early childhood programs.

Following a sold-out run last fall, huddle, an early childhood concert for babies and toddlers ages 0–2, returns from March 17–21. Written by composers Saskia Lane and Thomas Cabaniss and librettist Zoë Palmer, huddle follows three characters (fragile, fin, and hoof) as they find each other and create a new community. Integrating themes of migration, community, and collective imagination, huddle is a highly interactive performance that invites babies and toddlers to be a part of the show. Registration opens on February 23 for free performances offered twice daily.

On April 18, Family Day: Spring Fest welcomes families with children ages 3–10 for an afternoon-long open house in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing. This highly interactive, playful day offers families a multitude of fun activities that celebrate the earth, nature, and all things spring. Family Day is free, and no registration is required.

Photo: Stefan Cohen
 

For more information and videos exploring Weill Music Institute programs, visit carnegiehall.org/education.

Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute is generously supported by a wide range of corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individual donors. Click here for a complete list of funders.