Special New York Performance Set for June 22 at St. Paul’s German Church
The Chelsea Music Festival has announced a special performance of America/Beautiful, a large-scale musical project led by Korean-born American pianist Min Kwon, set for Monday, 22 June 2026, at St. Paul’s German Church in New York City.
The event will take place from 7pm to 9pm at St. Paul’s German Church, located at 315 West 22nd Street, Manhattan. Tickets for the performance begin at $65.
The concert centres on America/Beautiful, a collaborative project created by Kwon during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative commissioned more than 70 composers from across the United States to create variations inspired by the patriotic song “America the Beautiful”, while exploring a broader question surrounding national identity and the meaning of America in modern society.
The composers involved in the project range in age from 21 to 96 and represent a wide spectrum of musical backgrounds and perspectives. According to organisers, the work asks: “What is America — is it beautiful, was it ever, or will it ever be?”
New York Premieres and Contemporary Interpretations
The programme will feature several New York premieres, including works by Samuel Adler, Stewart Copeland, Fred Hersch, Kenji Bunch, Libby Larsen and Timo Andres.
Selections from the programme include Adler’s A Celebration of our Beautiful Nation, Copeland’s America Quite Beautiful, and Hersch’s Four Windows Into America. Additional featured composers include Vijay Iyer, George Lewis, Nico Muhly and Jessica Meyer.
The evening will also incorporate visual elements by photographer Park Joon, whose landscape photography will accompany the musical performances. Organisers said the imagery is intended to reflect the geographic and cultural diversity explored throughout the compositions.
Alongside Kwon and Andres on piano, the concert will feature violinist Claire Bourg and oboist Hsuan-Fong Chen.
Min Kwon Continues Expansive International Career
Kwon has built an international career spanning performances in more than 60 countries and all 50 US states. In addition to her work as a soloist and chamber musician, she serves as Professor of Piano at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and is founder of the Center for Musical Excellence, a non-profit organisation supporting emerging musicians.
Her career has included appearances with orchestras in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.
Composer and pianist Timo Andres has similarly established himself as one of the leading contemporary American musicians of his generation. Based in Brooklyn, Andres has collaborated extensively with artists including Sufjan Stevens and recently received a Tony Award nomination for his orchestration work on Illinoise. He was also awarded the 2025 Stoeger Prize by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Festival Continues Focus on Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Founded in 2010, the Chelsea Music Festival has developed a reputation for presenting chamber music performances in non-traditional settings while combining music with culinary, visual and contemporary arts.
The festival’s programming spans classical, jazz and contemporary music, with a particular emphasis on new commissions and underrepresented voices within the arts community. Organisers say the festival aims to create accessible and collaborative artistic experiences inspired by the cultural diversity of New York City’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
A reception by Flatiron District pastry boutique Lysée will follow the performance.
The Chelsea Music Festival is presented in partnership with Steinway & Sons.
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