“A song recital by the luminous American mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke is always an event…”

Opera News

Huang, heightened the story-telling of this interpretation…”

San Francisco Chronicle

Vocal Arts DC presents

Sasha Cooke, Mezzo-soprano

Myra Huang, Piano

Goin' Home

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2025

Kennedy Center Terrace Theater

7:30PM

Single tickets for Goin’ Home will become available starting July 15!

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and pianist Myra Huang bring their deeply personal and moving recital Goin’ Home to Washington, DC, celebrating the rich tapestry of American song. Featuring works by composers who shaped—and were shaped by—America, the program explores themes of identity, belonging, and the search for home. From folk-inspired melodies to contemporary reflections, Cooke and Huang’s artistry brings these stories to life with warmth and emotional depth.

A highlight of the evening is the world premiere of a new song cycle by rising American composer Jasmine Barnes, whose music has been praised for its power and poignancy. This deeply resonant program not only honors composers who found their voice in America but also showcases the evolving landscape of American song. Don’t miss this chance to experience an unforgettable journey through music that speaks to the heart of the American experience.

*Selections TBA! 

SOUND WORLD OF SASHA & MYRA

LISTEN TO SASHA!

 

LISTEN TO MYRA!

 

MEET THE ARTISTS

SASHA COOKE, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Two-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke has been called a “luminous standout” by the New York Times and “equal parts poise, radiance and elegant directness” by Opera News.

MORE ABOUT SASHA!

Ms. Cooke has sung at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, English National Opera, Seattle Opera, Opéra National de Bordeaux, and Gran Teatre del Liceu, among others, and with over 90 symphony orchestras worldwide frequently in the works of Mahler. In 2022 Ms. Cooke was appointed at the Music Academy of the West as Co-Director of the Lehrer Vocal Institute. Her album how do I find you was nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Solo Album.

Ms. Cooke began the 2024/25 season with a return to the Bard Festival as Marguerite in La Damnation de Faust followed by Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde at the Gstaad Festival, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. On the operatic stage, she debuts at La Monnaie de Munt as Emilie Ekdahl in the world premiere of Mikael Karlsson and Royce Vavrek’s Fanny and Alexander opposite Thomas Hampson and Anne Sofie von Otter in a production by Ivo van Hove, and returns to Houston Grand Opera in her role debut as Venus in Francesca Zambello’s new production of Tannhäuser.

On the concert stage, Ms. Cooke reprises much of her most celebrated repertoire, singing Mahler’s Second Symphony with Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Daniel Harding, San Francisco Symphony and Esa-Pekka Salonen in his final performances as music director, and Vienna Radio Symphony and Marin Alsop at the Wiener Konzerthaus. She sings Mahler’s Third Symphony with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Karina Canellakis, the Cologne Philharmonic and Cristian Macelaru, and the Tuscon Symphony Orchestra, where she also sings the Rückert-Lieder. She joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel for a program of Alma Mahler, which she also brings to Royal Festival Hall in London with the London Philharmonia and Marin Alsop. Other concert engagements include Mozart’s Requiem with the Oslo Philharmonic and Klaus Mäkelä, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Schönberg’s Gurrelieder with the Vienna Symphoniker, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with St. Louis Symphony and Gemma New, and a concert with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra featuring Des Knaben Wunderhorn with her husband, baritone Kelly Markgraf.

In recital, Ms. Cooke returns to Wigmore Hall for a recital with pianist Malcolm Martineau, and Carnegie Hall for Shostakovitch’s From Jewish Folk Poetry with Susanna Phillips, Brandon Jovanovich, and pianist Evgeny Kissin.

MYRA HUANG, PIANO

Acclaimed by Opera News as being “among the top accompanists of her generation,” and “…a colouristic tour de force” by The New York Times, Grammy® Award-nominated pianist Myra Huang is highly sought after for her interpretation of lieder and art song as well as her depth of musicianship and impeccable technique.

MORE ABOUT MYRA!

Huang is invited regularly to perform around the world, with tours including regular appearances at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, The Kennedy Center, and The 92nd Street Y.

Huang was chosen as the recipient of The Samuel Sanders Collaborative Artist Award for 2019 by The Classical Recording Foundation for her consummate artistry. Regular collaborations include recitals with Fleur Barron, J’Nai Bridges, Lawrence Brownlee, Sasha Cooke, Ying Fang, Joshua Hopkins, Will Liverman, Angela Meade, John Matthew Myers, Eric Owens, Nicholas Phan, Susanna Phillips, Roderick Williams, and clarinetist Anthony McGill.

Huang holds the positions of the Head of Music for the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at The Metropolitan Opera, The Director of Musical Administration and Head Coach at The Aspen Music Festival, and faculty of the Collaborative Piano Department at The Manhattan School of Music, where she mentors and supports young opera singers and pianists of the next generation.

Huang is an avid recitalist and recording artist. She is a two-time Grammy nominee for her albums Gods and Monsters and Clairières with tenor Nicholas Phan on the Avie label. Huang is a Steinway Artist.

These performances are external rentals presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center
Campus Rentals Office. Performances are not produced by the Kennedy Center.

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202-240-2854

info@vocalartsdc.org

1025 Connecticut Ave NW #1000

Washington, DC 20036

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