On April 17th and 18th, the NCO hosted our 2026 Reading Session in beautiful Chicago, Illinois!

This year’s Reading Session brought together musicians from across the country to explore the repertoire programmed for the National Contemporary Orchestra’s debut concert cycle—music that reflects both who we are and where we are headed as an orchestra. Over two inspiring days of rehearsals, collaboration, and artistic discovery, the session proved to be a tremendous success, showcasing the exceptional artistry of the musicians, the strength of the repertoire, and the NCO’s commitment to giving voice to today’s composers and tomorrow’s masterworks.

A recorded live broadcast of the final rehearsal is now available, offering viewers a rare opportunity to experience the orchestra at work and witness the creative process behind the music. LIKE and FOLLOW the National Contemporary Orchestra on all of our social media channels, where we’ll be giving away exclusive VIP access codes to view the recording.

map

Click on the titles below each composer to learn about the piece through our Repertoire Review video series

Michael Schelle

And Then They Just Disappeared Into the Night (2016)

Swashbuckler (1984)

Miho Sasaki

Sacrosanct (2016)

David Sartor

Black Ball Counts Double (2003)

Aaron Krerowicz

It’s Just a Scale (2006)

John Adams

Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)

Igor Stravinsky

U.S. National Anthem (1941)