Kabbalat Shabbat Service
2026-08-07 17:00, 2026-08-14 17:00, 2026-08-21 17:00, 2026-08-28 17:00 (America/New_York) | Miller Park, Miller Park

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents How I Learned What I Learned
2026-08-07 18:00, 2026-08-09 14:00, 2026-08-09 18:00, 2026-08-11 18:00, 2026-08-12 18:00, 2026-08-13 18:00, 2026-08-14 18:00, 2026-08-16 14:00 and 1 more date | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater
By August Wilson
Directed by Jade King Carroll
Bratton Theater
August Wilson’s celebrated classic solo piece is an autobiographical tour de force that follows Wilson’s journey through the streets of Pittsburgh’s Hill District — through artistic awakenings, odd jobs and heartbreaks — capturing the moments that forged his identity. From the hustle of his early days to the love affair that almost got him killed, Wilson weaves his youth into a series of deliciously compelling stories. With his trademark wit, lyricism, and truth-telling, he invites audiences into the dynamic world that shaped both the man and the master storyteller he became.

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents How I Learned What I Learned (Pick-Your-Price)
2026-08-08 16:00 | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater

Catholic Mass
2026-08-08 17:00, 2026-08-09 09:15, 2026-08-15 17:00, 2026-08-16 09:15, 2026-08-22 17:00, 2026-08-23 09:15, 2026-08-29 17:00, 2026-08-30 09:15 | Hall of Christ: Sanctuary

Alonzo King LINES Ballet with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
2026-08-08 19:30 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Alonzo King LINES Ballet is a celebrated contemporary ballet company that has been guided since 1982 by the unique artistic vision of award-winning choreographer Alonzo King. Since 1982, LINES Ballet has collaborated with noted composers, musicians and visual artists from around the world to create performances that alter the way we look at ballet today. Its unique artistic vision adheres to the classical form — the linear, mathematical and geometrical principles that are deeply rooted in the pre-existing East-West continuum. The Company brings two separate programs to the Amphitheater, with Saturday’s program featuring live music from the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director Rossen Milanov.

The Rev. Frank A. Thomas
2026-08-09 10:45, 2026-08-11 09:15, 2026-08-12 09:15 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Rev. Frank A. Thomas currently serves as the Director of the Compelling Preaching Initiative and the Nettie Sweeney and Hugh Th. Miller Professor of Homiletics at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. For many years, Thomas has also taught preaching to doctoral and master’s level students at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, and United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio. With a long history of excellence in preaching and preaching method, Thomas was inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College in 2003. Thomas also serves as a member of the International Board of Societas Homiletica, an international society of teachers of preaching.
Thomas is the author of several books including, The God of the Dangerous Sermon, Surviving a Dangerous Sermon, How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon, and Introduction to the Practice of African American Preaching. He also co-edited the anthology Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons 1750 to the Present. Thomas is also the author of several other books on subjects from matters of prayer to spiritual maturity.
Previously, Thomas served with distinction as the senior pastor for two remarkable congregations: New Faith Baptist Church of Matteson, Illinois and Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church of Memphis, Tennessee.
Thomas holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Communications from the University of Memphis, a Doctor of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Chicago Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary. He also holds a Master of Fine Arts from Alma College, Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts from Northeastern Illinois University.

Hebrew Congregation, Shirley Lazarus Sunday Evening Lecture Series
2026-08-09 19:00, 2026-08-16 19:00, 2026-08-23 19:00, 2026-08-30 19:00 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall

Thr Rev. Frank A. Thomas
2026-08-10 09:15 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater

Nancy Youssef
2026-08-10 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Nancy Youssef is a staff writer at The Atlantic. Before that, she was a longtime national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and also worked at BuzzFeed News and The Daily Beast. Youssef spent much of her career at McClatchy Newspapers where she served as national security correspondent and Middle East bureau chief based in Cairo covering the Middle East and the Islamic world. Prior to that she was McClatchy’s chief Pentagon correspondent, focusing on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She traveled frequently to those two nations to see how the policies crafted in Washington reached Afghans, Iraqis and the troops alike. She is also the founder of the Pentagon Press Association.
Before covering the Pentagon, Youssef spent four years covering the Iraq war, including a stint as Baghdad bureau chief. Her pieces focused on the everyday Iraqi experience, civilian casualties and how U.S. military strategy was reshaping Iraq’s social and political dynamics. She began her career at the Detroit Free Press, covering legal issues. While at the Free Press, she traveled throughout Jordan and Iraq for Knight Ridder, covering the Iraq war from the time leading up to it through the post-war period. Her journalism career started at The Baltimore Sun.
A Washington, D.C.-area native, Youssef earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Virginia and master’s degree in security studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Youssef’s parents are from Egypt, and she speaks Arabic. Throughout her life, she has been a frequent visitor to the region. She is currently based in Washington, D.C. and is an advocate for supporting neurodiverse children.

Chautauqua Chamber Music: JACK Quartet
2026-08-10 16:00 | Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall
Join the groundbreaking JACK Quartet for a concert of fearless innovation and extraordinary musicianship. Renowned for their precision, passion, and adventurous programming, JACK champions new works that redefine the possibilities of the string quartet. Their performances are both intellectually bold and emotionally gripping, inviting listeners into the cutting edge of contemporary music. Experience why JACK Quartet is hailed as one of the most influential ensembles of its generation.

Music School Festival Orchestra
2026-08-10 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Comprised of top-tier students from conservatories and universities in the U.S. and abroad, Music School Festival Orchestra members participate in a variety of musical activities during their summers at Chautauqua including chamber music and private lessons along with their meticulous orchestral training. Alumni from the MSFO can be heard in many of the world’s top orchestras and chamber ensembles and can be found on music faculties worldwide. The MSFO is led by Artistic Director Timothy Muffitt, who serves as Music Director of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Laureate of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

Meghan Collins: Locally specific climate projections for the Chautauqua region
2026-08-11 09:15 | Hurlbut Church sanctuary, Hurlbut Church sanctuary
Chautauqua Science Group Weekly Lecture

Bird, Tree & Garden Club Lunchtime Lecture Series: Jessamine Finch, Atlanta Botanical Garden
2026-08-11 12:30 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall

Jeremy Ben-Ami
2026-08-11 14:00 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy
Jeremy Ben-Ami is the president of J Street, bringing to the role both deep experience in American politics and government and a passionate commitment to the state of Israel. Ben-Ami’s family connection to Israel goes back 140 years to the first aliyah when his great-grandparents were among the first settlers in Petah Tikva. His grandparents were one of the founding families of Tel Aviv, and his father was an activist and leader in the Irgun, working for Israel’s independence and on the rescue of European Jews before and during World War II.
Ben-Ami’s political resume includes serving in the mid-1990s as the deputy domestic policy advisor in the White House to President Bill Clinton and working on seven presidential and numerous state and local campaigns, including helping to manage a mayoral campaign in New York City in 2001. For nearly three years in the late ’90s, he lived in Israel, where he started a consulting firm working with Israeli nonprofit organizations and politicians. Ben-Ami received a law degree from New York University and is a graduate of the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Fate and Fury
2026-08-11 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Hannah Schendel, conductor
Under the baton of Hannah Schendel, The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra presents a night of symphonic drama. Wagner’s Flying Dutchman Overture surges with storm-tossed intensity, capturing the restless seas and legend of the cursed mariner. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 follows, unfolding from brooding introspection to triumphant resolve in an emotionally compelling journey. Together, these masterworks showcase the passion, grandeur, and expressive force of the Romantic era.
Program:
Wagner: Flying Dutchman Overture
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

"Setting the Table: CVA Members Exhibition" August 12–26
2026-08-12 11:00 | Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor
“Setting the Table: CVA Members Exhibition” runs August 12-August 26. Once again, we will feature works by the 2026 CVA Members, who will interpret week eight’s theme, The Future of Food, Climate Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution. A variety of styles, mediums, and techniques will be shown by these talented artists with their personal thoughts on the future of food.

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents How I Learned What I Learned (Live Audio Descriptions)
2026-08-12 14:00 | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater

"Setting the Table: CVA Members Exhibition" Opening Reception
2026-08-12 15:00 | Fowler-Kellogg Art Center: 1st Floor
“Setting the Table: CVA Members Exhibition” opening reception. Exhibition runs August 12 – August 26. Once again, we will feature works by the 2026 CVA Members, who will interpret week eight’s theme, The Future of Food, Climate Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution. A variety of styles, mediums, and techniques will be shown by these talented artists with their personal thoughts on the future of food.

UU Cultural Ethics Series: Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association
2026-08-12 15:30 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Unity's Positive Path for Spiritual Living
2026-08-12 18:30, 2026-08-19 18:30, 2026-08-26 18:30 | Turner Conference Room, Turner Conference Room
Programmed by Unity of Chautauqua

School of Dance: Student Gala II
2026-08-12 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Chautauqua School of Dance presents an outstanding mixed repertoire evening of new and established works featuring the most exceptional young talent in the country. Under the leadership of Sasha Janes,
Bonnefoux McBride Artistic Director of Chautauqua School of Dance, the school continues its long tradition of excellence as a top-tier summer training program focused on bringing the next generation of dance stars from the studio to the stage.

The Rev. Frank A. Thomas
2026-08-13 09:15 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Miles Yu
2026-08-13 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Miles Yu is a senior fellow and director of the China Center at Hudson Institute. He is also a professor of East Asia and military and naval history at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Yu specializes in Chinese military and strategic culture, U.S. and Chinese military and diplomatic history, and U.S. policy toward China. He joins Chautauqua’s weeklong exploration of “Global Power and Our Evolving International Order” to offer an up-to-the-minute assessment of the global ambitions and actions of China and other East Asian countries, and how the U.S. and the West are responding.
Previously, Yu served in the first Trump administration as the China policy adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In that capacity, he advised the secretary on all China-related issues, helped overhaul U.S. policy toward China, and participated in key U.S. government interagency deliberations on major policy and government actions with regard to China and other East Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
From 2011 to 2016, Yu wrote the weekly column “Inside China” for The Washington Times; since 1996, he has been an editorial consultant to Radio Free Asia, and a contributor to various media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and “PBS News Hour.” His books include OSS in China: Prelude to Cold War and The Dragon’s War: Allied Operations and the Fate of China, 1937–1947. Yu’s numerous awards include the U.S. Naval Academy’s top researcher award, U.S. Navy Special Action Awards, and U.S. Navy Meritorious Service Award. He received a doctorate in history from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree from Swarthmore College, and a bachelor’s degree from Nankai University.

CTC Theater Chats
2026-08-13 12:15 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall
Theater Chats (formerly known as Brown Bags)
On selected Thursdays at 12:15 p.m., bring lunch to Smith Wilkes Hall and join special guests, including actors, designers, playwrights and more, for a look at our upcoming productions and discussions on the craft of theater-making. Free and open to the public.

Is the US losing its edge in global clean energy leadership? With Clint Wilder
2026-08-13 12:30 | Alumni Hall Ballroom, Alumni Hall Ballroom

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents New Play Workshop 3: As You Like It by William Shakespeare (a musical adaptation)
2026-08-13 14:00, 2026-08-14 14:00, 2026-08-15 14:00 | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater
As You Like It
by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Peter Andersen
Original score by Bandits on the Run

Ecumenical Communion Service
2026-08-14 09:15 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Rebecca Nagle
2026-08-14 14:00 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle — By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land
An “impeccably researched” (Washington Post) work of reportage and American history that braids the story of the forced removal of Native Americans onto treaty lands in the nation’s earliest days, and a small-town murder in the 1990s that led to a Supreme Court ruling reaffirming Native rights to that land more than a century later.
Before 2020, American Indian reservations made up roughly 55 million acres of land in the United States. Nearly 200 million acres are reserved for National Forests—in the emergence of this great nation, our government set aside more land for trees than for Indigenous peoples.
In the 1830s Muscogee people were rounded up by the US military at gunpoint and forced into exile halfway across the continent. At the time, they were promised this new land would be theirs for as long as the grass grew and the waters ran. But that promise was not kept. When Oklahoma was created on top of Muscogee land, the new state claimed their reservation no longer existed. Over a century later, a Muscogee citizen was sentenced to death for murdering another Muscogee citizen on tribal land. His defense attorneys argued the murder occurred on the reservation of his tribe, and therefore Oklahoma didn’t have the jurisdiction to execute him. Oklahoma asserted that the reservation no longer existed. In the summer of 2020, the Supreme Court settled the dispute. Its ruling that would ultimately underpin multiple reservations covering almost half the land in Oklahoma, including Nagle’s own Cherokee Nation.
Here Rebecca Nagle recounts the generations-long fight for tribal land and sovereignty in eastern Oklahoma. By chronicling both the contemporary legal battle and historic acts of Indigenous resistance, By the Fire We Carry stands as a landmark work of American history. The story it tells exposes both the wrongs that our nation has committed and the Native-led battle for justice that has shaped our country.
Rebecca Nagle is an award-winning journalist and a citizen of Cherokee Nation. She is the writer and host of the podcast This Land. Her writing on Native representation, federal Indian law, and tribal sovereignty has been featured in the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Guardian, USA Today, Indian Country Today, and other publications. She is a Peabody Award nominee and the recipient of the American Mosaic Journalism Prize, Women’s Media Center’s Exceptional Journalism Award, and numerous honors from the Native American Journalist Association. Nagle lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Indigenous communities deserve the same standard of journalism as the rest of the country, but rarely receive it from non-Native media outlets. Nagle’s journalism seeks to correct this.

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents Bratton Late Night
2026-08-14 22:00 | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater
CTC’s favorite late-night talent showcase! An evening of sketches and songs featuring the extraordinary talents of our 2026 conservatory.

Chautauqua Theater Company Presents How I Learned What I Learned (Live Audio Descriptions & Pick-Your-Price)
2026-08-15 18:00 | Bratton Theater, Bratton Theater

The Music of Billy Joel with Tony DeSare and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
2026-08-15 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Stuart Chafetz, conductor
Tony DeSare, piano & vocals
Tony DeSare’s signature vocal and robust piano style pay tribute to the iconic songs of Billy Joel. Generations of Billy Joel fans will experience full symphonic orchestrations with Tony DeSare’s unique take on some of his most beloved hits including “Only the Good Die Young,” “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” “You May Be Right,” “Movin Out,” “My Life,” “Vienna,” and many more.
Billy Joel does not appear on this program.

The Rev. Natalie Hanson
2026-08-16 10:45, 2026-08-17 09:15, 2026-08-18 09:15, 2026-08-19 09:15 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Rev. Natalie Hanson has been a longtime presence at Chautauqua; with her husband, the Rev. James Paul Womack, pastor of Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church, she has co-hosted the United Methodist Missionary Vacation Home at Chautauqua for several years. Hanson has also served Chautauqua as interim senior pastor in 2022, crafting, planning and evaluating worship services alongside members of the Department of Religion.
She is a clergy member of the United Methodist Church, now retired after 40 years of ministry. Much of that ministry was focused in urban parishes, with eight years serving as a District Superintendent in the Western, then Upper New York Annual Conference. On behalf of the Conference and as an adjunct for Wesley Seminary’s Course of Study, Hanson for several years taught classes on preaching and worship development. She was also Co-Convener and worship developer for the NE Jurisdiction’s Clergywomen’s Convocation. Hanson was educated at Wesleyan University and the Harvard Divinity School.

Week Eight: Reimagined Food Festival
2026-08-16 12:00 - 2026-08-22 20:00
Savor a week of elevated culinary experiences with our reimagined Food Festival. With only 80 packages per week, enjoy intimate moments across the grounds, from two Masters Series classes and five Bestor Plaza demos to a lively Weekly Feast of Friends. Your package also includes a Premium Chef’s Dinner, family‑friendly Feast on Film, a Craft Beverage Tasting and the flavor‑packed Taste Caravan featuring five lunches and two dinners. Cap your experience off with the high‑energy Battle of the Bites and the celebratory Taste of Chautauqua.
Package includes:
2 Master Series Classes
Sunday Feast with Friends Ticket
1 Premium Chef’s Dinner
Feast on Film Event
1 Premium Craft Beverage Tasting Event
Experience Taste Caravan
Battle of the Bites Tasting Event
Taste of Chautauqua
Plus, a limited merch package, $50 in food truck tickets for the taste caravan and a popcorn and soda for Feast on Film.
Package price: $505
Only 80 packages are available each week. Purchase by calling 716-357-6250.
*Packages available for week’s eight & nine. Packages do not provide standalone access to Chautauqua’s grounds and must be purchased in addition to your gate passes.

Masters Series Culinary Masterclass: Chef Nyesha Arrington
2026-08-16 15:30 | Norton Hall, Norton Hall
See culinary mastery up close as acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and television personality Nyesha Arrington — one of the most influential voices in food today — presents an exclusive Masters Series experience that blends refined techniques, creative storytelling, and soulful flavor.
Designed for curious cooks and serious food lovers alike, this intimate Masters Series program offers live demonstration, real-time Q&A, and rare insight into the techniques, mindset, and creative process of a chef shaping modern cuisine. The unforgettable experience kicks off Arrington’s multiday Chautauqua residency during Week Eight, “The Future of Food: Climate, Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution.”
For a greater look into the role of food in telling our personal and collective stories, Arrington joins the Chautauqua Lecture Series on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Later that evening, she hosts an exclusive Guest Chef’s Dinner, providing patrons an elevated dining experience at the historic Athenaeum Hotel.

Feast with Friends: Smokin Dicks BBQ
2026-08-16 17:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
Smokin Dicks BBQ
Standard:
Pulled pork sandwich
Smoked mac and cheese
Coleslaw
Ear of corn
Dietary Restriction Menu:
Pulled BBQ Jackfruit with gluten free bun
Coleslaw (Vegan)
Bang Bang Cauliflower
Ear of corn

Feast on Film
2026-08-16 21:30 | Chautauqua Cinema, Chautauqua Cinema
Enjoy a Film centered around food, culture, and community at Chautauqua Cinema. (Limited Tickets Available)

Danielle Nierenberg
2026-08-17 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Danielle Nierenberg is a world-renowned researcher, speaker and advocate, on all issues relating to our food system and agriculture. She is president of Food Tank, the think tank for food, and an expert on sustainable agriculture and food issues. She has written extensively on gender and population, the spread of factory farming in the developing world and innovations in sustainable agriculture.
Nierenberg founded Food Tank with Bernard Pollack in 2013. It is a global convener, thought leadership organization and unbiased creator of original research impacting the food system. Matching innovative ideas to today’s most pressing challenges, Food Tank bridges domestic and global partners to build sustainable agriculture and food systems. Hope, success and innovative ideas in our food system are highlighted through original daily publications, research articles, a chart-topping podcast, interviews and events, and summits in major cities around the world. Food Tank has more than 250 major institutional partners including The Rockefeller Foundation, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Christensen Fund, Oxfam America, Slow Food USA, U.N. FAO, the Crop Trust, the Sustainable Food Trust, and academic institutions in all 50 states.
Prior to starting Food Tank, Nierenberg spent two years traveling to more than 35 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America, meeting with farmers, scientists, researchers, policymakers, government leaders, students, academics and journalists, documenting what is working to help alleviate hunger and poverty, while protecting the environment. She is the recipient of the 2020 Julia Child Award. She has an M.S. in Agriculture, Food and Environment from Tufts University and spent two years volunteering for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.

Taste Caravan
2026-08-17 11:30, 2026-08-18 11:30, 2026-08-18 16:30, 2026-08-19 11:30, 2026-08-20 11:30, 2026-08-21 11:30, 2026-08-21 16:30, 2026-08-24 11:30 and 6 more dates | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
A rotating lineup of top food vendors serving small bites each day, showcasing top food vendors in the region all celebrated in Bestor Plaza. Vendor tickets can be purchased at the Ticket tent.

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk
2026-08-17 13:00, 2026-08-18 13:00, 2026-08-21 13:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk delivered from the stage featuring cutting-edge technology, authentic flavors and hands-on engagement

Battle of the Bites
2026-08-17 15:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
A friendly showdown featuring local and regional chiefs. In a Cook off for all to enjoy, guests will sample small bite sized- portions; tasters will vote for a favorite across categories. (Limited Tasting Ticket Sales)

Chautauqua Chamber Music: Naeve Trio
2026-08-17 16:00 | Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall
Experience the captivating Naeve Trio in a performance of expressive chamber music and dynamic collaboration. Blending violin, cello, and piano with remarkable sensitivity and balance, the trio brings both classical and contemporary works to life with warmth and clarity. Their performances highlight deep musical connection, refined artistry, and a shared spirit of exploration. Join us for an inspiring concert that celebrates the beauty and versatility of the piano trio.

Kate Kortum
2026-08-17 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
A Juilliard graduate and winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Kortum has become a familiar face on the most iconic stages in jazz including Birdland, Blue Note, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club, SXSW Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Kortum has toured internationally and collaborated with modern jazz leaders including Cyrille Aimée, Bryan Carter, Peter Bernstein, Wynton Marsalis and the world renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Her debut album, Good Woman, reimagines jazz standards originally written by men, reclaiming them through bold arrangements and a distinctly female perspective. The record and her follow-up LP Wild Woman have been met with acclaim leading to over 5.1 million streams.
Alongside her solo career, Kate Kortum is a member of The Sunhouse Singers, a New York-based vocal trio with vocalists June Cavlan and Joie Bianco. Together, the trio have been featured in projects from Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen, Christian Wiggs, and Emmet Cohen – appearing on the award winning program “Live from Emmet’s Place”.

Chautauqua Science Group: George Carlo
2026-08-18 09:15 | Hurlbut Church sanctuary, Hurlbut Church sanctuary

Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need, with Michael Hoffman, Cornell University
2026-08-18 12:30 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall
Bird, Tree & Garden Club lunchtime lecture series

Masters Series Masterclass: Good Food Belongs to People, Not a Landfill
2026-08-18 15:15, 2026-08-19 15:15, 2026-08-20 15:15 | Hultquist 101, Hultquist 101
At the intersection of food insecurity and climate change lies one powerful opportunity: food rescue. Food waste and food insecurity are often treated as separate crises — yet they stem from the same structural inefficiencies in our food system. In the United States, up to 40% of food produced goes uneaten, even as 1 in 7 households face food insecurity. Most wasted food ends up in landfills, where it becomes a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. 412 Food Rescue in Pittsburgh is transforming how communities respond to these challenges. By mobilizing volunteers through innovative, people-powered technology, the organization rescues fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. In this way, the organization operates at the intersection of food waste and environmental sustainability, redirecting surplus food to communities experiencing food insecurity while reducing landfill methane emissions. In this session, leadership from 412 Food Rescue will examine how technology-enabled logistics, volunteer mobilization, and cross-sector partnerships can serve as civic infrastructure — addressing hunger, advancing environmental sustainability, and strengthening local food systems. Participants will explore how surplus food recovery functions not as charity, but as systems-level intervention in both public health and climate resilience that has national and global impact.

Premium Chefs Dinner: Nyesha Arrington
2026-08-18 17:30 | Athenaeum Hotel, Athenaeum Hotel
An elevated dining event crafted by renowned chef Nyesha Arrington. A truly unforgettable culinary journey.

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Maxim Lando, piano
2026-08-18 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Rossen Milanov, conductor
Maxim Lando, piano
Maxim Lando joins the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in an evening of rhythmic fire. Lando commands the Amphitheater stage in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, balancing bold modern energy with moments of lyrical warmth. Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances offers nostalgia and momentum, with the widely recognized Dies Ire making its looming presence. Together, these works bring passion and power to the orchestra.
Program:
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances

Sunrise Paddle - Kayak/SUP
2026-08-19 06:15, 2026-08-21 06:15, 2026-08-26 06:15, 2026-08-28 06:15 | Sports Club, Sports Club
Enjoy the beauty of the lake during our sunrise paddle. This is not a guided tour but an opportunity to rent a kayak, SUP or canoe for an enjoyable hour at sunrise. Reservations accepted one day in advance at the Sports Club. Contact sportsclub@chq.org with questions.

Brian Frank
2026-08-19 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Brian Frank is the founder and general partner of FTW Ventures, bringing decades of experience in building transformative technology that impacts the way people work, play and live. In 2015, Frank turned his attention to how technology can improve the lives of every person on the planet by building a better food system. He raised two early-stage funds for investments into food and agriculture technology businesses with FTW, partnering with the leading executives and corporations in the field.
Now at FTW, Frank continues to build a more sustainable, resilient, productive and profitable food system through leveraging advanced science and technology in the $10 trillion food and agriculture sectors. He cultivates urgent, essential technology that reshapes the global food and agriculture industries. To support the company’s three core values — preserving and amplifying nature’s offerings, modernizing science, and nurturing humankind — Frank and his team support the innovators who think beyond the box and have a unique perspective on improving the food system.
Prior to founding FTW, Frank led the creation of industry-defining products in mobile communication, social media and AI at numerous startups and Fortune 500 Companies over his 25-year career. As an entrepreneur, he directed three venture-backed businesses to successful exits, returning more than $100 million in capital to investors. Frank is a graduate of Cornell University with dual degrees in computer science as well as science and technology studies with a concentration in human-computer interaction (HCI).

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk: Michael Hoffman
2026-08-19 13:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza

Taste of Chautauqua
2026-08-19 15:00, 2026-08-26 15:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
A celebration of everything that makes our region special. We’re inviting local chefs, artists, producers, wineries, breweries, and creators to showcase what they do best. (Vendor tickets sold at Ticket tent)

UU Cultural Ethics Series: Roger Doebke
2026-08-19 15:30 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

The Rev. Natalie Hanson
2026-08-20 09:15 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk: 412 Food Rescue
2026-08-20 13:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza

Masters Series Masterclass: From Spirit to Shelf — Inside Mezcal & Whiskey Manufacturing in Mexico
2026-08-20 15:30 | Norton Hall, Norton Hall
Go beyond the glass and into the heart of artisanal spirits production in this immersive Masters Series class presented by Laika Spirits. This special program brings two master distillers—one of mezcal and one of whiskey—directly from Mexico to Chautauqua for an insider look at how some of today’s most compelling spirits are made, transported, and shared with the world.
Joined by close colleague and brand importer Ismael Gomez, distillers Txomin and Carlos will share vivid images and firsthand stories from the regions where their spirits are produced, offering rare insight into traditional techniques, regional terroir, and the cultural heritage behind each bottle. Together, they will explore the realities of modern spirits production, including the challenges and opportunities of importing handcrafted products into the American market.
Designed as a conversational and engaging experience, the class blends storytelling, visual presentation, and open dialogue. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, deepen their understanding of mezcal and whiskey production, and gain a clearer picture of the journey from raw ingredient to finished spirit.
The brands sharing in this Masters Series class will also be showcased during the Premium Craft Beverage Tasting Events on Thursday, August 20, and Thursday, August 27, offering guests a chance to taste these products and continue the conversation in a relaxed, social setting.
Perfect for curious drinkers, spirits enthusiasts, and anyone interested in craftsmanship, culture, and global trade, this Masters Series class offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people and processes shaping today’s premium spirits landscape.

Premium Tasting Event
2026-08-20 17:00, 2026-08-27 17:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
An evening of curated wines, craft beers, and artisanal spirits in an interactive tasting experience where you’ll experience flavors you have never experienced before.

Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra: Generational Voices- An Evening with the Denyce Graves Foundation
2026-08-20 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
This special evening marks the official launch of the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Generational Voices program, a dynamic new initiative dedicated to mentoring and elevating the next generation of vocal artists. The final concert of our orchestral season showcases rising talent from this groundbreaking program. Join maestro Rossen Milanov and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for a soaring night of vocal artistry and symphonic brilliance. From beloved operatic arias to Bernstein’s enthralling Jeremiah Symphony, this performance celebrates the future of American opera and the enduring excellence of our resident orchestra.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil
2026-08-21 14:00 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle — Bite by Bite: Nourishments & Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
From the New York Times bestselling author of World of Wonders, a lyrical book of short essays about food, offering a banquet of tastes, smells, memories, associations, and marvelous curiosities from nature. In Bite by Bite, poet and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil explores the way food and drink evoke our associations and remembrances—a subtext or layering, a flavor tinged with joy, shame, exuberance, grief, desire, or nostalgia.
Nezhukumatathil restores our astonishment and wonder about food through her encounters with a range of foods and food traditions. From shave ice to lumpia, mangoes to pecans, rambutan to vanilla, she investigates how food marks our experiences and identities and explores the boundaries between heritage and memory.
Bite by Bite offers a rich and textured kaleidoscope of vignettes and visions into the world of food and nature, drawn together by intimate and humorous personal reflections, with Fumi Nakamura’s gorgeous imagery and illustration.
Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the author of Night Owl, a poetry collection, the book of food essays Bite By Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees, and the New York Times best-selling illustrated collection of nature essays, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks & Other Astonishments. She has also written four previous poetry collections including Oceanic and At The Drive-in Volcano. Her most recent chapbook is Lace & Pyrite, a collaboration of epistolary garden poems with the poet Ross Gay. Honors include a poetry fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pushcart Prize, a Mississippi Arts Council grant, NAAEE’s 2024 Pepe Marcos-Iga Award for Innovation in Environmental Education, and being named a Guggenheim Fellow in poetry. For a decade, she served as the poetry editor for Orion and Sierra magazines. A professor of English and Creative Writing for over twenty five years, she also serves as a firefly guide for Mississippi State Parks.

Renée Fleming with Béla Fleck The Fiddle and the Drum
2026-08-21 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
This collaboration brings together 5x Grammy winning soprano Renée Fleming and 19x Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck for a celebration of Appalachian folk music. For our country’s 250th anniversary, the program mines a rich vein of America’s musical heritage, weaving the expressive depth of Fleming’s voice with the brilliance of Fleck’s banjo and his all-star My Bluegrass Heart band. Through mountain songs, haunting ballads, and folk hymns, The Fiddle and the Drum honors the roots and emotional power of Appalachia.

Silkroad Ensemble featuring Rhiannon Giddens
2026-08-22 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Silkroad Ensemble featuring Rhiannon Giddens brings an electrifying fusion of global traditions and contemporary expression to the stage. This acclaimed collective of artists creates a vibrant tapestry of sound that celebrates cultural exchange and musical curiosity. Giddens’ compelling voice and storytelling artistry add emotional depth and urgency to the performance. Audiences will be swept into an unforgettable evening of boundary-crossing music that resonates long after the final note.

Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J.
2026-08-23 10:45, 2026-08-24 09:15, 2026-08-25 09:15, 2026-08-26 09:15 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., is a Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries. Based in Los Angeles, the organization is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world.
From 1986 to 1992 Boyle served as pastor of Dolores Mission Church, then the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles, and the one with the highest concentration of gang activity. In the face of law enforcement tactics and criminal justice policies of suppression and mass incarceration as the means to end gang violence, Boyle and parish and community members adopted what was a radical approach at the time: treat gang members as human beings.
In 1988 they began what would eventually become Homeboy Industries, which employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, and provides critical services to thousands of people who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life.
Boyle is the author of the 2010 New York Times bestseller, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, as well as Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship, and The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness. Most recently, he authored Forgive Everyone Everything, an anthology of writings accompanied by Fabian Debora’s artwork.
Recently, Boyle was a recipient of the 2025 Civic Renewal Award from the Center for Christianity and Public Life. In 2024, Boyle received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joseph Biden. Homeboy Industries was awarded the 2020 Hilton Humanitarian Prize, and Boyle was the recipient of University of Notre Dame’s 2017 Laetare Medal, the oldest honor given to American Catholics. In 2014, President Barack Obama named him a Champion of Change. Boyle has also received the California Peace Prize and been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

Week Nine: Reimagined Food Festival
2026-08-23 12:00 - 2026-08-28 20:00

Community Gathering with Dance Theatre of Harlem
2026-08-23 15:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
Community Gathering with Dance Theatre of Harlem
Dance Theatre of Harlem invites you to “Dancing in the Streets,” a participatory dance workshop for people of all ages and abilities in Bestor Plaza. This free and fun workshop brings world-class artistry directly to our Chautauqua community. Deeply committed to building connection through the arts, company artists will introduce you to the joy and power of dance.
*Rain Location: Chautauqua Amphitheater

Feast With Friends: 3 C’s Catering
2026-08-23 17:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
3 C’s Catering
Theme: Farm to table dinner
Standard (FT = FARM TO TABLE)
FT Italian Sausage with FT peppers and onions
FT parsley buttered potatoes
FT seasonal roasted vegetables
Vegetarian Option:
White FT ratatouille lasagna,
Homemade Italian bread,
FT seasonal vegetables,
FT tossed salad with homemade Italian dressing

Priya Parker
2026-08-24 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Priya Parker opens Week Nine of the 2026 Chautauqua Lecture Series and the theme of “The Importance of Gathering” by helping us take a deeper look at how anyone can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. She is a facilitator, strategic adviser, acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters, and the host of The Art of Gathering Digital Course. She writes and teaches on Group Life, her Substack publication aimed to make “group help” as normal as “self help.”
Drawing from her diverse training in conflict resolution, business management, public policy and community-building, her talks dive into the anatomy of gathering with purpose. Whether she is talking about gathering as a 21st-century leadership skill, fostering belonging among remote teams, the art of hosting meetings everyone wants to attend, or connecting people across identities, backgrounds and hierarchies, Parker gives her audiences the skills they need to succeed.
Parker has helped numerous clients develop better in-person and virtual gatherings, including tech and Fortune 500 companies, leading non-profits, education groups and government agencies, among others.
Parker has spoken on the TED Main Stage and her sessions have been viewed over 3 million times. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters was named a Best Business Book of the Year by Amazon, Esquire Magazine, NPR, the Financial Times, 1-800-CEO-READS and Bloomberg. In 2023, The Wall Street Journal tapped Parker as their work expert for their “Future of Everything” series. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, Oprah.com, Real Simple Magazine, Glamour, “The Today Show” and “Morning Joe,” among others.

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talk
2026-08-24 13:00, 2026-08-25 13:00, 2026-08-26 13:00, 2026-08-28 13:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
Demo/Talk showcased in Bestor Plaza featuring cutting-edge technology, authentic flavors, and hands-on engagement.

Battle of The Bites
2026-08-24 15:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza
A friendly showdown featuring local and regional chiefs. In a Cook off for all to enjoy, guests will sample small bite sized- portions; tasters will vote for a favorite across categories. Exclusive Judge (Limited Tasting Tickets sold)

Chautauqua Chamber Music: American Brass Quintet
2026-08-24 16:00 | Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall

Dance Theatre of Harlem
2026-08-24 19:30 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a world-class company, a professional studio school, a leading arts education program-Dancing Through Barriers®, and community engagement activities.Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries deep commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts.Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times, 1971).Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children—especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born—the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its sixth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multicultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.

Chautauqua Science Group Weekly Lecture
2026-08-25 09:15 | Hurlbut Church sanctuary, Hurlbut Church sanctuary

Lara Downes and John McWhorter
2026-08-25 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Visionary American pianist and scholar Lara Downes is joined by fellow American scholar and linguist John McWhorter for a musical-conversation to discuss the role of American music as a joyful noise, even in the hardest times — the songs that have chased our cares away even in times of hardship, crisis and wartime, to remind us of the importance of “harmonizing together.” This program is part of Downes’ series, “America in Pursuit,” developed for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and continues Chautauqua’s weeklong exploration of “The Importance of Gathering,” in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
At 8 p.m. the same evening, vocalist Kurt Elling joins Downes in a special concert called “Get Happy,” inspired by the morning’s conversation and celebrating 250 years of American music. The duo will share beloved songs that remind us that “the sun will come up tomorrow!” The performance features music by Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, H.T. Burleigh, Louis Armstrong, and more.
Lara Downes, a visionary trailblazer and American pianist occupies a unique position of visibility through her dynamic work as a sought-after soloist, a Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, and a beloved NPR personality. She seeks inspiration from the legacies of history, family and collective memory, creating performances and recording projects that serve as gathering spaces for her listeners to find common ground and shared experiences.
Downes has recently launched “The Declaration Project,” a national initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the United States by gathering together American communities to find common ground in exploring the core essence of our founding promise: the unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Engaging with multigenerational communities in the form of round-table conversations, generative writing workshops, and collaborative creative practice, Downes encourages reflection and expression that actively reimagines the promise of our future, reflecting on the magic and mystery of life, the ongoing quest for freedom and equality, and the radical power of joy.
Downes is the creator and host of the NPR Music video series “Amplify with Lara Downes,” which features intimate, profoundly personal video conversations with visionary artists and cultural leaders who are shaping our creative present and future. Downes’ fierce commitment to citizenship and advocacy has led to her role as an Artist Ambassador for Headcount, a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. A cultural visionary with a firm finger on the pulse of tomorrow, Downes is increasingly active as a curator and creative partner with institutions including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Aspen Ideas Festival, Mass MoCA, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and as Resident Artist for Classical California (formerly KDFC and KUSC).
Downes’ uniquely insightful approach to concept and curation have created an extensive and acclaimed series of chart-topping recordings, including her latest release “Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined,” featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” in The Wall Street Journal and Downbeat Magazine. Her 2023 release “Love at Last” was featured as an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and her groundbreaking 2016 release “America Again” was called “a balm for a country riven by disunion” by the Boston Globe.
John McWhorter is not just a linguist — he’s a storyteller of language, a cultural critic and a fearless commentator on the social issues of our time. As a professor in the Slavic Department at Columbia University, McWhorter has spent his career dissecting the ways in which language evolves, adapts and reflects the human condition. His research into creole languages, dialects and sociolects offers a window into the everchanging tapestry of human communication.
McWhorter’s work extends far beyond the classroom. Known for his bold, unorthodox views on race and society, he has become a prominent public intellectual, challenging the status quo and encouraging us to rethink our assumptions. Through his writing, speaking and media appearances, McWhorter brings a fresh, incisive perspective that is both enlightening and accessible, making even the most complex topics approachable for all.
McWhorter is an author of more than 20 books, including The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, Losing the Race: Self Sabotage in Black America and Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English. In 2016 he published Words on the Move: Why English Won’t — and Can’t — Sit Still (Like, Literally), while in 2021, he published Nine Nasty Words and Woke Racism. He also writes a weekly column for The New York Times and hosts the language podcast “Lexicon Valley.” He earned his B.A. from Rutgers, his M.A. from New York University and his Ph.D. in linguistics from Stanford.

Ken Parker, Native Plants Guy
2026-08-25 12:30 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall

Masters Series Culinary Masterclass: Chef Darian Bryan
2026-08-25 15:30 | Norton Hall, Norton Hall
Bold flavor, big personality, and unforgettable food take center stage in this dynamic Masters Series class with Chef Darian Bryan, one of Western New York’s most celebrated culinary voices. Known for merging fine dining techniques with the vibrant soul of Caribbean cuisine, Chef Darian delivers an experience that is as entertaining as it is inspiring. He has been featured in numerous national and international media outlets, including the Food Network, CBS News, ESPN, The Jamaican Observer, The Gleaner, and TVJ, sharing his food and story with audiences around the world.

Premium Chefs Dinner: Darian Bryan
2026-08-25 17:30 | Athenaeum Hotel, Athenaeum Hotel
An elevated dining event crafted by renowned chef Darian Bryan. A truly unforgettable culinary journey.

Get Happy with Lara Downes and Kurt Elling
2026-08-25 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Pianist and cultural visionary Lara Downes has been called “A musical ray of hope” by NBC News. Vocalist Kurt Elling, whom The Guardian dubbed “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers,” joins Downes in a special concert called GET HAPPY, celebrating 250 years of American music as a joyful noise, even in the hardest times. The duo shares beloved songs that have chased our cares away even in times of hardship, crisis, and wartime, to remind us that “the sun will come up tomorrow!” Music by Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, H.T. Burleigh, Louis Armstrong, and more.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
2026-08-26 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the Alphonse Fletcher University professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic and institution builder has produced and hosted an array of documentary films and published numerous books. Gates joins the Chautauqua Lecture Series during this week on “The Importance of Gathering,” in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, to reflect on the importance of sharing collective histories and memories, based on his extensive work and scholarship exploring the connections that bind us.
Nominated for a 2024 Primetime Emmy, and in its 12th season this year, is Gates’s groundbreaking genealogy and genetics series “Finding Your Roots.” His latest history series for PBS are “Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History” and “Great Migrations: A People on the Move.” He also served as executive producer of PBS’ “The Black Church” and HBO’s “Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches,” which each received Emmy nominations as well.
Gates’s latest book is The Black Box: Writing the Race. Published in 2024, it was named one of the New York Times 100 Best Books of the Year. Other recent titles include The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song and Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow. A former chair of the Pulitzer Prize board, he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and serves on a wide array of boards, including the New York Public Library, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Aspen Institute, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Library of America and The Studio Museum of Harlem.
Gates earned his B.A. in history from Yale University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from Clare College at Cambridge. He was a member of the first class awarded “genius grants” by the MacArthur Foundation in 1981, and in 1998 he became the first African American scholar to be awarded the National Humanities Medal.

Leon and Gloria Plevin Lecture: Garrett Klein (Massey Klein Gallery)
2026-08-26 18:30 | Hultquist 101, Hultquist 101

Samara Joy
2026-08-26 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
A native of the Bronx, Samara Joy became entranced by classic R&B as a child and cut her teeth as a singer in her church’s gospel choir. And while her family history is deeply musical—her grandparents helmed the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father, the musician and songwriter Antonio McLendon, has produced, composed and arranged his own astounding original work—she didn’t delve into the jazz tradition until college at SUNY Purchase. During her studies there she won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which introduced her to the larger jazz scene as a rising star to watch. She was heard, by audiences and critics alike, as a masterful interpreter of jazz standards and a rightful heiress of the sound, technique and charisma that defined her jazz heroines—including Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln and Carmen McRae.
Joy released her self-titled debut on the Whirlwind label in 2021, followed a year later by Linger Awhile, her breakout Verve debut, of which Down Beat said, “With this beautiful recording, a silky-voiced star is born.” The album earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to a headline-making win for Best New Artist. A deluxe edition of the album was released, as well as the EP A Joyful Holiday, which took home Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Jazz Performance in 2025. Her new Verve album, Portrait, which Joy co-produced with the veteran trumpeter/bandleader and multi-Grammy winner Brian Lynch, showcases the intimate, soulful chemistry she’s developed with her touring band, already earning her an NAACP Image Award this year for Best Jazz Album. Portrait also spotlights her burgeoning gifts as a lyricist, in ingenious arrangements that meld her thoughtful words with music by Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor Barry Harris.

Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J.
2026-08-27 09:15 | Hall of Philosophy, Hall of Philosophy

Bestor Plaza Demo/Talks
2026-08-27 13:00 | Bestor Plaza, Bestor Plaza

Masters Series Masterclass: Food Fest Sysco chef cooking demo
2026-08-27 15:30 | Norton Hall, Norton Hall
As Food Fest winds down, there is still plenty to experience with two of Sysco’s finest chefs, Brian Barcus and Joe Bucci, who will demonstrate their expertise in the kitchen. This masterclass will showcase their combined nearly half a century of culinary artistry. Both chefs have careers filled with fine dining creations in a Michelin starred restaurant, associations with the best chefs in their fields and represent the finest specialty food ingredients in the world! Get inspired to take some Food Fest practical knowledge home with you and re-create these tasty dishes once you leave Chautauqua!

The Australian Pink Floyd Show
2026-08-28 20:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Selling over 4 million tickets worldwide and described by The Times as “The Gold Standard” and The Daily Mirror as “The Kings of the Genre,” The Australian Pink Floyd Show gave its first-ever concert in Adelaide, Australia in 1988. Since then, they have performed in over 35 countries worldwide; played at David Gilmour’s 50th birthday celebration and were even joined on stage by David Gilmour and Rick Wright. TAPFS is the leading show of its kind in the world.
Performing the music of Pink Floyd with note-for-note perfection, this critically acclaimed show has been astonishing audiences worldwide for more than three decades. Always striving to reproduce the complete Pink Floyd experience and bring the music to new audiences, the show continues to include a stunning light and laser show, video animations, state-of-the-art high-resolution LED screen technology, and other special effects.
In addition, and in true Pink Floyd fashion, there are several huge inflatables including a giant pig and their own unique Pink Kangaroo. They have worked with Pink Floyd touring musicians like Guy Pratt and Durga McBroom. Lorelei McBroom, who was a member of the Pink Floyd touring band on both the Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound of Thunder tours, has been a member of TAPFS for over 15 years.
Often described as being much more than a tribute band, The Australian Pink Floyd Show is the first Pink Floyd tribute show that took the concept into the worldwide arena circuit. The band has played to sell-out audiences throughout Europe, the UK, America, Canada, and South America.
With over 35 years of history, the world’s biggest, best, and greatest Pink Floyd tribute show continues to delight its global fan base. From its humble origins in the bars and clubs of Adelaide, in recent years the band has become a truly international affair, with members from Australia, the UK, France, and the USA.

HOLD: Bob McClure Play Readers event
2026-08-29 10:00 | Smith Wilkes Hall, Smith Wilkes Hall

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
2026-08-30 10:45 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton is the senior pastor of Chautauqua Institution. Formerly the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and Canon Pastor of Washington National Cathedral, where he directed the Cathedral’s Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage, Sutton has also served as a college chaplain, parish priest, and professor of homiletics and liturgy at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Sutton is a frequent leader of retreats focused on spirituality, nonviolence, and social justice, including multiple missions to South Africa. He co-founded Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, an ecumenical network of churches and individuals committed to centering prayer and renewing the contemplative gospel for daily living.
Sutton is a prolific writer, and has contributed to multiple books, including The Diversity of Centering Prayer and Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: Challenging the Epidemic of Gun Violence. Bishop Sutton has been named by the Center for American Progress as one of “Fourteen Faith Leaders to Watch” for his faith-led efforts to promote nonviolent solutions to conflicts.
Sutton is a prolific writer, and has contributed to multiple books, including The Diversity of Centering Prayer and Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: Challenging the Epidemic of Gun Violence. Bishop Sutton has been named by the Center for American Progress as one of “Fourteen Faith Leaders to Watch” for his faith-led efforts to promote nonviolent solutions to conflicts.

Indigo Girls
2026-09-10 19:00 | Amphitheater, Amphitheater
Released in 1989, Indigo Girls’ eponymous major label debut sold over two million copies under the power of singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” and turned Indigo Girls into one of the most successful folk duos in history. Over a thirty-five-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, the multi-Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray has recorded sixteen studio albums, sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following across the globe. Rolling Stone describes them as the “ideal duet partners.” Committed and uncompromising activists, they work on issues like immigration reform (El Refugio), LGBTQ advocacy, education (Imagination Library), death penalty reform, and Native American rights. They are co-founders of Honor the Earth, a non-profit dedicated to the survival of sustainable Native communities, Indigenous environmental justice, and green energy solutions.
Their latest record, Look Long is a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds the duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers reunited in the studio with their strongest backing band to date. “We joke about being old, but what is old when it comes to music? We’re still a bar band at heart,” says Saliers. “While our lyrics and writing approach may change, our passion for music feels the same as it did when we were 25-years-old.” “As time has gone on, our audience has become more expansive and diverse, giving me a sense of joy,” she adds. To hear those collective voices raise into one, singing along and overpowering the band itself, one realizes the importance Indigo Girls’ music has in this moment. In our often-terrifying present, we are all in search of a daily refuge, a stolen hour or two, to engage with something that brings us joy, perspective, or maybe just calm. As one bar band once put it, “We go to the doctor, we go to the mountains…we go to the Bible, we go through the work out.” For millions, they go to the Indigo Girls. On Look Long they’ll find a creative partnership certain of its bearings, forging a way forward.
