The Department of Performing Arts’ spirit of collaboration manifests in numerous interdisciplinary projects every year, professional partnerships in music and theater, and collaborations across faculty and students.
PostClassical Ensemble
The PostClassical Ensemble (PCE), a Washington, DC-based chamber orchestra, is proudly designated as the ensemble-in-residence at Georgetown University. Under the leadership of Music Director and Georgetown faculty member Angel Gil-Ordóñez, PCE comprises some of the region’s finest musicians and is celebrated for its creative programming that integrates classical music with historical and cultural narratives.
Georgetown music students benefit from PCE’s presence through orchestral and chamber coaching, masterclasses, workshops with visiting artists and composers, and educational outreach in DC-area schools. Students also gain real-world experience through administrative fellowships in education, production, development, and marketing. PCE’s frequent performances, including at Georgetown’s Friday Music Concert Series and the Kennedy Center, offer direct access to professional orchestral practices.
The 2025–2026 season includes three multimedia performances at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, each curated in collaboration with leading scholars and cultural partners:
- The Pale Blue Dot: A Musical Voyage Inspired by Nature (Nov. 19, 2025)
- Berlin in Lights: Cabaret, Jazz, and Radical Theater in Weimar Germany (Mar. 11, 2026)
- Orpheus: The Magic of the Arts (May 20, 2026)
These performances explore themes ranging from ecological crisis to the cultural ferment of 1920s Berlin and the enduring myth of Orpheus. Learn more and purchase tickets.
The Pale Blue Dot: A Musical Voyage Inspired by Nature
A number of free tickets are available to students. Register for free tickets here.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 7:30pm
Terrace Theater | 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC
Presented without intermission
Enric Sala & Kristin Rechberger, guest curators
The Children’s Chorus of Washington
PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez
PROGRAM
Claude Debussy: La mer (arranged for 15 players by Joolz Gale)
Howard Shore: Excerpts from The Lord of the Rings
Virgil Thomson: Music for the New Deal documentaries, The River and The Plow That Broke the Plains
Edvard Grieg: Morning Mood from Peer Gynt
Léo Delibes: Flower Duet (“Sous le dôme épais”) from Lakmé
Post-Concert Discussion
Music Policy Forum
The Music Policy Forum (MPF), founded by Georgetown alumnus Michael Bracy (CAS ’90), is a dynamic non-profit leadership network that promotes collaboration among musicians, music businesses, government officials, non-profits, researchers, and philanthropists to develop strong, equitable, and sustainable music ecosystems through innovative policies and models. Since its inception in 2017, MPF has been closely connected with Georgetown University, providing rich opportunities for public conferences and convenings, especially the Music Industry Seminar. This seminar is a cornerstone of MPF’s educational initiatives at Georgetown, offering students and faculty deep insights into the music industry through direct access to a vast network of leaders.
Additionally, MPF co-sponsors the annual Music Ecosystem Forum at Georgetown University, a major event that gathers diverse stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing music ecosystems. This forum facilitates dialogue on critical issues such as equity, sustainability, and the future of musical labor, combining academic research with practical industry insights. Through these initiatives, including the Music Industry Seminar and the Music Ecosystem Forum, Georgetown’s Department of Music and MPF collaborate to integrate scholarly perspectives with real-world practices, enriching the educational landscape and contributing to the ongoing discourse in music policy.