Event at St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church highlights themes of water, migration and transformation
The Chelsea Music Festival has announced “Shelters in the Desert: An Evening with Hernández, León, Susman, Smirnov, Vu”, a contemporary chamber music performance set to take place on Friday, 26 June 2026 at St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church in New York City.
Running from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the concert will feature the Festival Chamber Orchestra under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor Ken-David Masur. Organisers said the programme will explore themes of water, memory and transformation through works by five living composers whose music reflects diverse cultural and personal narratives.
Tickets for the event are priced at $85 and are currently available for purchase online. A reception by La Newyorkina will follow the performance.
The programme combines world premieres, New York premieres and established contemporary works, underscoring the Chelsea Music Festival’s continuing focus on innovative artistic collaboration and modern composition.
Among the featured works is “Water Realms” by composer Ania Vu, described as a sonic exploration of water in its different physical forms. The evening will also include a movement for strings from Tania León’s “Esencia”, a composition inspired by the musical traditions and waterways of the Caribbean and Latin America.
Another centrepiece of the programme is “Desert Shelter” by J.E. Hernández, which recounts stories of migrants crossing the Sonoran Desert, while William Susman’s “Clouds and Flames” will receive its world premiere. The composition reflects on Philippe Petit’s famed 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers in New York.
The concert concludes with Grigory Smirnov’s “Impromptu”, which will also receive its New York premiere.
Contemporary Music at the Centre of Festival Programming
Chelsea Music Festival continues focus on diverse artistic collaboration
The event reflects the Chelsea Music Festival’s broader mission of presenting contemporary and cross-disciplinary artistic work in non-traditional performance spaces across New York City.
Founded in 2010, the Festival has developed a reputation for combining classical music with visual arts, culinary experiences and educational programming. Concerts are regularly staged in venues including galleries, churches, public spaces and schools, helping the organisation broaden access to chamber music and contemporary composition.
Festival organisers said the institution places particular emphasis on supporting emerging voices, especially women and composers from underrepresented backgrounds, through commissions and original programming.
In addition to live performances, the Festival has expanded its digital presence through its “Online Encores” and “Online Originals” series on YouTube, offering archived performances and newly produced recordings to international audiences.
The organisation also maintains partnerships with a wide range of cultural institutions, sponsors and arts organisations, including Steinway & Sons, the National Endowment for the Arts, WBGO and WQXR.
Ken-David Masur to Lead Performance
Internationally recognised conductor continues expansion of contemporary repertoire
The concert will be led by Ken-David Masur, who is currently serving his seventh season as Music Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Chicago Symphony’s Civic Orchestra.
Masur was recently appointed Artistic Partner of the Oregon Bach Festival and has gained international recognition for his work across orchestral, operatic and contemporary repertoire.
Described by the San Diego Union-Tribune as “fearless, bold, and a life-force” and by Leipzig Volkszeitung as “a brilliant and commanding conductor with unmistakable charisma”, Masur has conducted major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, l’Orchestre National de France and the New York Philharmonic.
Alongside his orchestral work, Masur has become known for championing contemporary composers and commissioning new music. His collaborations have included works by Wynton Marsalis, Augusta Read Thomas, Unsuk Chin and Jessie Montgomery, among others.
Born in Leipzig, Germany, Masur trained at several leading European music institutions before continuing his studies at Columbia University in New York. He has also remained active in music education, conducting masterclasses and youth ensembles across the United States and internationally.
Programme Details
St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church – New York City
Friday, 26 June 2026 | 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Featured Works
- J.E. Hernández – Desert Shelter
- Tania León – Esencia
- Grigory Smirnov – Impromptu (NY Premiere)
- William Susman – Clouds and Flames (World Premiere)
- Ania Vu – Water Realms (NY Premiere)
Reception
Reception to follow by La Newyorkina.
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