The Chelsea Music Festival will present a special performance of America/Beautiful on 22 June 2026 at St. Paul’s German Church in New York, bringing together internationally recognised musicians and composers for an evening examining themes of identity, culture and the evolving idea of America.
The concert, led by pianist Min Kwon, forms part of an ambitious artistic project first developed during the pandemic. The initiative commissioned more than 70 composers from across the United States to create variations on the song “America the Beautiful”, with contributors ranging in age from 21 to 96.
Festival organisers said the programme was designed around a central question: “What is America — is it beautiful, was it ever, or will it ever be?”
The performance will feature several New York premieres, including works by Samuel Adler, Stewart Copeland, Fred Hersch, Kenji Bunch, Libby Larsen and Timo Andres. Accompanying visuals by photographer Park Joon will be displayed throughout the concert, pairing American landscape imagery with each musical variation.
The event reflects a broader trend within the cultural sector towards multidisciplinary performances that combine music, visual art and social commentary. Chelsea Music Festival, known for blending classical performance with contemporary artistic themes, said the programme aims to offer audiences a wide-ranging interpretation of the American experience.
Min Kwon, who has built an international career spanning concert performances, arts advocacy and music education, will headline the evening alongside composer and pianist Timo Andres. Violinist Claire Bourg and oboist Hsuan-Fong Chen are also scheduled to perform.
Kwon has held engagements in more than 60 countries and across all 50 US states. In addition to her performance career, she has served as Professor of Piano at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts since 2002 and leads the non-profit Center for Musical Excellence, which supports emerging young musicians through grants and mentorship programmes.
The programme itself combines established contemporary composers with emerging voices. Works scheduled for performance include America Coda by Timo Andres, Beauty For All (Or For None At All) by Kenji Bunch and Four Windows Into America by Fred Hersch.
Festival organisers described the collection as “a powerful collection of stories as colorful and diverse as America’s people and landscapes.”
The event also highlights the growing commercial and cultural importance of collaborative arts programming in major metropolitan markets such as New York, where festivals increasingly rely on partnerships and cross-disciplinary appeal to attract audiences and sponsors.
Chelsea Music Festival confirmed that Steinway & Sons is among the event’s partners, underlining the role of corporate sponsorship in supporting contemporary classical music initiatives.
Composer and pianist Timo Andres brings a strong profile to the performance following a series of high-profile collaborations and productions in recent years. Andres previously received a Tony nomination for orchestrations and arrangements connected to Sufjan Stevens’s Illinoise and has performed internationally at venues including Lincoln Center, the Philharmonie Berlin and the Elbphilharmonie.
He was also awarded the 2025 Stoeger Prize by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, further strengthening his standing within the contemporary classical music industry.
Violinist Claire Bourg, recognised for performances across the United States and Europe, has developed a reputation for championing modern composers and premiering new works. Bourg has appeared at major venues including Carnegie Hall and Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, while also collaborating with leading contemporary composers.
Oboist Hsuan-Fong Chen adds further breadth to the ensemble through experience spanning orchestral performance, Broadway productions and contemporary music projects. Based in New York City, Chen has performed with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera and American Ballet Theatre.
Photographer Park Joon’s contribution to the performance introduces a visual narrative centred on American landscapes. The South Korean-born artist, who is based in New York, has spent years travelling across the United States documenting natural scenery and regional environments.
Organisers said the visual component was intended to deepen the audience’s connection to the themes explored through the music.
The concert will conclude with a reception hosted by pastry boutique Lysée, a Flatiron District business founded by chef Eunji Lee. The company’s involvement reflects the increasingly collaborative relationship between New York’s hospitality and cultural sectors as arts events seek broader experiential appeal.
Tickets for the event will start at $65, with the performance scheduled to run from 7pm to 9pm on 22 June 2026 at St. Paul’s German Church in Manhattan.
