Knights photography by Gabe Palacio. Christina Courtin photography by Chris Lee.

The Knights
Colin Jacobsen, Artistic Director & violin
Eric Jacobsen, Artistic Director & conductor
Christina Courtin, violin & voice
Conrad Tao, piano

The Knights celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a bold new festival across iconic New York City parks and the historic Caramoor Center. In a three-part musical showcase, audiences will experience the multifaceted potential and power of American music—rooted in history, alive in the present, shaped by many voices, and brimming with possibility.

Experience a vibrant celebration of the American sound as the boundary-breaking orchestral collective The Knights joins forces with visionary pianist Conrad Tao for an afternoon of fearless music-making. Led by Artistic Directors Eric and Colin Jacobson, the program anchors the spirit of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Tao’s acclaimed, "explosive" interpretation within a broader narrative of musical innovation. From the pastoral beauty of Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite and Margaret Bonds’ soulful Troubled Water to contemporary rhapsodies by Jessie Montgomery and the ensemble's own Christina Courtin, this performance bridges the gap between classical tradition and modern energy.

Program:

Margaret Bonds Troubled Water (arr. Bruno Lima)

Jessie Montgomery Rhapsody No. 2 for solo violin and chamber orchestra (arr. Michi Wiancko)

Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring Suite

Christina Courtin rhapsody on being giant proof

Christina Courtin, violin & vocals

George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Michael P. Atkinson)

Conrad Tao, piano