Concerts

The American Folklife Center has organized sixty music and dance performances featuring recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship. National Heritage Fellows are the principal performers in most of these concerts—in others, they accompany fellow musicians and dancers. The links below provide access to these concerts, organized by the year when artists received the National Heritage Fellowship rather than the date of their performance.

Featured Concert

Musical performance of the Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware, 2014 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship, held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on August 23, 2012.

Concerts Featuring National Heritage Fellowship Recipients (1986–2005)

Ola Belle Reed
Performance celebrating the legacy of Ola Belle Reed, featuring Dave Reed, Hugh Campbell, and Danny Paisley and Southern Gras. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 9, 2015.

José Gutiérrez
Masters of Mexican Music concert, held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on April 1, 2004. The performance also featured fellow NEA National Heritage Fellows Natividad Cano and Domingo "Mingo" Salvidar.

Natividad Cano
Masters of Mexican Music concert, held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on April 1, 2004. The performance also featured fellow NEA National Heritage Fellows José Gutiérrez and Domingo "Mingo" Salvidar.
Kevin Locke
Concert performance by Kevin Locke, whose Lakota name is Tokeya Inajjin, in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on February 27, 2001. Sponsored by the American Folklife Center and the Music Division.

McIntosh County Shouters
Concert performance by the McIntosh County Shouters, held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on December 2, 2012. Part of the Homegrown Concert Series, organized by the American Folklife Center.

Clarence Fountain & the Blind Boys
Performance of gospel music and spirituals performed by the Blind Boys of Alabama at the Library of Congress on June 5, 2002. Part of the Homegrown Concert Series, organized by the American Folklife Center.
Liz Carroll
Concert and interview featuring Chicago-born Irish American fiddler Liz Carroll and John Doyle, held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 21, 2005. Co-sponsored by Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the American Folklife Center.

Phong Nguyen
Concert of Vietnamese traditional court dance and music, folk songs, poetry chants, bamboo music of the central highlands of Vietnam, featuring Phong Nguyen. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on August 18, 2004. Part of the Homegrown Concert Series, organized by the American Folklife Center.

Mick Moloney
Moloney participates in a concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection, coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.
Mary Louise Defender Wilson
Concert performance by Mary Louise Defender Wilson and Keith Bear of Sioux and Mandan Hidatsa storytelling and music from North Dakota. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on August 16, 2006.

Santiago Jiménez, Jr.
Concert performance by Santiago Jiménez, Jr., Tejano singer and accordion master, with his band. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on October 4, 2002. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins
Concert featuring piano player Pinetop Perkins performing classic Chicago blues. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on November 7, 2002. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Eddie Pennington
Concert by Eddie Pennington, thumbpicking-style guitarist, with Alonzo Pennington, Linda Lay, David Lay, and David McLaughlin of the Appalachian Trail band. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 24, 2002. Sponsored by Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Joe Wilson
Concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.
Joe Wilson
Concert to recognize Janette Carter's achievements as a performer and an organizer. Joe Wilson introduces the performers. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on September 20, 2005 as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Domingo "Mingo" Saldivar
Masters of Mexican Music concert, held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on April 1, 2004. The performance also featured fellow NEA National Heritage Fellows Natividad Cano and José Gutiérrez.
Domingo "Mingo" Saldivar
Concert by accordionist Mingo Saldivar and his band in performance featuring Tejano conjunto music. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 19, 2002. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Concert on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Archive of Folk Song at the Library of Congress. Edwards played blues and bottleneck guitar at the concert. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on November 16, 1978.
Flory Jagoda
Concert to celebrate and honor Flory Jagoda's internationally recognized career as singer, composer and teacher of Sephardic song. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 21, 2013.
Flory Jagoda
Flory Jagoda, with friends Susan Gaeta, Howard Bass, and Tina Chancey, performs traditional Sephardic music from the former Yugoslavia and other parts of the world. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on March 21, 2007, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Bob McQuillen
Concert featuring Bob McQuillen on piano and accordion, Deanna Stiles on flute and fiddle, Jane Orzechowski on fiddle, and Mary DesRosiers as dance caller, titled Contradancing from New Hampshire. Held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on October 8, 2002. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Anjani Ambegaokar
Dance performance of classical Kathak dance from northern India performed by Anjani Ambegaokar and her daughter Amrapali Ambegoaker. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 28, 2004. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Charles "Chuck" T. Campbell
Musical performance by the Campbell Brothers, featuring Katie Jackson. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on August 28, 2002. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Joe Derrane
Musical performance featuring Joe Derrane on accordion, with John McGann and Bridget Fitzgerald. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 23, 2003. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Jerry Douglas
Douglas participates in a concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.
Chum Ngek
Music and dance performance by the Cambodian-American Heritage Dancers and Chum Ngek Ensemble, presenting classical Khmer dance and music from the Cambodian court repertoire. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on May 25, 2017.

Chuck Brown
Musical performance by Chuck Brown and his band of go-go music. Held at Neptune Plaza in front of the Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, DC on July 24, 2002. Sponsored by he Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Janette Carter
Concert to recognize Janette Carter's achievements as a performer and an organizer. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on September 20, 2005 as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Michael Doucet
Performance by the BeauSoleil Quartet of Louisiana Cajun music. The quartet includes Michael Doucet on fiddle, accordion and vocals, David Doucet on guitar and vocals, Mitchell Reed on fiddle and bass, and Billy Ware on percussion. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on June 28, 2017. Sponsored by Music Division, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the American Folklife Center.
Jerry Grcevich
Performance of Croatian tamburitza music by Jerry Grcevich. Held in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on December 8, 2004. Sponsored by the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, and the American Folklife Center, part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Concerts Featuring National Heritage Fellowship Recipients (2006–2023)

Doyle Lawson
Musical performance by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver performing bluegrass and gospel music from Tennessee. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 13, 2006.

Agustin Lira
Musical performance entitled Cantos de mi canton (Songs from My Home): Chicano Music from California, featuring Agustin Lira and Alma & Quetza. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 14, 2011.

Sue Yeon Park
Musical performance titled Sounds of Korea: Traditional Music & Dance from New York, featuring Sue Yeon Park. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on July 23, 2014, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

The Birmingham Sunlights
Musical performance by The Birmingham Sunlights at the Library of Congress on December 7, 2005, part of the Homegrown Concert Series at the American Folklife Center.

Ledward Kaapana
Performance by Ledward Kaapana of Hawaiian music. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on July 5, 2017.

Sheila Kay Adams
Musical performance by Sheila Kay Adams at the Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 19, 2017. Part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Seamus Connolly
Performance by Irish step dancer Kevin Doyle featuring Seamus Connolly. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 18, 2014.

Kevin Doyle
Performance by Irish step dancer Kevin Doyle. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 18, 2014.
The Holmes Brothers
Musical performance by Sherman Holmes and Brooks Long, with blues harmonica player Phil Wiggins. Held at the Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 15, 2014.

Rahim AlHaj
Musical performance of Iraqi music by Rahim AlHaj (oud), featuring Sourena Sefati, Iranian santur, and Issa Malluf, percussion. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on July 28, 2016, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Michael Alpert
Musical performance by An-sky Yiddish Heritage Ensemble of klezmer & other Yiddish music from New York. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on June 26, 2013, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Daniel Sheehy
National Heritage Fellow Daniel Sheehy interviewing Roy and PJ Hirabayashi, also National Heritage Fellows, in the Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress on June 30, 2017.
Daniel Sheehy
National Heritage Fellow Daniel Sheehy introduces a musical performance by Gabriel Muñoz and Melodias Borinqueñas: Puerto Rican Folk Music from New Jersey. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on September 22, 2019.
Daniel Sheehy
National Heritage Fellow Daniel Sheehy moderating a musical performance and interview with Los Tesoros de San Antonio, also recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship in 2019. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 18, 2019.

Artemio Posadas
Performance of Mexican music and dance, featuring Artemio Posadas accompanied by Russell Rodriguez, Dolores Garcia and Mary Ann Zahorsky. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 28, 2016.
Artemio Posadas
Performance of son jarocho master musicians: César Castro, Artemio Posadas & Luis Sarimientos. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 11, 2014, part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Billy McComiskey
Musical performance of traditional Irish music by Billy McComiskey, joined by Myron Bretholz, Josh Dukes, Angela Fee, Catriona Fee, Mikey McComiskey and Patrick McComiskey. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on June 28, 2016, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.
Billy McComiskey
McComiskey participates in a concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.

Phil Wiggins
Wiggins participates in a concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.
Phil Wiggins
Musical performance by Sherman Holmes and Brooks Long, featuring Phil Wiggins. Held at the Whittall Pavilion at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on April 15, 2014.
Phil Wiggins
Musical performance of Washington D.C.-area folk musicians performing material taken from the Lomax Collection and other collections of the American Folklife Center. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 20, 2017.
Phil Wiggins
Musical performance by Phil Wiggins and Friends, an all-star blues and dance group including Phil Wiggins (harmonica), Rick Franklin (guitar and vocals) Marcus Moore (violin) and Junious Brickhouse (dance). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on August 6, 2014.

Barbara Lynn
Musical performance by Barbara Lynn & Friends performing Texas rhythm and blues. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on November 18, 2009.
Ethel Raim
Musical performance by An-sky Yiddish Heritage Ensemble of klezmer & other Yiddish music from New York. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on June 26, 2013, as part of the Homegrown Concert Series.

Dan Ansotegui
Musical performance by Amuma Says No of Traditional and Contemporary Basque Music from Idaho. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on July 14, 2010.
Balla Kouyate
Musical performance of Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington, DC on April 28, 2010.
Las Tesoros de San Antonio
A musical concert by Las Tesoros de San Antonio, a group of elder women performers who teamed up to preserve Mexican and bicultural musical expressions through their singing and storytelling. Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 18, 2019.

The Legendary Ingramettes: African American Gospel Music from Virginia
Musical performance by National Heritage Fellows The Legendary Ingramettes, held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on July 21, 2016.

Nick Spitzer
Spitzer participates in a concert performance titled Legends and Legacies Concert: A Celebration of Public Folklore, held to celebrate Joseph T. Wilson and the NCTA Collection coordinated and produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Held at the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC on September 10, 2009.

NEA National Heritage Fellowship Awardees: Resources at the American Folklife Center

Concerts

Featured Concert

Concerts Featuring National Heritage Fellowship Recipients (1986–2005)

Concerts Featuring National Heritage Fellowship Recipients (2006–2023)