8 Best Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA

The Choir of the National Shrine, a professional choir of 16 voices, performs every Sunday at the Shrine's Noon Mass, in addition to visiting choral and church groups that occasionally perform at one of the largest Catholic churches in the Americas. Every summer and periodically throughout the year, recitals featuring the massive pipe organ are offered. See the website for times and visiting performers. 

On Fridays from 5 to 8:30 pm from mid-May through the end of August, jazz groups from all over the country perform to packed crowds at the Pavilion Café in the Sculpture Garden. Listeners dip their feet in the fountain, sip sangria, and let the week wash away. Make sure to arrive early to snag a spot.

Throughout the year, the Smithsonian Associates sponsor programs that offer everything from big brass to Cajun zydeco bands; all events require tickets, and locations vary. The Smithsonian's annual summer Folklife Festival, held on the Mall, highlights several different cultures' cuisine, crafts, and day-to-day life.

Founded in 2010, this orchestra is made up of D.C.'s finest freelance classical musicians. Their main purpose is to provide free classical orchestra performances to local communities in D.C. Performing all over the city, this is one of the best classical music experiences in the area.

In addition to being the home of the NHL Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards and Mystics basketball teams, this 19,000-seat arena also hosts D.C.'s biggest concerts and other major events. Drivers need to park in one of the many underground garages close by, but there are several convenient Metro lines, too. During warmer months, be sure to check out the frequent street concerts at the intersections surrounding the arena.

Since its first concert, in 1925, the 500-seat Coolidge has hosted most of the 20th and 21st centuries' greatest performers and composers, including Copland and Stravinsky. Today, the theater draws musicians from all genres, including classical, jazz, and gospel, and the hall continues to wow audiences with its near-perfect acoustics and sight lines. Concert tickets must be reserved in advance through the Library's website. Because of the Library's security procedures, patrons are urged to arrive 30 minutes before the start of each event.

A fixture in Georgetown since 1772 (in its current location since 1850), Dumbarton United Methodist Church sponsors a concert series that has featured the Harlem Quartet, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks, the St. Petersburg String Quartet, plus a multigenerational community of emerging artists. It's also home to Inner City-Inner Child, Inc. Founded in 1979 as a chamber music concert series, Dumbarton Concerts/Inner City-Inner Child, Inc. is a music, arts, and education organization that is doing extraordinary work in Washington, D.C. Mission: Dumbarton Concerts/Inner City-Inner Child presents programs that promote diversity, community, accessibility, and a love of music and learning throughout greater Washington, D.C. The Dumbarton Concerts music series showcases established and emerging artists for multigenerational and international audiences and creates a community for patrons and music lovers. Inner City-Inner Child improves academic achievement, and uplifts and inspires children ages 0 to 5 in D.C.’s most economically disadvantaged communities using the transformative power of the arts.

Before or after a performance, stroll through the nearby Dumbarton Oaks estate and park.

The library's internationally acclaimed resident chamber music ensemble, the Folger Consort, regularly presents Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque pieces performed on period instruments. The season runs from September to May. The library is closed for renovation until at least late fall 2023.