Jazz at The Kreeger
In collaboration with Elijah Jamal Balbed, The Kreeger Museum is honored and thrilled to present Jazz at The Kreeger, a series that furthers our mission to share music across the city. Now in its fifth year, this series supports and spotlights the wealth of musical talent in our metropolitan area.
Save the date for upcoming Jazz at The Kreeger concerts!
September 20th, 2025
October 18th, 2025
November 15th, 2025
Todd Marcus Quintet featuring Virginia MacDonald
Saturday, September 20th | 3:00pm-4:00pm
Tickets: $35
Tickets now include admission to Museum galleries and Sculpture Garden. Ticket-holders may enter the Museum through the front entrance beginning at 1:30pm to view the galleries before the performance begins at 3:00pm.
In the event that you must cancel your reservation, please email education@kreegermuseum.org as soon as possible so we can offer your seat to someone else. Refunds will only be issued for cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance.
A limited number of 'pay what you can' tickets will be available for this Jazz at The Kreeger performance. For more information, email education@kreegermuseum.org.
About the Artists
Since 2022, Baltimore bass clarinetist Todd Marcus and Toronto clarinetist Virginia MacDonald have been performing and touring together across the United States and Canada with their quintet. Their work together presents a lush ensemble that showcases the range of beauty and power by the clarinet in a modern jazz context, with repertoire comprised of original compositions by both bandleaders. They have performed at jazz festivals and prominent venues internationally and will release their debut album as co-leaders in 2025.
Due to technical challenges and volume issues, most musicians that utilize both bass and Bb clarinets tend to also double on saxophone and avoid using clarinets for more intense straight-ahead jazz. While the clarinet has a rich history in traditional New Orleans and Dixieland music, swing era big band contexts, and avant-garde free playing, it is significantly underutilized in modern straight-ahead jazz.
Marcus and MacDonald have both established a prominence and international reputation on their respective instruments in the modern jazz realm with their unique solo and compositional voices. Their musical partnership showcases the versatility of the bass clarinet and clarinet, and captures audiences with a new and unique musical experience. This tour is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
This project is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
