Program, reservations, and information to come.
Join us on October 17 at 7 p.m. for a jazz concert during the 15th edition of the Jazz à la Cité festival.
This event brings together many houses of the Cité universitaire internationale de Paris, throughout the month of October.
Reserve your free seat to attend the concert at FEU now!
Musical program to come…
Paul Schoenfeld
Café Music
Natalie DARST XIA, violon
Lily STERN, violoncelle
Gabriel NEWSHAM, piano
On September 13, 2025 , the United States Foundation (FEU) will host a charity event dedicated to “ We-LEAD Now! ”, the flagship program of SHARE-by-INOMER, a partner of the Jena Declaration (UNESCO Chair) and the Climate Coordination. This program supports youth-led climate and sustainability actions through music, art, science, and intergenerational dialogue, and has been internationally recognized for its impact.
The evening will open with a concert by SHARE Artistic Director and FEU Artist-in-Residence Bartu Elci-Ozsoy , who will perform with the SHARE Ensemble on an Antonio Stradivari violin generously loaned by J & A Beare in London. Proceeds from this concert will be donated to We-LEAD Now! The musical program will include works by Brahms, Bartók, Vivaldi, and others.
The concert will be followed by a special screening of the award-winning documentary “ Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics .”
This event aims to raise awareness of the climate crisis and plastic pollution, as well as raise funds for the expansion of “We-LEAD Now!” in vulnerable regions. With two decades of proven impact, the program has already launched a first pilot project in Cameroon , and others are in the pipeline in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Asia .
Assistant Program Director
Subscription Chamber Debut with Diana Ligeti, Aya Kono-Vichard, John Stulz, Pedro Gadelha, Claude Delangle.
Subscription Faculty Concert : Sonata Debut
Coaching standard French chamber and sonata repertoire.
Programmed and Produced nine Concert-Midi series presented in the château.
https://fontainebleauschools.org/
Come celebrate the grand finale of the 5th Floor Scholar series!
On June 27, Fulbright-France and Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar Dayton Hare will present Songs from the Earth , a recital exploring the connections between language, music, and the natural world, with a particular focus on climate and our relationship to the environment.
To mark the closing of this extraordinary series, the concert will be followed by a drink in the Petit Salon.
Composer Dayton Hare, currently in residence at the Fondation des États-Unis in Paris in 2024-2025, creates music that balances lyricism, color, narrative, and atmosphere, often inspired by nature and engaged with environmental issues, notably through works he will compose in connection with the city's efforts against climate change, while continuing his studies with Régis Campo at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.
A word from the artist:
My compositions are deeply inspired by caring for nature and concern about climate change. Songs from the Earth exemplifies this theme, celebrating the beauty of nature, exploring the human impact and psychological effects of the Anthropocene, and hoping to inspire action to protect our planet.
5th Floor Artist and Fellow in Residence: Dayton Hare
Albert Steinberger – violin, guest
Natalie Darst-Xia – violin, Fulbright-France artist-scholar, HHW in residence at the United States Foundation
Jonathan Mutel – violin, artist in residence at the United States Foundation
Nadine Oussaad – viola, guest
Alexandre Frochot – cello, guest
Ariela Bohrod – piano, HHW Artist-in-Residence at the United States Foundation
Gabriel Newsham – piano, HHW Artist-in-Residence at the United States Foundation
Samuel Gaskin – piano, artist in residence at the United States Foundation
On May 22, our talented Fulbright-HHW Scholar, Natalie Darst Xia , will present a special recital titled “Kisses ,” as part of the 5th Floor Scholar Series .
During her residency in Paris, Natalie focused on promoting Franco-American cultural exchange through her violin performances and project coordination, while continuing her studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris-Alfred Cortot.
This concert is the fourth in the 5th Floor Scholar Series , highlighting this year's scholarship artists living on the Foundation's 5th floor.
Natalie Darst Xia – Violin (Fulbright-HHW Scholar)
Natalie Darst Xia, a 2024-2025 Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar, is pursuing her violin studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris-Alfred Cortot. A four-time Screen Actors Guild Foundation Scholar, she has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. Passionate about French-American cultural exchange, she also works in arts administration, serving on the board of the Associations de Fontainebleau and as Associate Program Director of the American Conservatory of the Fontainebleau Schools. She has held scholarships at prestigious festivals and served as concertmaster of several renowned orchestras. Natalie is a graduate of the Mannes School of Music and Boston University, having studied with distinguished professors such as Sally Thomas and Todd Phillips.
*Natalie Darst Xia plays a Gagliano violin, loaned by Mr. Bouvet, at the initiative of the TALENTS & VIOLON'CELLES endowment fund.
A word from the artist:
As a professional violinist, I focus on programming works by living and underrepresented composers, particularly those who wrote in French or American styles, alongside the classical repertoire. I enjoy curating programs that showcase the violin's sonic and expressive range, inspired by significant moments in history, literature, and art.
My Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Project, Kisses, is a recital of six 19th- and 20th-century French and American works. The program begins with Florence Price's Fantasie No. 1 in G minor, a hybrid of American neo-Romanticism and African-American spirituals, and Hélène de Montgeroult's Violin Sonata, Op. 2, No. 3, a work that balances French classicism and early Romanticism. The second duet consists of Gabriel Fauré's Berceuse, Op. 16 in D major, a charming French salon lullaby, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold's (Austrian-American) suite for violin and piano, Much Ado about Nothing, Op. 11 (1920), which captures the capriciousness and cinematic expression of American incidental music. I conclude the recital with two French works: Jules Massenet's "Meditation" from his opera Thaïs (1893), a tribute to my love of opera, and Maurice Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in G major (1927). As the cornerstone of the program, Ravel's sonata is a work that combines lyricism, jazz, and virtuosity, and each of the six selected pieces is inspired by the compositional elements of this artistic pillar of the French violin repertoire.
The performance is a collaboration between former and current Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholars, and this program was chosen to reflect my studies in Paris of the French performance style tradition with my wonderful teacher, Régis Pasquier.
Kisses: French and American Violin Works from the 19th and 20th Centuries
Florence PRICE (1887-1953)
Fantasy No. I for violin and piano in G minor (1933)
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Khalid MCGHEE, piano
Hélène de MONTGEROULT (1764-1836)
Sonata in A minor for violin and piano Op. 2, No. 3 (1800)
I. Agitato
II. Adagio
III. Vivace con espressione
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Gabriel NEWSHAM, piano
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Berceuse, Op. 16 in D major (1878)
Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Music for Much Ado about Nothing
Suite for violin and piano, Op. 11 (1920)
I. The Maiden in the Bridal Chamber
II. Dogberry and Verges: March of the Watch
III. Scene in the Garden
IV. Masquerade: Hornpipe
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Jonathan BASS, piano
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
“Meditation” by Thaïs (1893)
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Ariela BOHROD, piano
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major (1927)
I. Allegretto
II. Blues
III. Perpetuum mobile
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Jonathan BASS, piano
Artists and Fellows in Residence on the 5th Floor: Natalie Darst Xia , Ariela Bohrod , Jonathan Bass , Gabriel Newsham and Khalid McGhee
Conference
Introduction – Dr. Joan Divol, Director of the United States Foundation
Goering's Man in Paris – Dr. Jonathan Petropoulos
From a Photograph to a Reunited Family – Dr. Wendy Lower
From a Work of Art to a Rediscovered Family Heirloom – Ray Dowd
French policy of reparation for the spoliation of cultural property: a quest for justice – David Zivie
Concert
We are delighted to welcome the artists Bartu Elci-Ozsoy (violin), Natalie Darst Xia (violin), Jonathan Mutuel (violin), Kyo Kawasaki (cello), and Gabriel Newsham (piano) for a concert in E minor of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins BWV 1043 (1732) to conclude the conference. The full musical program will be announced shortly.
Speakers
Dr. Jonathan Petropoulos – Historian, author and specialist in Nazi dispossession
Dr. Wendy Lower – Historian and Holocaust Scholar
David Zivie – Senior official at the French Ministry of Culture and Head of the Mission for the Research and Restitution of Cultural Property Looted between 1933 and 1945 (M2RS)
Mr. Raymond Dowd – Associate Professor at Fordham Law and Attorney specializing in art restitution
This FEU conference explores how the issue of looted artworks is not only a historical concern, but remains a current issue. Our four speakers will examine the complexity of art restitution, the ethical responsibilities of institutions, and the efforts required to return stolen works to their rightful owners.
By highlighting several aspects of this issue, this conference aims to foster a better understanding of the moral, legal, and historical issues surrounding art restitution. Through ongoing dialogue and action, our French and American guests will reaffirm the importance of accountability, memory, and cultural preservation in the face of one of the most devastating cultural crimes in history.
Nazi plundering of European artworks: a lingering legacy
In the decade leading up to 1945, the Nazi regime orchestrated an unprecedented campaign of cultural destruction across Europe. As part of this systematic undertaking, an estimated one-fifth of European artwork was looted, much of it from Jewish families and other groups deemed “undesirable.” This massive looting was not simply a matter of material theft; it was a central part of the Nazi ideological strategy to erase the cultural heritage of their victims and rewrite history to suit their own purposes.
However, the consequences of these spoliations extended well beyond the war period. The illicit trade in stolen artworks continued for decades, facilitated by clandestine networks of curators, art dealers, and former Nazi collaborators, such as Bruno Lohse, infamously known as “The Plunderer.” These stolen treasures continue to appear in private collections and prestigious museums around the world, highlighting the lasting impact of Nazi cultural crimes.
Restitution of works of art looted by the Nazis: historical, legal and ethical issues
The process of restoring stolen artwork is a complex undertaking that requires rigorous historical research, genealogical expertise, and scientific investigative techniques to accurately trace the provenance of each piece. Restitution is not simply a legal act; it involves a profound reflection on history and helps revive the intellectual and cultural legacies of families who suffered immense losses during the Holocaust.
Every successful restitution represents a victory against historical erasure. Beyond simply returning a work, it rehabilitates narratives that had been silenced, ensuring that the stories of the victims and their descendants are honored and preserved. Furthermore, these efforts play a crucial role in combating Holocaust denial and historical distortion, reinforcing the importance of memory, justice, and truth.
French restitution policy
France has played an active role in addressing the restitution of Nazi-looted art. This conference will highlight key aspects of the French government's approach to restitution, including:
The crucial role of archival research in identifying stolen works and establishing their provenance.
The French government's commitment to processing the requests of affected families while conducting proactive investigations to identify looted works.
The scope of restitution efforts, which go beyond simply returning identified works to include actively searching for lost and misattributed works.
The profound importance of restitution, both as an act of historical justice and as a means of restoring a sense of identity and heritage for the families concerned.
United States Foundation 5th Floor Artists in Residence : Natalie Darst Xia * , Jonathan Mutel , and Gabriel Newsham
Guest artists:
Bartu Elci-Ozsoy – A 21-year-old violinist, conductor, and composer, he made his triple debut in Paris at the age of 15, performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and conducting his First Symphony, accompanied by Mozart's 29th Symphony. The concert, attended by a large audience, including the former French Prime Minister, led Jean-Claude Casadesus to take him under his wing, declaring, "Bartu is an excellent musician who deserves all the attention."
In addition to numerous performances at concerts and festivals across Europe and South America, in 2023 and 2024, Bartu performed in Chicago, New York, and Washington DC, including concerts at the United Nations Headquarters hosted by France.
Selected for the Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky in 2024, Bartu currently studies with Nemanja Radulović and performs at La Seine Musicale. He also takes courses with renowned American conductors as a Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellow, an honor awarded to the best young conductors from around the world.
Recent engagements include a keynote address on leadership, innovation, and sustainability, followed by a violin performance in front of over 100 Michelin-starred chefs in Lyon, as well as a solo performance with the orchestra in concerts in Bordeaux, in addition to several chamber music concerts in Paris.
Kyo Kawasaki – Kyo Kawasaki began playing the cello and drums at a young age. He earned a master's degree in cello from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris and continued his jazz drumming studies at the 11th arrondissement conservatory with Laurent Bataille. This artistic complementarity informs his approach to different styles, ranging from classical to contemporary music.
* Natalie Darst Xia plays a Gagliano violin, loaned by Mr Bouvet, at the initiative of the TALENTS & VIOLON'CELLES endowment fund
Les Concerts de Midi et Demi sont donnés par les diplômés, les étudiants des niveaux supérieurs et les professeurs de l’École Normale de Musique de Paris.
Ils sont coordonnés et présentés par Stéphane Friédérich.
Entrée libre sous réserve des places disponibles.
Concert des classes de composition de Régis Campo, Michael Levinas et Eric Tanguy
Dayton Hare Sometimes, the rain (2018)
Natalie Darst Xia, violon
Jonathan Bass, piano
Only artist chosen to represent the Fondation des États-Unis to perform for 300 government officials, leaders, and cultural ambassadors.
En 2025, la Cité internationale universitaire de Paris fête ses 100 ans, sous le haut patronage du président de la République. Un siècle après sa création, ce campus unique au monde reste fidèle à son ambition fondatrice : promouvoir la paix et le dialogue entre les cultures à travers la rencontre de résidents venus du monde entier. De mars à décembre, une programmation pluridisciplinaire et ouverte à tous reflète l’identité plurielle du campus et sa vocation d’ouverture et de transmission. Concerts, arts numériques, performances, expositions, conférences, projections et visites guidées vont faire vibrer le campus.
Depuis 1925, dans un contexte marqué par la Première Guerre mondiale, la Cité internationale a été pensée comme un lieu unique où étudiants, chercheurs et artistes du monde entier vivent ensemble et apprennent à construire un avenir en commun. Tous partagent un même objectif : mieux se comprendre et trouver ensemble des solutions pour faire face aux grands défis mondiaux.
Au-delà d’une célébration, ce centenaire est un moment de réflexion sur l’héritage et l’avenir de la Cité internationale. Il réaffirme l’actualité de ses valeurs et son rôle unique dans l’accueil des jeunesses du monde, la transmission des savoirs et la promotion du dialogue interculturel. Depuis un siècle, la Cité internationale incarne une utopie concrète qui a su préserver son esprit d’ouverture et de résilience, tout en restant une source d’inspiration pour l’avenir. Son modèle de coexistence et d’innovation est plus que jamais une réponse aux grands défis du monde contemporain.
Promouvoir nos valeurs fondatrices
Face aux défis contemporains – crise climatique, tensions géopolitiques, démantèlement du multilatéralisme, remise en cause de l’État de droit – le centenaire rappelle que les engagements pour la paix, la solidarité et le dialogue des cultures que porte la Cité internationale depuis un siècle sont toujours aussi actuels et nécessaires.
Mettre en lumière un modèle unique de vie collective
Grâce à une programmation variée et ouverte à tous, la Cité internationale souhaite révéler au plus grand nombre son rôle essentiel dans l’accueil des jeunesses du monde et son modèle de vie collective unique au monde.
Regarder vers l’avenir
Depuis un siècle, la Cité internationale universitaire de Paris a démontré qu’une vision humaniste pouvait non seulement résister aux épreuves du temps, mais aussi inspirer les nouvelles générations. Ce centenaire n’est pas seulement une commémoration, mais une promesse de continuer à rêver, à inspirer le monde et une invitation à imaginer l’avenir ensemble.
La paix et le dialogue des cultures
La raison d’être de la Cité internationale universitaire de Paris est profondément enracinée dans l’idéal de paix. Ce centenaire est l’occasion de réaffirmer la conviction que les rencontres humaines, intellectuelles et culturelles peuvent, en dépassant les frontières, contribuer à garantir une paix durable. À travers des conférences, des performances artistiques et des initiatives de sensibilisation, la programmation mettra en avant la force du dialogue et la compréhension mutuelle entre les peuples.
Le patrimoine et l’architecture
La Cité internationale possède un patrimoine architectural, artistique et paysager exceptionnel. Elle a toujours été une grande source d’inspiration pour les architectes et artistes du monde entier. Ce centenaire mettra en lumière la richesse de son patrimoine, en proposant des expositions, des visites guidées et des colloques qui exploreront son évolution, sa modernisation et la prise en compte des enjeux environnementaux.
Les savoirs et les connaissances
Laboratoire d’idées et lieu de partage des connaissances, la Cité internationale est un espace de débat où se réfléchissent et se débattent des solutions aux enjeux du monde contemporain. Des conférences, des débats académiques et des colloques scientifiques illustreront son rôle central dans la transmission des savoirs et la coopération internationale.
Les arts et la création
Acteur culturel singulier à Paris, la Cité internationale offre un environnement propice à la création et au rayonnement des arts. Elle est un lieu d’accueil des artistes internationaux en exil ou à la recherche d’un lieu inspirant. Le centenaire célébrera la diversité des expressions artistiques à travers des expositions, des performances immersives et des concerts, soulignant la dimension universelle du campus.
Tous les événements du centenaire seront disponibles, à compter du 17 mars sur un site dédié : centenaire.ciup.fr.
Télécharger la brochure du centenaire
Le centenaire est construit comme une chorégraphie collective, associant l’ensemble des communautés de la Cité internationale. Elle mobilise toutes nos communautés : maisons, résidents, alumni, partenaires, mécènes et salariés sont au cœur de l’organisation du centenaire. Leur engagement donne vie à cet événement en favorisant les échanges interculturels, en impulsant des initiatives communes et en créant des moments de partage qui reflètent l’esprit de la Cité internationale, faisant de cette célébration un véritable projet collectif.
Le centenaire est également une plateforme d’échanges internationaux réunissant des figures du monde politique, académique, scientifique et artistique pour un rayonnement international. Ces personnalités viendront partager leur vision de la Cité internationale, son rôle dans les grands enjeux contemporains et son impact dans la construction d’un monde ouvert, inclusif et solidaire.
Le centenaire sera officiellement lancé lors d’une soirée spéciale le lundi 17 mars. Pour permettre au plus grand nombre d’assister à cet événement, la cérémonie d’inauguration sera diffusée en direct sur la chaîne YouTube de la Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, à partir de 18h.
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Sonate pour violon et pianon°2 en sol majeur (1927)
I. Allegretto
II.Blues
III. Perpetuum mobile
Natalie Darst Xia, violon
Jonathan Bass, piano
Founded in the United States in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week," Black History Month began as an effort to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans, whose stories were largely excluded from mainstream historical narratives. Becoming a month-long celebration in 1976, it has since grown to be observed worldwide, honoring the history, culture, and impact of people of African descent worldwide.
As part of this commemoration, resident musician Khalid McGhee, along with fellow artists-in-residence Sarah Curtis , Natalie Darst Xia , Jonathan Mutel ,
Jonathan Bass , Ariela Bohrod , and guest artist Jasmine Daquin, presents Echoes of Brilliance , a recital celebrating the contributions of Black composers to classical music. Featuring works by Florence Price, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Leslie Adams, Brian Raphael Nabors, and William Grant Still, the program highlights the resilience, creativity, and influence of composers from the United States and the broader African diaspora. This collaborative performance invites the audience to reflect on their enduring legacy and the vital role of Black voices in shaping the classical tradition.
Honoring the legacy and influence of Black composers, artists, and thinkers.
To encourage collaboration between musicians, visual artists and other creative residents of the United States Foundation.
Engage the community in a meaningful celebration of Black history and its relevance today.
Photo credit: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. “Composers Bob Cole, James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 24, 2025: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7f947850-e020-0130-79c8-58d385a7b928
Gabriel FAURÉ (1845-1924)
Berceuse, Op. 16 in D Major (1878)
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Jonathan BASS, piano
Gabriel FAURÉ
Barcarolle No. 4, Op. 44 in A-flat Major (1886)
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Études (1915)
n°8 pour les agréments
Jonathan BASS, piano
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Ma mère de l'oye (1910)
Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
Petit Poucet
Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes
Les entretiens de la Belle et la Bête
Le jardin féerique
Jonathan BASS, piano
Samuel GASKIN, piano
Ellen TAAFFE ZWILICH (b. 1939)
Fantasy for Solo Violin (2013)
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Dayton HARE (b. 1996)
Sometimes, the rain (2018)
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Jonathan BASS, piano
Philip GLASS (b. 1937)
Arr. Dayton HARE
Selections from La Belle et la Bête (1994)
Jonathan BASS, piano
Dayton HARE, piano
Maurice RAVEL (1875-1937)
Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré for violin and piano (1922)
Sonata for violon and piano n°2 in G Major (1927)
I. Allegretto
II. Blues
III. Perpetuum mobile
Natalie DARST XIA, violin
Jonathan BASS, piano
Discussion session led by Laurent Vilarem
Dayton Hare Three Eliot landscapes
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Fantasy for solo violin
Dayton Hare Sometimes, the rain
Jake Heggie Statuesque
Musicians:
Sarah Curtis (mezzo-soprano), Natalie Darst Xia (violin), Jonathan Bass (piano)
Jazz à la Cité returns for its 14th edition to the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris . Throughout October, enjoy concerts in various venues, including the FEU on Tuesday, October 8. We invite you to save the date and discover the program of FEU jazz musicians!
Practical information
Date Tuesday, October 8 | Time 7:30 p.m. | Facebook Event
Free reservation
Program
William Bolcom (1938-)
The Serpent's Kiss
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Sonata No. 2 in G Major for Violin and Piano
II. Blues. Moderato
George Shearing (1919-2011)
Lullaby of Birdland
John Klenner (1899-1955)
Just Friends
Vince Gauraldi (1928-1976)
Ginza Samba
Kurt Weill (1900-1950)
Speak Low
Buddy on the Nightshift
My Ship
Samuel Gaskin
A.B.'s Waltz
Miles Davis (1926-1991)
All Blues
Charlie Parker (1920-1955)
Ornithology
Standard blues
Stanley Coleman, saxophone
Khalid McGhee, piano/voice
Jazz Musicians of the FEU
Stanley E. Coleman , a native of St. Louis, USA, has had a remarkable impact on the world of jazz and blues through his long career as a musician and teacher. He has shared the stage with legendary artists such as Gladys Knight & the Pips, Lou Rawls, Kool & the Gang, The O'Jays, Fifth Dimension, BB King, The Manhattans, and Della Reese, earning him a prominent place in the musical community. In 2019, Coleman was part of the St. Louis-based HyC and the Fresh Start Band, which won first place at the International Blues Challenge, marking the first time a St. Louis band has achieved this prestigious honor. Today, Coleman is excited to bring his deep passion for jazz and blues to FEU!
American pianist Khalid McGhee earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Northern Arizona University and then continued his studies at the Institut für Musik der Hochschule Osnabrück. He then earned a Diplôme Supérieur in Vocal Coaching from the École Normale de Musique de Paris “Alfred Cortot” and is currently pursuing a further education program. A versatile musician, Khalid is proficient in piano, chamber music, vocal accompaniment, vocal coaching, language coaching, and musical conducting. Through his residency at the United States Foundation, Khalid aims to inspire and connect audiences by fusing genres to create a more diverse concert experience.
Originally from Washington Island in the United States, Jonathan Bass will continue his piano studies during the 2024-2025 academic year with Professor David Lively at the École Normale de Musique de Paris-Alfred Cortot. Jonathan graduated with honors from Lawrence University in Appleton, USA, where he was a prizewinner in numerous competitions, including the concerto competition, the Marjory Irvin Prize in Chamber Music, and the Margaret Gary Daniels Keyboard Performance Award . Jonathan holds an Accompanying Fellowship from Lawrence University and is active as a soloist and collaborative pianist. He studied with Michael Mizrahi at Lawrence and with Michael Coonrod at the Interlochen Arts Academy. A winner of the MTNA Competition in Wisconsin, Jonathan has also participated in numerous summer music festivals, including Rocky Ridge, Brevard, and the Decoda Chamber Music Festival, for which he received a full tuition scholarship.
Ariela Bohrod began taking piano lessons at the age of four in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She continued her high school education at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and moved to New York City in 2013 to study with Pavlina Dokovska at Mannes College the New School for Music , where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance on merit scholarships. Her training, combined with the kindness of others and a great deal of luck, has allowed her to perform in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States. While her musical repertoire encompasses a wide variety of repertoire, her true love lies with the material composed between the early 20th century and the present day—a musical landscape that, for her, transcends the mundane and rises to the ethereal. After a nearly two-year hiatus performing on cruise ships with Lincoln Center Stage , she is thrilled and honored to be studying with Suzana Bartal at the École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred-Cortot, and to be a Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar alongside such brilliant young artists. Outside of music, she enjoys writing, making clothes, and going on long hikes and adventures.
Sarah Kathryn Curtis is a captivating mezzo-soprano with both her PhD and MA from the University of Kansas, where she studied with the renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. Her promising career has led her to performances across the United States, negotiating contracts with prestigious institutions such as Portland Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Central City Opera. Sarah's diverse repertoire includes iconic operatic roles and a variety of other vocal works. Favorite roles include Carmen, Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Giulio Cesare, and Jo March (Little Women). As part of her doctoral research, Sarah presented a lecture recital on the vocal music of German-American composer Kurt Weill. Her passion for contemporary music has led her to sing in the premiere of Bonnie McLarty's Snow Angel with the University of Kansas Orchestra as well as several other student-led programs. During her stay in Paris, Sarah will study at the École Normale de Musique de Paris and will focus her research on art songs by French female composers.
A 2024-2025 Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar, Natalie Darst Xia is pursuing her violin studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris-Alfred Cortot. A four-time Screen Actors Guild Foundation Fellow , she has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician in France, Switzerland, and the United States. A dedicated orchestral musician, she has served as concertmaster of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra USA , the Mannes Orchestra, and the Boston University Symphony Orchestra . Natalie serves on the board of directors of the Fontainebleau Associations (USA) and spends her summers as the Associate Director of the American Conservatory Program at the Fontainebleau Schools at the Château de Fontainebleau. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Music degree with honors and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music , where she was a President's Scholarship recipient . She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University.
Pianist and organist Samuel Gaskin is interested in music in all its forms. As an improviser, he shared first prize in the 2023 St. Albans International Organ Competition and received second prize in the 2021 American Guild of Organists (AGO) National Organ Improvisation Competition. As a collaborating pianist, he has performed throughout the United States and Europe with mezzo-soprano Jacquelyn Matava. As a composer, he recently premiered Chase, for the ~Nois saxophone quartet, In memoriam, premiered by the Unheard-of Ensemble, and Psalm 118, for choir and organ. Samuel served as assistant organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas, before receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to France, where he is currently pursuing studies in organ performance and jazz piano at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Versailles.
Gabriel Newsham began learning the piano at the age of twelve. For six years he received lessons from Karl Koesterer, after which he was admitted to the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University where he graduated in 2018 in the class of Amy Dorfman. In 2019, he moved to France to obtain the Diplôme d'Études Musicales in piano and accompaniment with Chantal Lamarre and Brigitte Gonin-Chanut. In 2024 he obtained his master's degree in the class of Brenno Ambrosini at the Conservatorio Superior de Castilla y León . He attended the harmony, counterpoint and chamber music course at the EAMA internship for three consecutive summers (2017-2019). During his studies, he participated in courses and masterclasses with pianists such as Donna Lee, Sandra Shen, John Kimura Parker, Andrea Lam, Émile Naoumoff and Claire Désert. He has collaborated with artists such as Reginald Smith Jr., Laurent Pillot, Abenauara Graffigna, and María Espada. His performances have been broadcast on Radio Clásica in Spain as part of the program "Andante con moto." During the 2024-25 academic year, he will be an artist-in-residence at the Fondation des États-Unis in Paris as a Harriet Hale Woolley Fellow.
Assistant Program Director and Violinist in the historic Château de Fontainebleau
The schools originally got their start with the involvement of the United States during the First World War: General Pershing wished to improve the quality of the United States military bands and so asked the conductor of the New York Philharmonic — Walter Damrosch — to organize a music school in Chaumont, France, where US troops were headquartered. The school was led by composer and teacher Francis Casadesus.
After the war, Damrosch and Casadesus decided to continue the school, and with the support of the French government, the American Conservatory (Conservatoire Américain) opened in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau in 1921. The American Conservatory — with composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor as its first director — intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians.
Some of the world’s finest musicians studied at The American Conservatory including Aaron Copland, Quincy Jones and many, many others. Some distinguished alumni such as Louise Talma, Robert Levin & Émile Naoumoff were also faculty.
https://fontainebleauschools.org/
Performances, student coordinator, assisting stage manager, music librarian, and administrative duties in the Château de Fontainebleau.
The schools originally got their start with the involvement of the United States during the First World War: General Pershing wished to improve the quality of the United States military bands and so asked the conductor of the New York Philharmonic — Walter Damrosch — to organize a music school in Chaumont, France, where US troops were headquartered. The school was led by composer and teacher Francis Casadesus.
After the war, Damrosch and Casadesus decided to continue the school, and with the support of the French government, the American Conservatory (Conservatoire Américain) opened in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau in 1921. The American Conservatory — with composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor as its first director — intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians.
Some of the world’s finest musicians studied at The American Conservatory including Aaron Copland, Quincy Jones and many, many others. Some distinguished alumni such as Louise Talma, Robert Levin & Émile Naoumoff were also faculty.
https://fontainebleauschools.org/
Invitation to return to the 2023 Spoleto Festival USA as a Violin Fellow
Annual Gala event for the Fontainebleau Schools of Music and Fine Arts at the Water Club in New York City.
This recital is presented in partial fulfillment for the Doctor of Musical Arts candidacy.
This event is free and open to the public.
Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49
Fazil Say “Space Jump” for violin, cello and piano (2013)
Astor Piazzolla “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires [Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas]” for Piano Trio
Natalie Darst Xia, violin
Johnny Mok, cello
Tianhong yang, piano
This recital is presented in partial fulfillment for the Doctor of Musical Arts candidacy.
This event is free and open to the public.
Principal Second Violin of the Boston University Symphony Orchestra
Pavane, op.50, Faure; "Le Tombeau de Couperin", Ravel; Symphony No.5, D major, Vaughn Williams. James Burton, asst. Maria Kurochkina, Fernando Gaggini, conductors. This event is free and open to the public.
Concert Hosted by Jamie Bernstein and Judith Pisar
Piano Trio for piano, violin, and cello (1937) by Leonard Bernstein
Baron Fenwick, piano
Natalie Darst Xia, violin
Mosa Tsay, cello
Dances of Galanta, Kodály; Teen Murti, Esmail; Symphony No. 8, Beethoven. Tamara Dworetz, asst. Maria Kurochkina, conductors. This event is free and open to the public.
Performances in Château de Fontainebleau
Conducting research for doctoral dissertation with a focus on Lucien Capet and his influence in the French tradition of violin performance/pedagogy.
2022 Violin Fellow
Orchestral performances in Charleston, South Carolina
https://spoletousa.org/
In 1921 the Conservatoire Américain de Fontainebleau opened its doors to American students from every state and every walk of life. Aaron Copland was the first to apply, marking the beginning of a procession of influential musicians and composers seeking the inspiration and knowledge of esteemed pedagogues such as Nadia Boulanger and Robert Casadesus. This concert celebrates the rich history of Fontainebleau with diverse works by Aaron Copland, George T. Walker, Louise Talma, and Charles Fox; world premieres by Bright Sheng, Dalit Warshaw and Mahir Cetiz; and a tribute to Nadia Boulanger featuring variations based on a theme by Robert Levin.
https://e.vivacematera.com/violin-viola-concerts-and-events/
Mannes Sounds Festival: Chamber performance
Coached by Earl Carlyss and Ann Schein
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel
Piano Trio in d minor
Natalie Darst Xia, violin
Isaiah Pennington, cello
Peiyi Chen, piano
In collaboration with pianist, Baron Fenwick
Program TBA
Mannes School of Music
Stiefel Hall (4th Floor)
55 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
Mannes Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall: Reich, Glass and Russell
Friday, March 13th, 7:30pm
Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway
Led by Alan Pierson, the Mannes Orchestra takes the stage at Alice Tully Hall for a special concert featuring voices from New York’s Downtown Music scene.
Event link: https://event.newschool.edu/mannestully
Tickets: Free for New School students with ID at the box office, General Public: $10 available from lincolncenter.org, the Alice Tully Hall Box Office, or CenterCharge at 212.721.6500.
Instagram: Tag @newschoolperformingarts @thenewschool @lincolncenter #mannesschoolofmusic #mannesorchestra
Twitter: @MannesCollege @TheNewSchool @LincolnCenter
Concertmaster of the Mannes Orchestra
ROCHBERG, George “Black Sounds”
COWELL, Henry Symphony No. 2 "Anthropos"
PENDERECKI, Krzysztof “Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima”
BEYER, Johanna “Cyrnab”
David Hayes, conductor
