NSO SMI Brass Performance

The NSO SMI Brass Performance is a special ensemble concert presented as part of the 33rd anniversary of the Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra National Trustees Summer Music Institute (SMI), a three-week orchestral and chamber music festival for young musicians ages 15 to 20. This performance features brass musicians from the Summer Music Institute, who have been selected from across the United States and abroad—this year’s SMI includes participants from 17 states, Puerto Rico, and 8 countries. The program is part of a comprehensive training experience that includes coaching by NSO and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra musicians, master classes, private lessons, side-by-side rehearsals, and enrichment sessions. The brass ensemble is conducted by Sylvia Alimena, a noted figure in the brass and conducting worlds. The concert is held at the Kennedy Center, and while the exact showtime is not specified, other SMI performances on adjacent dates are listed at 6 p.m., suggesting a similar evening start time.

When: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (no specific showtime listed; other SMI events on nearby dates begin at 6 p.m., so check the venue for final details)
Venue: Kennedy Center (exact hall not specified; likely the Millennium Stage or a smaller performance space)
Tickets: Price not available; note that several SMI chamber performances are listed as free on the Millennium Stage, but this special ensemble performance may require a ticket—check the Kennedy Center website for pricing and availability
Lineup: Brass musicians of the NSO Summer Music Institute, conducted by Sylvia Alimena
Program: A special ensemble performance of brass repertoire, exact works not specified in the available text
Run time: Not provided
Ages: The SMI program serves musicians ages 15–20; audience age restrictions, if any, are not stated
Background: Part of the Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra National Trustees Summer Music Institute, a three-week intensive festival offering orchestral and chamber music training, master classes, private lessons, and career development sessions
Note: This event is one of several SMI performances during the festival; other SMI concerts include chamber music, full orchestra concerts, and a children’s program later in July