AGP Executive Report

Music & Community: Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace Concert Series kicks off June 11 with an America250 celebration featuring the West Virginia Jazz Orchestra, a Greenbrier East High School Choir national anthem, and Patriotism in Poetry Contest readings. Classical Outdoors: UC Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater hosts I Cantori di Carmel performing Orff’s “Carmina Burana” on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Orchestral Picnic: West Virginia Symphony’s “Symphony Sunday” lands June 7 on the University of Charleston lawn with a SOUSA! theme, family activities, and a fireworks finale. Local Stage Spotlight: The Barn Theatre in Willmar stages “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” across 12 June performances. R&B Loss: Peabo Bryson, famed for Disney duets like “A Whole New World,” dies at 75. Indie Releases: French Dogs drop “Here’s to Pretending,” an indie rock set about modern connection and urban longing. Touring & Tickets: Riverdance 30 returns to Biloxi with four shows June 5–7. Pop Culture Buzz: Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song “I Knew It, I Knew You” is set for June 5.

Global Classical Diplomacy: Russia hosts the first open-air TV BRICS International Symphony Orchestra concert in St. Petersburg on June 5, featuring a world premiere symphonic poem “BRICS – A Commonwealth of Cultures” and guest soloists from Russia, China and Iran. Festival Cancellations: WOMAD’s planned 2026 Glasgow event is cancelled after low ticket sales, with refunds offered. Music Loss: R&B and Disney duet legend Peabo Bryson dies at 75 after a stroke, leaving behind “A Whole New World” and “Beauty and the Beast” vocals that defined generations. Big Summer Ticket News: Halifax’s Piece Hall “Live at The Piece Hall” smashes box office records, with 215,000 tickets sold so far. Open-Air Classics: Zagreb Classic returns June 19–July 3 with free city-centre concerts spanning symphonic works, opera galas, musicals, jazz and tango. Tech Meets Music Culture: Showtime Group expands live music formats after investment from Antamar Capital Partners, aiming to scale song-based orchestral and themed concert IP for the global market.

Community Arts as Civic Glue: Malaysia’s housing minister Nga Kor Ming says cities need arts, culture, and human connection—not just buildings—at the MADANI Philharmonic Musical Concert 2026. Summer Live Music Returns: Oberlin’s “Tunes on Tappan” brings weekly Friday concerts plus Family Fun Nights to Tappan Square (June 12–July 31, with holiday skips). Music Meets Place-Making: Salt Lake City’s “Art Garten” launches in the old Utah Pantages Theater lot with live sets, DJs, art, and lawn games. Orchestral Pop Goes Big: Kansas City Symphony stages “Taylor Swift: The Symphony Era” (June 11–12) with orchestral arrangements, live band, and vocalists. Patriotism on the Field: Altoona’s free “Star-Spangled Symphony” (June 20) pairs patriotic classics with fireworks. New Music Spotlight: Charli XCX announces “Music, Fashion, Film” for July 24, leaning into rock after “Brat.” Local Scene Picks: Buckeye Country Superfest hits Ohio Stadium June 13 with Tyler Childers and roots-heavy lineup. Big-Stage Theater: “Beetlejuice” lands at the Kravis Center June 2–7.

Pride on Screen: Christian Bables, Iñigo Pascual, and Elijah Canlas are set to headline the queer comedy-drama film “Drags to Riches,” premiering in Philippine cinemas June 24. Global Classical: Beijing welcomes back the world’s oldest civic symphony orchestra, Gewandhausorchester, with Andris Nelsons and Yulianna Avdeeva tackling Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. Music Meets Cinema: China’s NCPA kicks off a major opera film exhibition (June 6–Nov 30), bringing international performing arts to screens. Festival Spotlight: Spain’s Alma y Jaleo Festival (June 13) spotlights contemporary flamenco with Javi Cantero, Nolasco, and Fraderita. Choir & Handel: “Heavenly Harmony” returns June 13 at Romsey Abbey with Bournemouth Bach Choir and Orchestra performing Handel’s Coronation Anthems. Health Update: R&B star Peabo Bryson is under medical care after a stroke, with family requesting privacy. Sound Therapy Trend: Steven Halpern announces a new 432 Hz sound therapy series, remastering key works for healing-focused listening. Tech Meets Music: Love Hultén turns Pink Floyd’s prism into a playable triangular synth guitar, Magicos-2. New Music: Fifty Fifty drops EP “Imperfect-I’mperfect,” leaning into dark-to-fresh dance pop with “Like a Bubble” as lead.

Cultural Preservation: Kampung Taee in Sarawak keeps the Gawai Dayak birarak alive with a 56-year family tradition dating back to 1970, as young and old march together. Broadway Spotlight: The 79th Tony Awards head to Radio City Music Hall on June 7, with new musicals “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” leading nominations and Pink hosting. Choral & Classical: A Greenbrier Valley Chorale group heads to Carnegie Hall June 8 for Elaine Hagenberg’s “Illuminare,” while Santa Monica College’s “Instruments of Praise” runs June 4–5 at The Broad Stage. Music + Identity: MUSE/IQUE opens its season at The Huntington with Kecia Lewis in “The Sun Rises in Harlem,” tracing Harlem Renaissance roots through concert-with-narration. Global Sounds: Chiang Mai’s Lanna Soft Power Music Fest blends Lanna heritage with contemporary styles to promote Thailand’s cultural influence. Pop Culture: Charli xcx unveils “Music, Fashion, Film” cover art featuring John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese, and Frankie Valli pauses touring for health reasons. Community Arts: El Museo del Barrio’s 2026 gala topped $1M with J Balvin honored for backing Latin American art.

OPM Revival: ABS-CBN’s music publishing arm launches CAT Records to reissue beloved OPM classics for a new generation, aiming for hundreds of refreshed tracks across genres. Health & Touring: Sir Rod Stewart, 81, cancels two Las Vegas shows on doctor’s orders for vocal rest after a sinus infection. Classical Spotlight: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra marks its 90th birthday with an “orchestral adventure” through Wagner’s The Ring—mostly instrumental—plus Strauss’s Four Last Songs. Legacy Loss: Legendary Indian playback singer Suman Kalyanpur dies at 89, prompting tributes from major political figures and fans. Global Concert Buzz: “Outlander in Concert: Echoes Through the Highlands” sells out its Scotland premiere, pairing Bear McCreary’s score with live ensemble and Celtic traditions. Music Tech & Creativity: London Americana singer Samuel Smith uses generative AI demos to finish a new album after Parkinson’s limits his guitar playing. Community Singing: Hyderabad’s café jamming sessions turn strangers into friends through shared Telugu hits. Pop Culture & Debate: JAY-Z questions rap beef’s place in modern culture—then drops a diss-heavy freestyle at Roots Picnic that reignites the argument.

Health & Legacy: Peabo Bryson is under medical care after suffering a stroke; his family is asking for privacy as fans rally around the two-time Grammy winner behind “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World.” R&B History: Ronald LaPread, founding bassist of the Commodores, has died at 75 after a “sudden medical event” in Auckland, with tributes highlighting hits like “Brick House” and “Three Times a Lady.” Reggae Spotlight: D’yani and producer Kareem “Remus” Burrell are pushing reggae’s next wave with “Journey,” the lead single from D’yani’s debut album Live Life and Prosper dropping June 5. Live Music Picks: New Orleans is already stacking major 2026 shows for the back half of the year, including Orchestra Noir (June 6) and Yebba (June 11). Community Through Sound: Blakk Rasta drew about 50,000 to Zebilla for the 1North, 1People Peace Concert, using music to unite communities amid long-running tensions. Youth & Classical: The Sudbury Youth Orchestra teams up with Juno-nominated jazz artists Alex Bird and Ewen Farncombe on June 7. Local Stage Buzz: Santa Monica College’s Vocal Jazz Ensembles brought community together at Broad Stage with a full-on vocal jazz night.

Afro-Cuban funk: Cimafunk teams with La Tribu for “Te Toca,” leaning into dance-floor grooves that fuse Afro-Cuban rhythms with R&B and soul. Community music & culture: Pasadena Armenian Festival returns Saturday (May 30) with khorovats, live music, and a coalition of 30 groups—built on resilience after last year’s weather cancellation. Orchestral spotlight: Pasadena Symphony closes its season Saturday with “America@250,” featuring Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” with Alec Baldwin as narrator. AI in music creation: London singer-songwriter Samuel Smith used AI tools to finish his Americana album “The Art of Letting Go” after Parkinson’s made guitar playing impossible. Classical tribute: Eugene Symphony honors Michael Tilson Thomas with a concert led by Alex Prior, including Handel “Water Musick” arrangements. Music & politics fallout: Artists keep pulling out of Trump’s “Freedom 250” concerts, with the cancellations escalating into public back-and-forth. Health & touring: Rod Stewart cancels Las Vegas shows hours before start on doctor’s orders, citing vocal rest for a sinus infection. Local summer stages: Thorington Theatre in Suffolk highlights a hidden woodland amphitheatre season mixing theatre, music, and storytelling. Festival planning: Ludington State Park’s free summer series kicks off June 9 with Great Lakes music and runs through August.

Cultural Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia opened its Guest of Honour pavilion at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair with panels, poetry, live traditional arts, manuscript and heritage displays, and even a Majlis experience. Dance & Community: Phoenix Dance Theatre brings Interplay to Theatr Clwyd (June 2-3), mixing UK garage/house energy with choreographers from across the UK and beyond. Classical Spotlight: Opera Company of Middlebury stages Verdi’s La traviata (June 5-13) with fully staged chorus and orchestra, plus a young artists premiere of Babel 46. Choral Feel-Good: Oriana Choir’s An Oriana Songbook lands in Maroochydore (June 28) and Gympie (July 4), celebrating years of a cappella harmonies. Pop & Rock Buzz: Art Garfunkel surprised fans at Madison Square Garden by joining Charlie Puth for The Boxer, while Killswitch Engage added a second Melbourne date after strong ticket demand. Local Music Calendar: Reading Symphony Orchestra’s Star-Spangled Spectacular is set for July 4 at Berks County Fairgrounds with a patriotic concert, family activities, local food, and fireworks. Personal Loss in Music: Afro house singer Niniola mourns her husband’s death in a raw Instagram update. Tour Update: Rod Stewart cancels two Las Vegas shows on doctor’s orders, planning to return June 2.

Chamber Music Spotlight: British violist Lawrence Power talks up the viola’s “middle voice” mystique as he heads to Australia with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Classical & Community: The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis appoints Twinda Murry as education director, while the Wenatchee Valley Youth Symphony keeps rebuilding youth music after the pandemic. Opera for Kids: Okotoks students stage an all-original opera, “Rooted In Belonging,” with Calgary Opera, blending contemporary vocals with Indigenous and classical instruments. Big Stage, Big Politics: Nearly all artists pull out of Washington, DC’s Freedom 250 concert series for America’s 250th after lineup backlash and claims of misleading political ties. Pop Culture Power: Paul McCartney’s new album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” gets a 21st-century deep dive, and the story of his new track era leans into reflection and joy. Local Live Music: The Dakota in Minneapolis lines up jazz and soul nights, including Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton. Music in Motion: SEPTA plans to curb student fare evasion by referring students to school districts.

Rock Opera on Tour: “Jesus Christ Superstar” lands at Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque with an international cast, spotlighting the Judas–Mary Magdalene dynamic in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s faith-meets-rock spectacle. Pentecost Live Broadcast: Wrexham’s Hope Street Church hosted a BBC One Pentecost service, mixing worship, stories of faith, and a full house at the renovated city-centre venue. Community Choir Spotlight: Wheeling Symphony Orchestra’s Community Choir debuts tonight (free, donations welcome) at Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church. Summer Concerts, Free and Local: Oglebay’s “Sunday Funday” returns May 31 with Eli and the Mojo Kings, plus a full summer lineup of family-friendly music. Country Night Out: Jamey Johnson brings his Traveling Truebadour Tour to Wheeling June 3. Orchestral Pop in London: “All Things Orchestral” returns to BST Hyde Park July 2 with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra; tickets go on sale May 29. Pop Culture Buzz: Laufey’s Manila moment with the Jollibee mascot goes viral. Big Name News: Paul McCartney says Prince recorded a Beatles cover of “The Long and Winding Road” during rehearsals—he wants to release it. Classical Career Move: Lahav Shani’s Rotterdam Philharmonic tenure ends as he heads to Munich, with Dvořák’s Symphony No 9 praised for freshness. Young Talent: A 13-year-old wins the Queen Elizabeth II Music Award for piano in Kaikōura/Marlborough.

Soundtrack Spotlight: Netflix’s The Boroughs leans hard into 70s/80s nostalgia, with Nora Felder curating needle-drop hits from Bowie’s “Golden Years” to Springsteen, Etta James, Lauryn Hill, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash and Bill Withers. Jazz Legacy: Decatur’s new Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center aims to keep the Atlanta-born icon’s work alive through a community-owned hub for performances, recordings and education. Local Classical Win: Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra takes a 2026 WAMI award for Classical Performance, with dozens of concert recordings already online. Music + Community: Waukesha pilot-musician Peter Buffington’s aviation-themed band Speed Brake Armed drops “737 Island Hopper” after 500k streams in two weeks. New Releases: Ravyn Lenae’s Blue Island arrives Aug. 7, kicking off with “Handle.” Culture Through Music: Lisette: A Song’s Journey From Haiti & Back traces a centuries-old Haitian Creole classic across versions and eras. Live Picks: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brings its swing revival to New Orleans’ Orpheum; Faithless headlines Belfast’s Custom House Square this summer.

Global Pop Spotlight: Justin Bieber added a fifth Best Male Pop Artist win at the 2026 American Music Awards, extending his record with 19 total AMA trophies, even as BTS took Artist of the Year and Sabrina Carpenter swept Album of the Year. Classical & Opera: Verdi’s Trovatore lands in Bishkek on May 30 with Italian soprano Libuse/Libushe Santorissova as Leonora, backed by the Kyrgyz National Academic Theater’s orchestra and choir. Music as Community Bridge: Israel’s Jerusalem Orchestra East & West is bringing Jewish and Arab youth musicians together in an “East-West” sound, with a public culmination concert and plans for major international stages. Black British Music Festival: London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park hosts the free Music Is Black Festival across four weekends (June–September), spotlighting themes from “The Music is Ours” to “Queer Frequencies.” Orchestral Leadership Change: The Philadelphia Orchestra’s chief artistic administrator Jeremy Rothman is leaving after 18 years to lead the Seattle Symphony. Inclusive Music: South East Queensland’s DEAI programs expand inclusive music workshops for neurodivergent participants, using guitar, drums, and singing to build confidence and connection. New Work in the Spotlight: Busan Biennale 2026 debuts “Dissident Chorus” (Aug 29–Nov 1), centering coexistence through live performance and club culture.

Classical on the move: Monadnock Music is entering its 61st season with 11 free, theme-driven chamber concerts across churches, parks, and community spaces in New Hampshire. Local arts, big milestones: Vytal Movement Dance marks its 10th anniversary with “Decade,” a Gonzaga University spring concert built from years of adult choreography and new collaborations. New releases: Spokane singer-songwriter Blake Braley finally drops his debut studio LP, Feels Alright, after years of EPs and live work. Choral community: Piedmont University’s Appassionato Choir announces “Seasons of the Soul,” a free Oct. 5 concert featuring Tallis, Whitacre, Hogan, and Howells. Music + wellness: A new look at how streaming playlists are increasingly tied to self-care routines like focus, relaxation, and recovery. Industry legacy: John McClain, co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate, dies at 71. Global spotlight: Colorado Symphony concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams talks joy, heritage, and live orchestral craft.

Youth Jazz Spotlight: Artscape’s 23rd Youth Jazz Series is set for June 12–13, with 15 auditioned young musicians plus school jazz bands after masterclasses led by industry pros. Local Music Life: Walnut Creek’s downtown is getting a ramen rush as Marufuku opens this week, while Escanaba’s library honors John and Ruth Chown with a donated 1920s Steinway baby grand for future programs. Festival Buzz: Kishi Bashi joins the SilverVox Film + Music Festival lineup (June 18–21) in Frederick, and Elgar’s annual free public concert lands May 30 in Worcester. Big Culture Moments: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins has died at 95, and Miles Davis’ 100th birthday is sparking global celebrations across music and beyond. Tech Meets Creativity: ChatArt launches an AI music video generator with one-click lip-sync and cinematic visuals.

New Music Pulse: Berlin-based Chinese artist Otay:onii is turning industrial’s dark foundations into something bigger and stranger on “Love Is In The Shit,” an opus of wails and dead-space intensity. Cross-Border Culture: Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group just announced the Luso-Chinese Music Arts Festival (Macau–Zhuhai–Hengqin 2026), running May 30–June 8, with a “Sonic Alliance” opening battle concert and a music director-led lineup across the Greater Bay Area. Pop & Policy: Taylor Swift is pushing trademark filings tied to her voice and Eras Tour imagery, a move that could reshape how artists fight AI voice impersonation. Global Stage: BTS dominated the 2026 American Music Awards, taking Artist of the Year and multiple wins as K-pop fandoms drove the results. Live & Local: Andre Rieu is recruiting waltz couples at Blackpool’s centenary dance festival, while Salem’s week of events and Arizona’s top vocal winners keep the spotlight on community music.