Smithsonian Academy Orchestra

The Smithsonian Academy Orchestra, led by artistic director Kenneth Slowik, performs a program of symphonies by C. P. E. Bach, Joseph Haydn, and Franz Schubert. Founded in 2024, the ensemble is the resident orchestra of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, a National Museum of American History program. Its musicians include accomplished period-instrument performers, and the concert follows historically informed performance practices.

The program spans works from 1771 to 1816, offering music from the Classical and early Romantic eras.

When: Friday, October 16, 2026

Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Regular admission is $20 plus a $5 booking fee. Student and youth admission is $10.

Program: C. P. E. Bach’s *Symphony in C Major, Wq 182/3*; Haydn’s *Symphony No. 52 in C Minor*; and Schubert’s *Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D 485*.

Performers: Smithsonian Academy Orchestra, conducted by artistic director Kenneth Slowik

Venue: Dekelboum Concert Hall, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Admission: General admission

Accessibility: The Clarice offers wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by request at least six weeks before the performance.