Announcing Akropolis’ 2026/2027 Season!
Appearances at Oneppo Series, Moab Music Festival, Chamber Music Tulsa, Utah Presents, Interlochen Center for the Arts, New Orleans Friends of Music
From the 2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning album, Pascal LeBoeuf’s Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? Presented by Performing Arts Houston and Rosza Presenting Series
World premieres by Jennifer Higdon, Jessica Meyer, Princeton Sound Kitchen composers
Johan De Meij concerto with the United States Air Force Band and University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wind Ensemble
Residency Program for Universities Across North America and High Schools in Detroit
Workshops at Yale School of Music, University of Michigan, Princeton University
Guest artists: soprano Shara Nova, baritone Kenny Overtone, pianist and composer Pascal Le Beouf, drummer Christian Euman, and bassoonists Martin Kuuskmann and Monica Ellis
“a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity” – BBC Music Magazine
“[Akropolis] has taken the chamber music world by storm” – Fanfare Magazine
Detroit, MI (August 20, 2026) – Acclaimed for their "collective voice driven by real excitement and a sense of adventure" (The Wire), the Akropolis Reed Quintet is a Billboard-charting, 7-time national prize-winning ensemble whose 2024 recording of Strands won the GRAMMY® Award for Best Instrumental Composition at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The quintet continues to share their signature warmth with audiences during the 2026-2027 season with a full schedule of concert performances, world premieres, residency programs and workshops.
Highlights of Akropolis's 2026/2027 season include performances presented by Oneppo Series, Moab Music Festival, Chamber Music Tulsa, Utah Presents, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and New Orleans Friends of Music. Performing Arts Houston and Rosza Presenting Series will present the 2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning project Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? with drummer Christian Euman and pianist Pascal Le Boeuf, who also composed the work. In addition to residencies at universities across North America, Akropolis continues to present the Detroit-based Together We Sound Festival, where they will carry on residencies at MLK High School, Detroit School of Arts and Cass Tech High School and continues its Akropolis Chamber Music Institute Summer Festival in partnership with Interlochen Center for the Arts. Akropolis will also hold readings and workshops at Yale School of Music, University of Michigan, Princeton University, Michigan Technical University, Metropolitan State University, and more.
The season features world premieres by Pulitzer Prize and 3x GRAMMY® winner composer Jennifer Higdon, as well as Jessica Meyer, Wenbin Lyu, Isaac Santos, Devin Greenwood, Dorothy Lu, Sophie Cash, Will Healy, and over 20 Detroit High School students, plus performances of recent commissions by Augusta Read Thomas, Derrick Skye, Ryan Lindveit, and Oswald Huỳnh. This season, Akropolis will be joined by soprano Shara Nova, GRAMMY® Award-winning baritone Kenneth Overton, GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist and composer Pascal Le Beouf, drummer Christian Euman, and bassoonists Martin Kuuskmann and Monica Ellis.
The season launches in Lake Luzerne, NY on August 3, 2026 with a performance and master class at the Luzerne Music Festival. Following that, they head home to Michigan for a performance at the Cheboyban Opera House on August 15, 2026 as a part of their Together We Sound Festival. This festival features performances and educational workshops throughout the southeast Michigan community, including at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Michigan Central Station. The festival culminates with a performance celebrating America's 250th anniversary at the Most Holy Trinity Church in Corktown Detroit on August 16, 2026.
In September, Akropolis brings programs to Chamber Music Tulsa on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 which feature the world premiere performance of Pulitzer Prize and 3x GRAMMY® winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s first reed quintet, Rush Not The Reeds. Of Rush Not The Reeds, Higdon writes: "The thrill of pondering the sound of a group of reed instruments playing together evoked in my imagination the visual beauty of nature's reeds and rushes, gently swaying in a breeze. Listen carefully, and rush not the experience of hearing exceptional reed players, singing to listeners through music in the power of a choir, but also in single melodic lines." Following this residency, Akropolis visits the University of Central Arkansas on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 for a series of masterclasses and an evening concert.
The Rozsa Presenting Series at Michigan Technical University (Houghton, MI) presents the 2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning project Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? with drummer Christian Euman and pianist Pascal Le Boeuf, who also composed the work, on Friday, October 2nd. This residency also features workshops led by Le Boeuf and Euman, alongside master classes with the quintet. Akropolis returns to the Oneppo Series (New Haven, CT) on October 6, 2026 in conjunction with master classes at the Yale School of Music on October 7, 2026. GRAMMY® Award-winning baritone Kenneth Overton joins Akropolis on Oneppo for a reimagining of Billy Holiday’s God Bless The Child, arranged by GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Remy Le Boeuf.
A highlight of the fall season are two concerto performances of Johan De Meij’s Un Momento Dado for reed quintet and wind band. The first takes place on October 8, 2026 with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wind Ensemble, with master classes accompanying this residency. The ensemble-in-residence with Princeton Sound Kitchen in 2026, Akropolis visits Princeton University on October 13, 2026 to give the world premiere performances of new works by composers Isaac Santos, Devin Greenwood, Dorothy Lu, Sophie Cash, and Will Healy. They will be joined by guest bassoonist Monica Ellis of the GRAMMY® Award-winning Imani Winds. October touring concludes with a chamber music lecture at Hope College and performance on the Great Performance Series (Holland, MI) on October 22, 2026.
In November 2026, they appear at Laramie Community College (Cheyenne, WY) on November 4, 2026 for a master class and performance. Their rocky mountain tour continues with UtahPresents on November 5, 2026 (Salt Lake City, UT) and a series of educational workshops at the University of Utah the same day. Finally, they visit Metropolitan State University (Denver, CO) for a performance and master class. Bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann joins Akropolis for the entirety of this tour. On Thursday, November 19, 2026, Akropolis gives their second concerto performance of the fall with the United States Air Force Band at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall (Alexandria, VA). This second performance of Johan De Meij’s Un Momento Dado is made possible thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts’ Freedom 250 grant program and features a joint program of American music including works by Steve Reich and David Biedenbender alongside the United States Air Force Band. Their November touring concludes in Houston, TX where Performing Arts Houston presents the 2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning project Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? with drummer Christian Euman and pianist Pascal Le Boeuf, who also composed the work, on Saturday, November 21, 2026.
Friends of New Orleans Music (New Orleans, LA) presents Akropolis on December 7, 2026. The quintet returns home to Ann Arbor, MI for their final concert of the calendar year on December 12, 2026 at Rackham Auditorium alongside Pulitzer Prize and 3x GRAMMY® winner composer Jennifer Higdon for the Michigan premiere of her first reed quintet, Rush Not The Reeds. Detroit soprano Shara Nova will also join Akropolis for Nico Muhly’s five-movement song-cycle, Hymns for Private Use, which Gramophone Magazine lauded for its "sheer musical imagination." Akropolis will also perform their 7th album in its entirety, A Soulful Nexus by Derrick Skye, a 32-minute transcultural work shaped by deep listening across musical traditions, which is released on September 25, 2026 on Bright Shiny Things.
In January 2027, Akropolis performs at Interlochen Center for the Arts on January 27, 2027. On February 3, 2027, they begin a west coast tour with a concert with Chamber Music Society of Logan (Logan, UT), a concert with Del Valle Fine Arts (Livermore, CA) on February 6, 2027 and Friends of Chamber Music Stockton (Stockton, CA) on February 7, 2027. Akropolis then returns to the Moab Music Festival for a week-long residency February 22-26, 2027 at their Winterlude festival alongside composer and violist Jessica Meyer. Akropolis’ week-long residency will include multiple performances and educational activities that blend music with the unique landscape of Moab and culminates with a public concert on Friday, February 27, 2027 and features the world premiere of Jessica Meyer’s first reed quintet. They end their February touring with Mobile Chamber Music (Mobile, AL) on Sunday, February 28, 2027.
Their spring touring concludes with a return residency appearance with the Virginia Arts Festival (Norfolk, VA) April 13-16, 2027 with a final festival concert on Friday, April 16, 2027. In May 2027, Akropolis hosts the Together We Sound Festival in Detroit, MI, presenting newly composed works by students from MLK High School, Detroit School of Arts, and Cass Technical High School. They begin their summer in Northern Michigan in early June by hosting their sixth annual Akropolis Chamber Music Institute in partnership with Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, MI. This immersive program combines world premiere performances, mentorship, and collaboration. The season concludes on Saturday, July 17, 2027, with a return performance at the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Akropolis Reed Quintet 2026-2027 Season Calendar
Monday, August 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Luzerne Music Festival Concert
Luzerne Chamber Music Festival | Lake Luzerne, NY
Link: https://www.luzernemusic.org/2026-season
Friday, August 14 – Monday, August 17
Together We Sound Festival
Most Holy Trinity Church; Michigan Central Station | Detroit, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/together-we-sound-festival
Saturday, August 25, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Chamberfest 2026 at Cheboygan Opera House
Cheboygan Opera House | Cheboygan, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/cheboygan-opera-house
Saturday, September 19 at 7 pm
Chamber Music Tulsa
*Jennifer Higdon world premiere*
Westby Pavilion | Tulsa, OK
Link: https://chambermusictulsa.org/season/2026-2027/
Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 4 pm
Chamber Music Tulsa
Williams Theatre | Tulsa, OK
Link: https://chambermusictulsa.org/season/2026-2027/
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 1:40 pm
University of Central Arkansas Entrepreneurship Workshop =
Wingate Concert Hall | Conway, AR
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/university-of-central-arkansas-b7byz-js9th
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 11 am
University of Central Arkansas Individual Master Classes
Wingate Concert Hall | Conway, AR
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/university-of-central-arkansas-b7byz
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 7:30 pm
University of Central Arkansas Concert
Wingate Concert Hall | Conway, AR
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/university-of-central-arkansas
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Michigan Technical University Chamber Music Master Class with Akropolis
Michigan Technical University: Master Class with Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman
School of Music | Houghton, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/michigan-technological-university-2
Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
Featuring Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? with Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman
Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts | Houghton, MI
Link: https://events.mtu.edu/event/akropolis-reed-quintet-rps-2026
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Oneppo Concert Series
Featuring baritone Kenneth Overton
Morse Recital Hall | New Haven, CT
Link: https://music-tickets.yale.edu/27173
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Woodwind Master Class
Yale School of Music | New Haven, CT
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/yale-school-of-music-woodwind-master-class
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Un Momento Dado by Johan De Meij: Concerto with UNCG Wind Ensemble
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Auditorium | Greensboro, NC
Link: https://vpa.uncg.edu/single-event/wind-ensemble-16/
Friday, October 9, 2026 at 3 pm
Woodwind Master Class
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Music Building | Greensboro, NC
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/university-of-north-carolina-at-greensboro-master-classes
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Princeton Sound Kitchen
World premieres by Isaac Santos, Devin Greenwood, Dorothy Lu, Sophie Cash, and Will Healy
Princeton University | Princeton, NJ
Link: https://www.princetonsoundkitchen.org/
Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 11 am
Chamber Music Lecture at Hope College
Hope College | Holland, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/hhrdoi8orv75hn9c7fxkl8egi1cxzn
Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Great Performances Series at Hope College
Jack. H Miller Center for Musical Arts | Holland, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/hope-college
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 12 pm
Woodwind Master Class
Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne, WY
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/laramie-community-college-f4rc2
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Laramie County Community College Concert
The Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium | Cheyenne, WY
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/laramie-community-college
Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 12 pm
University of Utah Chamber Music Master Class
School of Music | Salt Lake City, UT
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/university-of-utah-chamber-master-class
November 5, 2026 at 7:30 pm
UtahPresents
Libby Gardner Concert Hall | Salt Lake City, UT
Link: https://utahpresents.org/event/utahpresents/akropolis-reed-quintet
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Metropolitan State University of Denver Master Class
School of Music | Denver, CO
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/metropolitan-state-university-master-classes
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 27:30 pm
Metropolitan State University of Denver Concert
School of Music | Denver, CO
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/metropolitan-state-university
Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 pm
Un Momento Dado by Johan De Meij: Concerto with the United States Air Force Band
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center | Alexandria, VA
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/akropolis-and-the-united-states-air-force-band
Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 pm
Performing Arts Houston
Featuring Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? with Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center | Houston, TX
Link: https://performingartshouston.org/events/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream-2026-11-21-730-pm/
Monday, December 7, 2026 at 7:30 pm
New Orleans Friends of Music
Tulane University | New Orleans, LA
Link: https://www.friendsofmusic.org/
Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm
Pre-Concert talk at 2:30 pm
Akropolis Reed Quintet with Shara Nova and Jennifer Higdon
Rackham Auditorium | Ann Arbor, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/akropolis-shara-nova-jennifer-higdon
Wednesday, January 27, 2027
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Dendrinos Chapel | Interlochen, MI
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/events/interlochen-center-for-the-arts
Wednesday, February 3, 2027 at 7:30 pm
The Chamber Music Society of Logan
Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall | Logan, UT
Link: https://www.chambermusicsocietyoflogan.org/202627-season-1-1-1
Saturday, February 6, 2027 at 2 pm
Del Valle Fine Arts Concert
The Bankhead Theater | Livermore, CA
Link: https://www.delvallefinearts.org/akropolis-reed-quintet
Sunday, February 7, 2027at 2 pm
Friends of Chamber Music Stockton
Faye Spanos Concert Hall | Stockton, CA
Link: https://www.chambermusicfriends.org/2026-2027-season
Monday, February 22 – Friday, February 26, 2027
Moab Music Festival Winterlude
World premiere by composer Jessica Meyer
Weeklong residency includes multiple performances and educational activities
Star Hall | Moab, UT
Link: https://moabmusicfest.org/calendar/winterlude/
Sunday, February 28, 2027 at 3 pm
Mobile Chamber Music
Laidlaw Performing Arts Center | Mobile, AL
Link: https://www.mobilechambermusic.org/crnt_season.php
Tuesday, April 13 - Friday, April 17, 2027
Virginia Arts Festival Concert
April 17, 2027 at 7:30 pm
Week-long residency activities throughout the community
Norfolk, VA
Link: https://vafest.org/tickets-and-events/
May 2027
Together We Sound Festival: Detroit High School Composers Concerts
MLK High School, Detroit School of Arts, Cass Tech High School | Detroit, Michigan
Link: https://www.akropolisquintet.org/detroit-high-school-residency
June 2027
Akropolis Chamber Music Institute
Interlochen Center for the Arts | Interlochen, MI
Link: www.akropolisquintet.org/acmi/
Saturday, July 17 at 7 pm
Strings Music Festival
Strings Music Festival Pavilion | Steamboat Springs, CO
Link: https://stringsmusicfestival.com/
