Cali Welcomes Gabriel Kahane as 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence

Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music Welcomes Gabriel Kahane as 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence

Acclaimed composer, singer-songwriter and storyteller launches residency with free public event September 2

MONTCLAIR, NJ — August 31, 2026 — The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University welcomes acclaimed composer, singer-songwriter, conductor and theater artist Gabriel Kahane as its 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence, beginning a year of creative exchange with students, faculty and the wider community.

Kahane will make his first public appearance of the residency on Wednesday, September 2 at 2 p.m. as part of the Cali Midweek Series in Leshowitz Recital Hall, Chapin Hall. “Meet Gabriel Kahane: Cali’s 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence” is free and open to the public, with reservations suggested.

Known for work that moves fluidly between the concert hall and contemporary songwriting, Kahane brings together music, storytelling and an interest in some of the most complex questions shaping American life today. His work has explored subjects ranging from economic inequality and homelessness to family, place and civic life, often crossing traditional boundaries between classical music, indie music and theater.

Over the past 15 years, Kahane has collaborated with artists including Paul Simon, Phoebe Bridgers, Sufjan Stevens, Caroline Shaw, Pekka Kuusisto and the Danish String Quartet.

His concert works have been performed by orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. They include emergency shelter intake form, an oratorio examining economic inequality and homelessness, and Heirloom, a piano concerto released by Nonesuch Records in 2025. Kahane has also conducted ensembles including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Oregon Symphony.

His work for the stage includes The Ambassador and February House, as well as the Broadway production of The Waverly Gallery. As a writer, his work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New Yorker and The New York Times. He received a Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2021.

A Year of Creative Exchange at Cali

The Cali School’s Artist-in-Residence program brings distinguished, forward-thinking artists to Montclair State for sustained engagement with the School of Music community.

Rather than a single performance or campus visit, the residency creates opportunities for students to work directly with a leading artist through performances, masterclasses, conversations, workshops and collaborative projects. The program reflects Cali’s emphasis on artistic excellence, experimentation and preparing students to build versatile and meaningful lives in music.

Throughout the 2026–27 academic year, Kahane will engage with Cali students and faculty in a variety of settings, offering students an inside look at the creative practices and professional experiences that have shaped his wide-ranging career.

His September 2 Cali Midweek appearance offers audiences the first opportunity to meet him and hear directly from the artist at the beginning of that yearlong relationship.

EVENT DETAILS

Cali Midweek Series: Meet Gabriel Kahane, Cali’s 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
2 p.m.
Leshowitz Recital Hall, Chapin Hall
John J. Cali School of Music
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ

Free and open to the public. Reservations suggested.

Learn more about Gabriel Kahane and the Cali School of Music Artist-in-Residence program:
https://inside.montclair.edu/colleges-schools-research/arts/john-j-cali-school-music/cali-special-programs/artist-residence

About the John J. Cali School of Music

The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University prepares the next generation of musicians, educators, therapists and creative leaders through rigorous study, performance and opportunities to work alongside distinguished professional artists. Through concerts, residencies, interdisciplinary collaborations and community engagement, the Cali School connects students with the evolving world of music while bringing exceptional artistic experiences to audiences throughout the region.