A Typical Season

Founded by a visionary woman and operated in partnership with the National Park Service, Wolf Trap is not beholden to a large corporate entity that defines concert selection. When choosing artists, Wolf Trap’s only mandate is quality and diversity.

That includes both legends and chart-toppers in every genre—pop, rock, classical, jazz, blues, opera, dance, and world music.

A snapshot of the artists Wolf Trap presents

Chart Toppers
Wolf Trap’s calendar features new artists each year —whether they’re new to Wolf Trap or new to the Billboard charts.

Pop phenom Demi Lovato, Grammy winner Marc Anthony, rockers OneRepublic, Zooey Deschanel’s duo She and Him, and Swedish sensation Robyn are just a few recent performers.

Legendary Fan Favorites
Each year, when your Filene Center calendar comes in the mail, or you grab a schedule in the Starbucks check-out line, you trust that you’ll see your favorite artists.

They return for the same reason you do. Because the Wolf Trap experience is one of a kind—great artists sharing an evening outdoors with great fans.

Frequent visitors include Lyle Lovett, Ringo Starr, Gipsy Kings, Harry Connick, Jr., Emmylou Harris, and Elvis Costello.

Classical and Jazz Greats
The very first Filene Center performance in 1971 included world-renowned pianist Van Cliburn. A roster of artists since that time includes a who’s who of classical and jazz greats.

Just a few performers who’ve appeared over the years: Boston Pops, Yo-Yo Ma, Placido Domingo, Emanuel Ax, Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti, and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis.

Multicultural Mix
As the National Park for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap has always been committed to presenting artists as diverse as audiences both here in the nation’s capital and visiting from across the country.

Just a few performers from across the globe: Grammy Award winner Juanes from Colombia, Ireland’s Celtic Woman, Nigerian legend Bombino, and Hawaiian Music Hall of Famers The Brothers Cazimero.

Opera
Wolf Trap Opera is one of the nation’s premier residency programs for young singers. Alumni can be found in top opera houses across the US and Europe.

Each summer, residents appear in lead roles from opera’s traditional and contemporary repertoires—performing both outdoors at the Filene Center and inside the intimate Barns at Wolf Trap.

“Wolf Trap’s Filene Young Artist residency is the most coveted summer program into which any aspiring opera singer can be accepted.”

—Internationally-recognized bass-baritone Eric Owens (Artist in Residence 2014)

National Symphony Orchestra
Wolf Trap is the summer home to the National Symphony Orchestra. Sometimes they play classics like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Other times, they shake things up a bit.

Imagine Looney Tunes classics projected on giant screens backed by the NSO recreating the original score live. Or Disney’s Pixar films in concert.

Original Works
Wolf Trap has commissioned original works in the areas of opera, dance, jazz, chamber music, and what can only be called “national-park inspired arts.”

Our approach is to find the finest artists, pay them fairly, provide them with artistic freedom, and present their work in the unique settings Wolf Trap is known for.

Explore Wolf Trap’s original works

Opera
Dance
Face of America™
Chamber Music
Jazz

A snapshot of the artists Wolf Trap presents

Chart Toppers Wolf Trap’s calendar features new artists each year —whether they’re new to Wolf Trap or new to the Billboard charts.

Legendary Fan Favorites Each year, when your Filene Center calendar comes in the mail, or you grab a schedule in the Starbucks check-out line, you trust that you’ll see your favorite artists.

Classical and Jazz Greats The very first Filene Center performance in 1971 included world-renowned pianist Van Cliburn. A roster of artists since that time includes a who’s who of classical and jazz greats.

Multicultural Mix As the National Park for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap has always been committed to presenting artists as diverse as audiences both here in the nation’s capital and visiting from across the country.

Opera Wolf Trap Opera is one of the nation’s premier residency programs for young singers. Alumni can be found in top opera houses across the US and Europe.

National Symphony Orchestra Wolf Trap is the summer home to the National Symphony Orchestra. Sometimes they play classics like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Other times, they shake things up a bit.

Original Works Wolf Trap has commissioned original works in the areas of opera, dance, jazz, chamber music, and what can only be called “national-park inspired arts.”