DAS
About the Distinguished Artists Series
31st Season!
Launched with the opening of Alumni Hall in 1991, the USNA Distinguished Artist Series has presented the world’s finest classical and cultural performers to the Academy with an eclectic mix of Opera, Ballet, Orchestra, and diverse national ensembles as part of a comprehensive program developed by the Naval Academy’s Senior Leadership to enrich the education of midshipmen through exposure and involvement with fine arts.
Over the past 30 years, we have hosted 130 world-class performances to include the National Ensemble of Republic of Guinea, Bamberg Symphony, Danish National Radio Symphony, Bolshoi Symphony, Kirov Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Central Ballet of China, Moscow Virtuosi, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Georgian State Dance Company, London City Opera, Ballet de L’Opera de Bordeaux, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Ballet, Venice Baroque Orchestra, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Krasnoyarsk Dance Company of Siberia, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Ballet, Royal Drummers of Burundi, Hamburg Symphony, Ballet Folklórico de México, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Band of Coldstream Guards, Warsaw Philharmonic, Dublin Philharmonic, Orquestra de Sao Paulo, Virsky Ukrainian Dancers, Merchants of Bollywood, Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, German State Philharmonic, and the National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China, Branford Marsalis, and PENTATONIX to name only a few.
The existence of this flagship cultural program at the Naval Academy has long symbolized an institutional commitment to the educational role of the fine arts and the importance of cultural awareness – and we are thrilled to present our best season yet!
DELFEAYO MARSALIS QUINTET
Friday, October 14, 2022
7:00 PM, Mahan Hall
USNA is honored to welcome special guest artist: The DELFEAYO MARSALIS Quintet. As an acclaimed trombonist, composer, and producer, Delfeayo Marsalis has also dedicated his prolific career to music theatre and education. Along with the Marsalis family of musicians including his father Ellis, the artist was destined to a life in music.
Marsalis has toured internationally with jazz legends such as Ray Charles, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Slide Hampton, as well as leading his own groups.
At the age of 17, Marsalis began his career as a producer and has to date produced over 120 recordings garnering one Grammy award and several nominations.
Don't miss this special performance of world-class jazz!
49th Annual Spring Oratorio
Friday, April 21, 2023
7:00 PM, Alumni Hall
Orff - Carmina Burana
A sublime evening of profound music!
In 1936, Carl Orff set to music a series of poems from an anonymous 13th century manuscript that describes the exuberant and earthy celebration fate and fortune. Filled with humor and passion, Carmina Burana is one of the twentieth century’s most exciting and popular large-scale works for soloists, chorus, and symphony orchestra. This program continues a long tradition of great performances combining the professional artistry of the Annapolis Symphony with the Naval Academy’s own nationally acclaimed Glee Club.
Performed by the critically acclaimed USNA Glee Club and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Don't miss this one!
