This Discovery Concert is free to the public. "Print at home" online tickets will become available starting two months before the event.

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “a gifted, sensitive young pianist who is clearly going places,” the 22-year-old Korean pianist, Ji-Yong, displays a fascinating and unique musical presence. A winner of the 2012 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Ji-Yong was previously presented in a 2004 Discovery Concert by the Harriman-Jewell Series when he was 13. At 10, Ji-Yong became the youngest pianist to win the New York Philharmonic’s Young Artists Competition.

The relaunched Dance Theatre of Harlem main company of 18 dancers led by artistic director Virginia Johnson began its triumphant comeback with a United States tour in the 2012–2013 season after being on hiatus since 2004 due to financial difficulties.

“When the company went on hiatus...it left a big hole in the American ballet scene,” a New York Times critic wrote recently. “But after all this time a question remains: Is a predominantly black ballet company even necessary? Just a glance at the makeup of the two main troupes at Lincoln Center provides a swift yes.”

The death of Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968 inspired Arthur Mitchell, a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, to begin the professional company and school in his birthplace of Harlem in 1969.

Since Wynton Marsalis composed and recorded “In This House, On This Morning” two decades ago, he has remained committed to projecting a theme of universal humanism—and raising a joyful noise—while reflecting the form of the African American church service. Marsalis has never blended the codes of sacred and secular expression more successfully than with the 2008 extended work Abyssinian Mass, commissioned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Abyssinian Baptist Church on West 138th Street in Harlem.

This rare performance will revisit the masterwork by augmenting the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with a 70-voice gospel choir, Chorale Le Chateau, conducted by Damien Sneed.

Widely acknowledged as the preeminent dramatic soprano today, Deborah Voigt has made her mark on both the operatic and concert stages in a remarkably varied repertoire. Critics have lauded the American star for her “lyricism, beauty of tone and dramatic acuity” as well as her “impressive aura and voice.” Voigt has garnered enthusiastic acclaim from critics and the world’s opera audiences as one of today’s leading exponents of operas by Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Giuseppe Verdi, and others.

Thomanerchor (the St. Thomas Boys Choir) was established 800 years ago in Leipzig, Germany, and led by Johann Sebastian Bach from 1723 until his death in 1750. The famed choir will be joined by the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra for works by Bach (of course) Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Reger.

Established in 1212, Bach led the choir for 27 years and together they premiered countless works of his. The St. Thomas Boys Choir continues as a major institution in Germany with its own school just a stone’s throw from the St. Thomas church.

Those who purchase subscription packages have the option to buy $10 tickets for this event while supplies last in seat locations comparable to the packaged seats. Otherwise, single-ticket prices are $20, $40, $45, $55, and $65.

Five tremendous brass musicians, each a virtuoso in his own right, form the legendary Canadian Brass. With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.” The Washington Post has written that “These are the men who put brass music on the map: with their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestra series throughout the world.”

Organist Douglas Reed will join the brass quintet’s holiday program to play the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ.

Formed in 1946 by flamboyant maestro Sir Thomas Beecham, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has enjoyed more than 65 years of success, giving first-class performances of a wide range of musical repertoire all over the world with artists of the highest caliber.

Pinchas Zukerman has remained a phenomenon in the world of music for four decades. His musical genius, prodigious technique and unwavering artistic standards are a marvel to audiences and critics. Devoted to the next generation of musicians, he has inspired younger artists with his magnetism and passion, and he is equally respected as violinist, violist, conductor, pedagogue and chamber musician.

The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 when legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet Sergei Radchenko sought to realize his vision of a company which would bring together the highest classical elements of the great Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies in an independent new company within the framework of Russian classic ballet.

The company returns to perform the beloved story ballet The Sleeping Beauty, danced to Tchaikovsky’s lush score and Petipa’s masterful choreography.

Gil Shaham is one of the foremost violinists of our time, combining flawless technique with inimitable warmth and a generosity of spirit. He is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearances with leading orchestras and conductors, and he regularly gives recital and ensemble appearances on the great concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals.

The Bahia Orchestra Project is a pioneer initiative in Brazil modeled on the Venezuelan “El Sistema.” It was founded in 2007 by the Brazilian pianist and conductor Ricardo Castro, who remains its artistic and general director. Supported by the government of Bahia, this orchestra is part of the long-term educational program NEOJIBA (Núcleos Estaduais de Orquestras Juvenis e Infantis da Bahia). Over the last couple of years, it has been gaining acclaim in Europe for its engaging performances that consistently bring sold-out audiences in London, Berlin, and Geneva to their feet. “This orchestra is at the very tip of the powerful movement to inspire young kids through music and give them a future,” reported Radio Berlin Brandenburg.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, "one of the best pianists of our time" (New York Sun), has the rare ability to combine poetic musical sensibilities with dazzling technical prowess. His talent at coaxing subtle and surprising colors and textures from even old favorites has led the New York Times to exclaim “…every note he fashions is a pearl…the joy, brilliance and musicality of his performance could not be missed.”

Violinist Nicola Benedetti has captivated audiences and critics with her musicality and poise. Hilary Finch wrote in The Times (U.K.), “it was thrilling to hear and watch Nicola Benedetti in a truly risk-taking performance that lived so much in the body and fused the sinews of the violin and the nerve-system of the player.” This sums up Nicola’s ability to communicate and enthrall audiences with dynamic and energy-filled performances.

The Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel was founded in 1950 and in recent years has become the focal point of musical life in Haifa and the north of Israel. The Orchestra, which is the most significant musical institute in the north of Israel, has recently expanded its activities throughout the country. World-acclaimed Maestro Noam Sheriff, one of Israel’s most versatile musicians, is music director.

Narek Hakhnazaryan was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2011 XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition, the most prestigious prize given to a cellist. Already hailed a "seasoned phenom" by the Washington Post, and praised for his "intense focus and expressive artistry" by the New York Times, Hakhnazaryan is emerging as one of the most significant young artists on the world stage.

Ben Heppner is renowned worldwide for his portrayals in the dramatic tenor repertoire. His illustrious career has taken him to opera stages and concert halls around the world. He is acclaimed for the beauty of his voice, incisive musicianship, and his generosity with his audience. His performances on the opera stage, in concert with the world’s leading orchestras, in the most prestigious recital venues, and in recordings have set new standards in his demanding repertoire. Heppner sang his American recital debut for the Harriman-Jewell Series in 1997.

Yevgeny Sudbin has been hailed by the Daily Telegraph (U.K.) as “potentially one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century.” In the midst of a seven-year and 14-album collaboration with BIS Records, his recordings have met with overwhelming critical acclaim.

The International Record Review stated that Sudbin’s Rachmaninoff recording “confirms him as one of the most important pianistic talents of our time.” Sudbin has performed in many of the world’s finest venues, both in recital and with orchestras. His performance of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 1 at the BBC Proms was described by the Daily Telegraph as “sublime.”

Dubbed “The Last Leading Man” by the New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a rich and varied career on Broadway, television and film, along with appearances in the great American concert halls. Stokes and piano collaborator Tedd Firth will perform a live concert program framed by his recent CD release, Simply Broadway.

His Broadway career includes performances in “Man of La Mancha” (Tony nomination and Helen Hayes Award); “Kiss Me Kate” (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards); “Ragtime” (Tony nomination); August Wilson’s “King Hedley II” (Tony nomination); “Kiss of the Spider Woman;” “Jelly’s Last Jam;” David Merrick’s “Oh, Kay!” and “Mail,” which earned him a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

With its “fresh and forward-thinking choreography” (Washington Post) the Idaho-based ensemble that debuted in the summer of 2005 was an immediate sensation. “Trey McIntyre is doing something right,” Dance Magazine’s Wendy Perron explained. “Anchored in strong craft, his dances invite the audience to enjoy his mix of classical ballet, playful movement invention, and down-home humor.” Trey McIntyre is one of the most sought-after choreographers working today. Born in Wichita, Kan., McIntyre studied at North Carolina School of the Arts and later with Houston Ballet Academy. He has created a canon of more than 80 works for dance companies in the United States and abroad.

This Discovery Concert is free to the public. "Print at home" online tickets will become available starting two months before the event.

17-year-old Youth Concert Artists Winner, Chinese-American pianist George Li possesses brilliant virtuosity and interpretive depth far beyond his years. Highlights of his busy 2012–2013 season include appearances as soloist with the Edmonton and Stamford symphonies, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, the Boise Philharmonic, the Pasadena Symphony and Pops, the Boston Philharmonic, and the Norrkoping Orchestra in Sweden, as well as recital performances at the Morgan Library & Museum, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, and the Mansion at Strathmore.

In 2011, George Li performed for President Obama at the White House in an evening honoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel.