Threads of Tradition & Innovation 2026

“Threads of Tradition & Innovation 2026: A Musical Tapestry of New Composition and Classic Repertoire”

Faculty Concert: Friday, May 1 – 6:00 PM
Student Concert: Sunday, May 3 – 7:00 PM

Free and open to the public

Now in its second year, “Threads of Tradition & Innovation” 2026 brings together New College of Florida music students, faculty artists, and professional musicians from across the Sarasota arts community and beyond for a vibrant celebration of live performance. This year’s visiting artists-in-residence are the HAT Trio, a jazz ensemble based out of Illinois. The series is built around the exchange between tradition and innovation, bringing classical repertoire and new composition into conversation across two concerts. In 2026, the spotlight is on jazz, featured alongside classical and contemporary works throughout the series.

The Faculty Concert will take place on Friday, May 1 at 6:00 PM and features faculty artists Tania Arazi Coambs (soprano), Katherine Baloff (violin), Virginia Bray (piano), Mark Dancigers (composer & guitarist), and Ashkan Tabatabaie (composer & guitarist). The program begins with classical repertoire and new classical works, then moves into jazz performance with the HAT Trio—Matt Hughes (bass), Whitney Ashe (piano), and George Turner (guitar). The evening brings together an extraordinary group of guest artists, including Jessé Martins (pianist and conductor at Sarasota Opera), Chris Schnell (associate cellist of Sarasota Orchestra),Peter Carney (saxophone, State College of Florida), Aaron Nix (drums, State College of Florida), Audrey Lund (violin), Yordan Tenev (viola), and Abigail Worgul (voice). Together, these artists trace a program that begins in classical chamber music and vocal repertoire, features original works by faculty composers Mark Dancigers and Ashkan Tabatabaie, and concludes in jazz performance with the HAT Trio, offering audiences a rich and varied musical journey in a single evening.

The Student Concert will take place on Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 PM and features students from the New College of Florida Chamber Music Ensemble, Chorus, Guitar Ensemble, Music Production class, as well as voice, flute, and music composition students. Students work directly with faculty instructors and professional guest artists, offering meaningful opportunities for artistic growth and professional-level performance experience. The program will include both classical repertoire and jazz, with original student compositions written for the HAT Trio. Student composers will have the opportunity to hear their new jazz works performed by professional musicians, while student singers will collaborate with the HAT Trio in performances of jazz standards, bringing this year’s jazz focus to life on stage.

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