MoMA'S Summergarden Live Music Series Set for Sunday Nights this July

The Museum of Modern Art's Summergarden: New Music for New York free concert series returns to The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden for four Sunday evenings beginning July 7, 2013. Summergarden, a tradition since 1971, is part of MoMA's long history of presenting contemporary classical music and jazz. MoMA once again welcomes the collaboration of its programming partners, The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Members of The New Juilliard Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Joel Sachs, perform on July 7 and 21, offering two distinctive programs of contemporary compositions, all of which are receiving their New York premieres. Jazz at Lincoln Center has selected two up-and-coming jazz groups whose concerts on July 14 (Melissa Aldana Quartet) and July 28 (Aaron Diehl Trio) emphasize original works, each with one New York premiere.

Gate opens at 7:00 p.m.; concerts begin at 8:00 p.m.

The Museum of Modern Art established Summergarden in 1971. In keeping with MoMA's history of presenting jazz and classical music in the Sculpture Garden, this year's concert series once again welcomes the participation of The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Entitled New Music for New York, the series comprises four evenings of adventurous contemporary music, with premieres each night. Juilliard concerts are performed by members of The New Juilliard Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Joel Sachs, who has assembled two distinctive programs of recent compositions, all of which are enjoying their New York premieres. Jazz at Lincoln Center has selected two up-and-coming jazz ensembles whose concerts emphasize original works, each with one world premiere.

Summergarden is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.The Sculpture Garden may close if attendance reaches maximum capacity. Entrance to Summergarden is through the Sculpture Garden gate on West 54 Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The Sculpture Garden opens at 7:00 p.m., and concerts start at 8:00 p.m. and run approximately one hour to 90 minutes. The Sculpture Garden closes at 10:00 p.m. In the event of rain, concerts will be held in The Agnes Gund Garden Lobby, and the Museum's 54 Street entrance will open at 7:30 p.m. The exhibition galleries are closed during Summergarden. The Garden Bar sells gelato and seasonal sorbetto from Il Laboratorio del Gelato, with sweet and savory treats from Cafe 2. Prosecco, New York State wines, American craft beer, specialty coffees, and bottled water are also available for purchase. In the event of rain, refreshments are not available.