John F. Kennedy, the thirty fifth President of america, was assassinated in 1963. On September 8, 1971, the John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts (generally referred to as the Kennedy Heart) opened because the nationwide cultural middle of america and as a “dwelling memorial” to President John F. Kennedy. Leonard Bernstein’s Mass was premiered on this event.
In 2025, after his second inauguration, Donald Trump dismissed the Heart’s trustees and changed them together with his supporters, who then elected him chairman and, in a transfer that was later decided to be unlawful, voted so as to add his title to the Heart.
After a number of withdrawals of creative ensembles and live performance cancellations in response to those actions, it was introduced that the Kennedy Heart would shut for 2 years for repairs. Some have seen this as merely a preliminary motion being taken earlier than closing the Heart down completely.
In 1973, in response to occasions surrounding Richard Nixon’s second inauguration and the persevering with Viet Nam Conflict, Leonard Bernstein carried out a efficiency of Haydn’s Mass in a Time of Conflict on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral. It was billed as a “name for peace.”
In a gesture that takes inspiration from Bernstein’s instance, an eclectic group of artists and humanities organizations within the DMV is responding to the occasions on the Kennedy Heart with a manufacturing referred to as Bernstein: MASS – This Shall Be Our Reply. This efficiency of Bernstein’s Mass by a various confederation of performers from across the DMV will happen on September 4 and 5 at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. The efficiency will commemorate the fifty fifth anniversary of the opening of The Kennedy Heart and the premiere of Bernstein’s Mass.
The press launch describes this presentation as “a collective response to help the presence of music and artwork that speaks to and for the folks.”
Amongst these collective contributors are Georgetown Chorale, IN Collection, Washington Douglass Chorale, and Handel Choir of Baltimore.
Shana Oshiro, herself a dynamic vocal performer who has been seen in lots of productions within the DMV, gathered and targeted a whole lot of the power that culminated on this collaboration:
“When the closure of the Kennedy Heart was introduced, arts leaders from all through the DC Metro area sprang into motion to collaborate on an affirmative response of solidarity with artists and allies of the humanities.”
Oshiro reached out to her sources and acquired constructive responses, together with from somebody who made a substantive monetary pledge to assist make the mission a actuality:
“This was an indication to me that others would really feel equally enthusiastic — and I believed that for all of the expense and energy that will be concerned, if everybody who was grieved to listen to concerning the Kennedy Heart pledged even $1, we might be capable of do that mission ten occasions.
“It’s our intention to have a good time and uplift the spirit that gave life to the Kennedy Heart since its inauguration in 1971, for which MASS was premiered. We declare that this spirit may be very a lot alive in any and each area the place We, the Folks collect to create and witness artwork.”
Bernstein: MASS – This Shall Be Our Reply performs at 7:00 pm, September 4 and 5, 2026, introduced by the IN Collection (in collaboration with arts organizations all through the DC-Metro area) at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC.
Admission is free with donations inspired. Tickets might be reserved with a selection of seats for a donation of $50 every. For ticket reservations, non-compulsory donation RSVP, and extra data to help, go to www.mass2026.com.
You’ll be able to take heed to Timothy Nelson, creative director of IN Collection, which is without doubt one of the mission’s supporters, give a quick however thrilling remark concerning the irony, the paradox, and the significance of performing Bernstein’s Mass presently.
Bernstein: MASS – This Shall Be Our Reply
That includes Robin McGinness (Celebrant), CityDance DC, and singers from Georgetown Chorale, Washington Douglass Chorale, Washington Males’s Camerata, Heritage Signature Chorale, the Kids’s Refrain of Washington, and extra.
SEE ALSO:
Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ at Kennedy Heart a fiery drive to behold (evaluation by Alexandra Bowman, September 16, 2022)
