National Chamber Orchestra presents
An Evening of Music & Giving,
Sunday, September 27th, 2026
What to Expect
Violinist Joshua Brown has been praised by audiences and critics worldwide for his “richness of sound, elegance of reading…commitment of every moment at the service of the work…” (La Libre). Joshua was awarded a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and gained international attention after winning the 2nd Prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. As the recipient of a 2025 Louis and Susan Meisel Prize, Joshua is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild and Young Classical Artists Trust.
Joshua was first recognized for his debut performance with the Cleveland Orchestra and has gone on to perform regularly with orchestras around the world, including the Munich Radio Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege. Additionally, Joshua is a 2027-30 Bowers Program Artist at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and regularly appears in recitals and chamber music festivals. Recent and forthcoming performances include concerto debuts with the San Diego and North Carolina Symphonies, as well as recital appearances at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Merkin Hall.
Joshua studied under Donald Weilerstein as part of the New England Conservatory’s Institute for Concert Artists. Before his time at NEC, Joshua studied with Almita and Roland Vamos at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Pianist Yejin Lee is a soloist, chamber musician, vocal collaborator, and educator based in the Washington, D.C. area. Her performances have been praised for their “coloristic and poetic expressions” and “compelling and thrilling rhythmic senses.” She has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Dr. Lee made her New York City solo recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, where she was presented as an invited artist of the Velia International Music Festival. She has appeared as a featured soloist with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Chamber Orchestra, and Accord Symphony Orchestra, and is a top prizewinner of numerous national and international piano competitions, including the Dallas, Kingsville, Wideman, Oberlin International, and Korean Chopin Piano Competitions. Her performances have also been broadcast live on WCLV and presented at leading venues including Seoul Arts Center. Her artistic journey has taken her to distinguished festivals and academies including the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Piano Texas International Academy & Festival, and Banff Music Festival, where she worked with renowned artists including Richard Goode, Dmitry Bashkirov, Stephen Hough, John O’Conor, John Perry, and Karl-Heinz Kämmerling.
Yejin continues to perform as a soloist, chamber musician, and vocal collaborator throughout the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, while remaining deeply engaged in teaching, artistic collaboration, and creating meaningful musical experiences within her community.
Ronald Art Walton III is a highly sought-after musician in the vibrant Washington DC metropolitan area. As a versatile artist, he excels in various roles including composer, arranger, organist, pianist, and conductor. Ronald's captivating compositions have been performed both in the United States and abroad, showcasing his exceptional talent and creative range across different genres of music, including opera, choral, orchestral, organ, and chamber music.
The National Chamber Orchestra represents an exceptional convergence of elite artistry, drawing from the most accomplished professional musicians across the Washington Metropolitan Area, the nation, and the international stage. This dynamic ensemble features principal players and section leaders from the area's most prestigious orchestras while continuously welcoming distinguished soloists and performers from around the globe.
Program:
Mozart - Violin Sonata in A Major, K 526
Debussy - Violin Sonata No. 35 in D minor, CD 148
Ysaÿe - Violin Sonata Op. 27, No. 3, “Ballade”
Joshua Brown will be playing on a historic Jacob Stainer violin circa. 1670. This instrument was given to WA Mozart around 1787 by Prince Lobkowicz for his success of The Marriage of Figaro, and actually premiered several of his violin sonatas including K526 which will be heard at this recital. It was later owned by the concertmaster of the court orchestra of Lobkowicz, by a violinist named Wranitsky.
Joshua Brown will also be playing on the “Lord Newlands” Stradavarius via long-term loan from the Sasakawa Music Foundation in Japan. The violin takes its name from Lord Newlands (1825-1906), formerly William Hozier, 1st Baron Newlands. Gand & Bernadel bought the violin in 1876 from a French amateur player by the name of Wittering, before selling it to instrument dealer David Lawrie in 1877. Lawrie brought the instrument to Scotland and sold it to amateur player William Croall, who kept it until around 1884. Following this, Lord Newlands acquired the violin and kept it until his death. The violin passed through the possession of Robert E Brandt, W.E. Hill & Sons and an anonymous owner throughout the 20th century, until it was acquired by Nippon Music Foundation in 2002.
We would love to welcome you to our Evening of Music &Giving fundraiser Sunday, September 27th, 2026 in Potomac, MD to support our mission. This event will feature internationally acclaimed violinist Joshua Brown, refreshment, and our silent & live auction. If you have any questions or would like more information about donating or the event itself, please reach out to Caleb Bates at: administration@ncomusic.org.
❋ Would you like to contribute to our auction?By contributing an item , service, or experience for auction, you would be aiding us in raising funds to support our upcoming season. For business owners, to show our support we would be happy to recognize your business on our promotional materials for this event.
Founded in 2022 by Conductor Julien Benichou and Clarinetist YaoGuang Zhai, the National Chamber Orchestra (NCO) brings together the greatest instrumentalists of the Capital area. Offering an intimate, immersive experience that invites audiences into direct dialogue with performers, NCO embraces this intimacy as both an artistic philosophy and a community building mission. These personal settings, shaped by musicians of diverse geographic and artistic backgrounds become a living conversation, where different musical traditions and interpretive approaches interact in real time. This amplifies chamber music’s inherently collaborative spirit, transforming each performance into a shared cultural exchange.