Obscure Sound — Peter Xifaras and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra bring a fresh orchestral dimension to Suite Lady Greensleeves, reimagining the centuries-old “Greensleeves” melody through themes of unrequited love. Xifaras’ award-winning work spans comp... more info

Stereogum — Since more info

Stereogum — In February 2025, Ben Folds resigned his position as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra in response to Donald Trump taking over the Kennedy Center. It only got worse from there; by the end of the year, it was announced that the histo... more info

Stereogum — Before the news that the Kennedy Center was being renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, there was already a slew of protests after Donald Trump appointed himself Kennedy Center chairman, including Ben Folds resigning as National Symphony Orchestra's Arti... more info

Stereogum — Earlier this year, Donald Trump appointed himself head of the Kennedy Center, the Washington, DC institution that hands out the Kennedy Center Honors every year. As a result, Ben Folds stepped down from his position as the National Symphony Orches... more info

Stereogum — Up until this February, alt-pop veteran Ben Folds was an artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra. When Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center, Folds resigned his post, writing, “Not for me.” Fair enough! It’s not like Folds wa... more info

Stereogum — As Donald Trump and Elon Musk run rampant over Washington, a lot of people have been fired or resigned. That number now includes Ben Folds. The piano man had been serving as the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, but per The Hol... more info

Obscure Sound — Dystopian World is a classical music EP that explores the poignant reality of George Orwell’s novel 1984. Led by the vision of composer, guitarist, and producer Peter Xifaras, the release was recorded in Prague by the Czech National Symphony Orches... more info

Stereogum — As one third of boygenius, Julien Baker had an absolutely colossal year in 2023. Earlier this year, just before winning a handful of Grammys, boygenius announced plans to go away for a while, presumably so that all three members could return to th... more info

Stereogum — In 2017, Ben Folds became Artistic Advisor of the National Symphony Orchestra and has been presenting Declassified concerts that merge classical and contemporary music since then. On Friday, the event took place at the Kennedy Center with Julien B... more info