Inside Strathmore’s Windows Series
Where Music Meets Culture, Conversation, and Community
Strathmore is once again turning its stage into a gateway for cultural exploration and community dialogue. The 2025–26 Windows Series season promises a vibrant lineup of nine immersive pre-concert events, each designed to deepen the audience’s experience by connecting music with the stories, traditions, and voices that shape it.
From the rhythms of the Cuban son to the resilience of LGBTQ+ communities, this year’s Windows Series is a celebration of diversity—not just in sound, but in spirit.
“These artists open up more questions than answers,” says Lauren Campbell, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement at Strathmore. “They complicate our sense of who we are as Americans and music fans, face the darker elements of our history, and amplify voices that don't get as much airtime in mainstream culture.”
A Season of Stories and Sound
Paired with a mainstage Music Center performance, each Windows Series event is free for ticketholders. Highlights include:
- Maita’i Polynesian Arts Market (Oct 12): A lively marketplace featuring local Polynesian artists and vendors, held before Disney’s MOANA Live-to-Film Concert.
- Voices from the American Railroad (Oct 13): A film screening and discussion on Indigenous narratives and labor history, tied to Silkroad Ensemble’s American Railroad project.
- Rails, Rhythms, and Revolution (Oct 25): A deep dive into the Transcontinental Railroad’s artistic legacy, hosted at Eaton House in DC.
- Rhythms and Stories (Oct 30): Chitra Subramanian explores the fusion of Indian classical dance and hip-hop before Compagnie Hervé KOUBI’s performance.
- Creating Community in Times of Change (Feb 25): A powerful dialogue on LGBTQ+ joy and belonging, featuring a drag performance ahead of RENT in Concert.
- South Asian Arts Showcase (March 19): A celebration of South Asian music, fashion, and visual art before the Ravi Shankar Ensemble.
- The Sound of Innovation (March 21): A tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s centennial, with insights from jazz luminaries.
- Eliades Ochoa and the Cuban Traditional Son (April 19): A musical journey through the evolution of Cuban son, led by master musicians.
More Than Music
Since its launch in 2017, the Windows Series has become a cornerstone of Strathmore’s community engagement, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of Montgomery County and beyond. It’s not just about performance—it’s about perspective.
“I hope audiences who buy tickets to these Music Center performances will join us for the Windows events to really deepen their experience,” says Campbell.
Whether you're drawn to global rhythms, historical narratives, or contemporary conversations, the Windows Series invites you to look beyond the stage and into the heart of the stories that shape our world.
For full event details and ticketing, visit strathmore.org/windows.