Strathmore Windows Series Opens Cultural Lens on 2026-27 Season

Strathmore’s Windows Series will return for the 2026-27 season with 10 immersive pre-concert events exploring the cultural influences, artistic traditions and ideas behind the Music Center’s diverse programming.

The series will feature interactive explorations of Cuban dance and Japanese taiko, along with arts markets, artist-led conversations and discussions about music’s role in society, according to a statement from Strathmore.

Free for ticket holders, the Windows events are designed to enrich select Music Center performances while broadening perspectives and strengthening community connections.

“Our Windows Series gives us the opportunity to look more closely at the cultural traditions and perspectives behind the artists we bring to Strathmore,” said Lauren Campbell, vice president of education and community engagement at Strathmore. “These experiences invite us to reconsider what we know, discover new perspectives and deepen our understanding of the world we share.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Windows Series has become a cornerstone of Strathmore’s community engagement initiatives. The program seeks to deepen audience understanding while celebrating the cultural diversity of Montgomery County and communities beyond the region. 

THE 2026-2027 WINDOW SERIES PRE-CONCERT EVENTS: The 10th pre-concert event will be announced in September.

¡Baila Cuba! (Oct. 18 & Oct. 29) invites audiences of all skill levels to explore Cuban music’s movement traditions and rhythms with local dance artists. This interactive experience celebrates the cultural heritage behind Chucho Valdés’ 85th Birthday Celebration and sets the stage for the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban All Stars, a multigenerational ensemble performing 20th-century golden age Cuban son, bolero and dance styles.

Recuerdos: A Latin American Arts Market (Oct. 31 – Nov. 1), celebrates Latin American art, culture and entrepreneurship before and during intermission ofDisney Pixar’s Coco Live-to-Film Concert. Presented by Strathmore and the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, it accompanies the full film screening and live performance by the Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México.

American Voices in Choreography (Nov. 10) brings audiences into a conversation with a panel about 21st-century American ballet and offers a sneak peek at the evening’s American Ballet Theatre Studio Companyperformance.

Carpathia DC Lobby Dance Performance (Jan. 24) showcases Central and Eastern European heritage to life through authentic folk music and dance from the Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble before DakhaBrakha, the Kyiv-based quartet whose music blends Ukrainian folk traditions with global influences.

Taiko no Kokoro: The Heart of Taiko (March 18) provides a hands-on exploration of taiko drumming’s rhythms, discipline, and community spirit, serving as a prelude to the renowned Japanese ensemble, Kodo, and their One Earth Tour 2027: Luminance,

Calabash Arts Market (March 26) welcomes West African artists, performers, vendors and DJs to the Music Center lobby before and after Sona Jobarteh’s performance. The marketplace, designed with cultural convener Dera Tompkins, complements the multi-instrumentalist’s blend of West African griot tradition, Afropop, and blues.

We Return to Forever: Music in the Public Sphere (April 8) explores the musical legacy connecting Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara, as well as music’s enduring power to inspire freedom and unity, before Stanley Clarke and Hiromi’s performance.

The Qawwali Effect: Why This 750-Year-Old Tradition Still Moves the World (June 25- June 26) brings together cultural leader Aisha Imam, legal scholar Nermeen Arastu and violist Dr. Rizwan Jagani for a conversation about Qawwali’s rich heritage ahead of The Orchestral Qawwali Project. Co-presented by Strathmore and District of Raga, the discussion complements the project’s U.S. premiere with the Washington National Opera Orchestra.

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