Past Schedule

Dance Theatre of Harlem will host its annual Vision Gala, a fundraising event supporting the company’s artistic season and school. The performance at New York City Center will be conducted by Tania León.

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Program

Wang Lu At Which Point (NY Premiere)
Tania Léon Singsong (NY Premiere)
Ayanna Woods Infinite Body (NY Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
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Artists

Donald Nally, conductor
Claire Chase, flute
The Crossing

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will be performing León's Pasajes on a program with Britten and Mussorgsky. Pasajes was first commissioned and premiered by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2022.

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Program

Beethoven Symphony No. 3, Eroica
Rzewski The People United Will Never Be Defeated (World Premiere of orchestral version–New York Philharmonic Commission)

Variations orchestrated by composers including Kati Agócs, Marcos Balter, Enrico Chapela, Anthony Cheung, Suzanne Farrin, Brittany J. Green, Felipe Lara, Tania León, Andrew Norman, Arturo Márquez, Maria Schneider, Nina Shekhar, Roberto Sierra, Conrad Tao, Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate, Joel Thompson, Wang Lu, and Nina C. Young

Artists

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
The New York Philharmonic

Program

Adolphus Hailstork Sonata da Chiesa
Chen Yi Shuo
‍Eddie Venegas A World Premiere for String Nonet (Double Quartet + Bass)
Trevor Weston The People Could Fly

Artists

Tania León, music director and conductor
Josh Henderson, violin soloist
Terrance McKnight, narrator and host
with an orchestra comprising members of The Harlem Chamber Players, with dancers from Harlem School of the Arts

The Composers Now Festival will once again celebrate the breadth and vitality of contemporary composition. With performances, panels, and premieres across New York City, the festival brings together emerging and established voices in a vibrant showcase of musical possibility. Included on our Festival Kickoff will be music by Kavita Shah, Ileana Perez Velazquez, Pauchi Sasaki, and more. We will also present our 2026 Visionary Awards and the premiere of our newest First Commission awardee.

Program

Nina Simone "Images"
‍Ravel “Nahandove” from Chansons madécasses
Tania Léon “Oh Yemanja (Mother’s Prayer)” from Scourge of Hyacinths
Young Songs (NY premiere, 92NY co-commission)
‍George Walker Sonata for Cello and Piano
Robert Owens Drei Leider, Op. 19
Sciarrino “Ultime rose” from Vanitas
Nina Simone arr. J. Siskind “Four Women”
André and Dory Previn “It’s Good To Have You Near Again”
Gershwin arr. A. Previn “Love Walked In” from The Goldwyn Follies
André Previn “Shelter” from Four Songs for Soprano, Cello, and Piano
Richard Rodgers arr. A. Previn “Nobody’s Heart” from By Jupiter

Artists

Julia Bullock, soprano
Seth Parker Woods, cello
Conor Hanick, piano

The 2025–2026 Dialogues series kicks off at the Mark Morris Dance Center on December 20, 2025, featuring short performances and composer-led conversations with choreographers that invite audiences into the creative process. Dialogues, launched in 2015, is an innovative initiative hosted by Founder and Artistic Director Tania León, designed to deepen the connection between artists and audiences.

Brittany J. Green New Work (world premiere)
‍Allison Loggins-Hull Persist
‍Akua Dixon selections from We The People
‍Jennifer Curtis selected work

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The ensemble will make its debut on Nov. 15, 2025 with “The Welcome Table,” a program of works by Reena Esmail, Tania León, and Damien Geter, alongside four world premieres by Steve Wallace, Yiran Zhao, Jalen Scott, and Michael R. Oldham.

Program

Tania León Time to Time (world premiere; BSO co-commission)  
Roberto Sierra Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra
Brahms Symphony No. 2

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Artists

Dima Slobodeniouk,  conductor
James Carter, saxophone soloist
Boston Symphony Orchestra

Program

Marin Marais Les Folies d’Espagne
J.B. Boismortier Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 51
‍J.S. Bach Sonata sopr’il soggetto Reale from The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
‍Olivier Messiaen Le Merle noir
‍Tania Léon Ritual
‍Kaija Saariaho Mirrors
‍Marcos Balter Alone
‍Michael Oesterle Stand Still, mvt. 3
‍Tania Léon Singsong

Program

Singsong for flute, New York premiere
In the Field for soprano, string quartet, and piano, New York premiere
Esencia for string quartet
Tumbao for piano
A La Par for piano and percussion

Ms. León is to be presented an honorary Doctoral degree during the 2025 commencement of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music

Part of Concerts from the Library of Congress

Presented as part of Festival Mahogany at Rutgers University

Opening Night: Tania León + Tchaikovsky's First Concerto

Presented by DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Works by León, Shostakovich, Britten & Sibelius

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin

Presented by DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Works by León, Shostakovich, Britten & Sibelius

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin

Presented by DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Works by León, Shostakovich & Sibelius

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin

Presented by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Works by León, Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin

León to receive the Tomas Luis de Victoria Award

Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures

Works by León, Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin

Presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Works by León, Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner,conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja,violin

Works by León, Barber and Tchaikovsky

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Randall Goosby, violin

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Andris Nelsons conducts León, Copland, Barber, and Simon with William R. Hudgins, clarinet

Portrait Ruth Crawford Seeger: Songs

Featuring works by León, Balch, Crawford Seeger and Beyer

Works by León, Bernstein & Ravel

Meet the Composer

Resident Composer/Mentor

Ms. León to be presented with an honorary doctorate by The Julliard School University during their 2024 Commencement Ceremony along side Carolyn Adams, Jessica Chastain, the members of the Emerson String Quartet.

Ms. León to be presented with an honorary doctorate by Dominican University during their 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

In addition to giving the keynote address, Ms. León is to be presented an honorary Doctoral degree during the 2024 commencement at Russell Sage College.