The 2026-27 Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series (DMCCS) bridges history and innovation, spotlighting artists whose work spans Afro‑Cuban jazz, dynamic orchestral collaboration, the timeless voice of Bach and a powerful exchange between Indian and American musical traditions.
The series of global artistry and musical excellence at Bailey Hall opens on Oct. 23 with Chucho Valdés’ 85th Birthday Celebration, honoring the legendary pioneer of Afro‑Cuban jazz. On Nov. 21, genre‑defying trio Time for Three joins forces with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra in a program that pushes musical boundaries while inspiring the next generation of artists.
Feb. 28 brings an intimate collaboration between violinist Isabelle Faust and harpsichordist Kristian Bezuidenhout, featuring Bach sonatas alongside works by Biber, Froberger and others. The season concludes on March 20 with Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East, a vibrant celebration of the interplay among global musical traditions. Complete details are listed below and at cornellconcertseries.com.
Additional student and community engagement activities designed to deepen the experience and connect audiences with the artists will accompany select performances. Details will be announced closer to each event date on the concert series website.
Artist and program information, subscriptions, single tickets, and student memberships are available now through the DMCCS website.
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration with special guests Joe Lovano and Etienne Charles
Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., Bailey Hall ($39/$44/$49)
NEA Jazz Master and winner of seven Grammy and seven Latin Grammy Awards, the Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. In a rich career spanning sixty years, Chucho has pushed boundaries in pursuit of new expressions in Afro-Cuban music. Chucho celebrates his 85th birthday in 2026 with an exciting new program featuring special guests Joe Lovano and Etienne Charles.
Time for Three with Cornell Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, Nov. 2. 3 p.m., Bailey Hall ($10 students/$25 general public)
Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three (TF3) defies convention, merging classical, Americana and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular, remarkable sound that captivates audiences worldwide. Committed to encouraging the next generation of musicians and pushing creative boundaries, they are one of the most exceptional groups on the scene today. In this performance, TF3 collaborates with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra, performing Kevin Puts’ Contact. The CSO opens with an overture, and the second half features TF3 in their own unique repertoire.
Isabelle Faust, violin; Kristian Bezuidenhout, harpsichord
Sunday, Feb.28. 3 p.m., Bailey Hall ($34/$39/$44)
Internationally renowned violinist Isabelle Faust and keyboardist Kristian Bezuidenhout, one of the most versatile and exciting musicians of our time, join forces to perform Bach sonatas for violin and harpsichord, plus repertoire from Biber, Froberger, and others. Bezuidenhout is a regular guest soloist on fortepiano, harpsichord, modern piano with the world’s leading ensembles. Likewise, with “clarity, gutsy depth, and technical brilliance,” Faust performs as soloist with the world’s top orchestras and in recital at the premiere concert halls (San Francisco Classical Voice).
Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East
Saturday, March 20, 7:30 p.m., Bailey Hall ($34/$39/$44)
Composer, drummer, and dhol player Sunny Jain grew up with a deep cultural connection to his South Asian heritage and also fell in love with jazz music and prog rock. His 5-piece band (drums, vocals, sax, guitar, bass), Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East, encompasses myriad facets of Jain’s identity and sonically paints the journey of his own family’s immigration story with musical inspiration from the scores of Bollywood classics, Punjabi folk traditions, jazz improvisation, and rollicking psychedelic styles.
The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series has been hosting musicians and ensembles of international stature since 1903, including performances by Fritz Kreisler, Sergei Rachmaninov, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Alfred Brendel, Zakir Hussain, and the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg. Originally featuring only Western classical artists, the series presented Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar in 1987 and has since grown to encompass a broader spectrum of musicians and musical traditions.
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