NSO Young People's Concert Reach For the Moon: Celebrating the Moon Mission and Beyond
Tuesday, May 26 12 p.m. ET
Honoring President John F. Kennedy’s Birthday
Including Historic JFK Speeches, Tribute Performances, and a Previously Unavailable Spectacular 1962 Full Concert for the National Cultural Center.
Promo
An American Pageant of the Arts
FULL BROADCAST NOW STREAMING
with President Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Yo-Yo Ma, Marian Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, & more
Promo
Video Releases
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JFK's Famous Speech to Congress on Space Exploration (1961)
Wednesday, May 27 at 12 p.m. ET
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JFK's Iconic Speech on Arts and Politics (1962)
Thursday, May 28 at 12 p.m. ET
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National Symphony Orchestra Bernstein's "Fanfare for the Inauguration of JFK"
Thursday, May 28 at 3 p.m. ET
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Couch Concert The Army Chorus presents: We Remember
Friday, May 29 at 4 p.m. ET
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Millennium Stage Serenade! Choral Festival: A JFK 100 Celebration
Friday, May 29 at 12 p.m ET
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Full Broadcast An American Pageant of the Arts with JFK, Yo-Yo Ma, Bernstein, more
Friday, May 29 at 6 p.m. ET
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AGT Finalist David Garibaldi Speed Paints JFK
Saturday, May 30 at 12 p.m. ET
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National Symphony Orchestra Ireland: Epic March
Sunday, May 31 at 12 p.m. ET
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Please Consider a Donation
Be a part of President Kennedy’s birthday celebration by making a gift today! Your donation will help the Kennedy Center continue to fulfill our namesake's mission to ensure that world-class arts and arts education are accessible to as many people as possible—both in person and online. Thank you for helping to keep the arts alive and strong!
About the Pageant
On Friday, the 29th, President Kennedy’s birthday, a previously unreleased concert from a 1962 fundraiser for the National Cultural Center, which was to become the Kennedy Center, will be released in full.
One of the first examples of a broadcast from three different locations across the country, it features President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy, with the president giving his iconic speech about the importance of the arts. Former president Dwight D. Eisenhower—the originator of the Center— speaks of his inspiration to create an “artistic Mecca” — an American center of culture. Performances by world-class artists of the time include Master of Ceremonies Leonard Bernstein, Marian Anderson, Harry Belafonte, Danny Kaye, Van Cliburn, a seven-year-old Yo-Yo Ma, Andre Previn, and many others across music, dance, and theater.
Photos from the Event
Courtesy of the John. F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
View of the National Guard Armory auditorium during a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. Washington, D.C.
Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy prepares to deliver remarks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Left to right: chairman of the dinner committee for the National Cultural Center, Suzanne Gardner; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Mrs. Kennedy; and President John F. Kennedy. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
Entertainer, Danny Kaye, conducts the National Symphony Orchestra during a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
Guests attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Seated (L-R): two unidentified persons; Secretary of Agriculture, Orville L. Freeman; opera singer Dorothy Kirsten; and Secretary of the Interior, Stewart L. Udall. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
