Tommy Mesa & Olga Kern
The concert opens Dumbarton Concerts' 49th season with a varied evening of American and European works that celebrate the classic partnership of cello and piano. Dr. Tommy Mesa, a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and frequent orchestral soloist, joins pianist Olga Kern, a historic Van Cliburn Competition gold medalist, to form a powerful and charismatic duo. Their program ranges from sonatas by Beethoven, Debussy, and Barber to shorter pieces by 20th- and 21st-century composers, reflecting both artists’ commitment to new music.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $60 for live in-person attendance; tickets are available for purchase on the Dumbarton Concerts website.
Program: Ludwig van Beethoven – Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5; Claude Debussy – Sonata in D Minor, L. 135; Andrea Casarrubios – 24 Mozas; Adolphus Hailstork – Elegy; Samuel Barber – Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 6; Nadia Boulanger – Trois Pièces; Aaron Copland – Waltz & Celebration from “Billy the Kid.”
About the Artists: Olga Kern, born into a musical family, won First Prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition at seventeen and made history in 2001 as the first woman in over fifty years to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She maintains an active international career as a soloist and faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music. Tommy Mesa, a Cuban-American cellist, received the Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence, the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Cleveland Orchestra. He is committed to premiering new works and has released acclaimed recordings. Both artists are celebrated for their vivid stage presence and virtuosity.
Venue: Dumbarton Concerts Gallery. Plan your visit online for location and parking details.
Note: The concert is presented live in person. Age restrictions are not specified; contact the venue for further information on accessibility and run time.