The purpose behind the CommUNITY Showcase is to foster solidarity between artists of all disciplines, ages, and backgrounds; to provide a space for joy, rage, laughter, and inspiration for performer and audience alike.
“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” – Leonard Bernstein
“This is the only real concern of the artist, to recreate out of the disorder of life, that order which is art.” – James Baldwin
WHAT
An event to platform DMV artists of all walks of life to share their work with each other and with the DMV community at large.
WHEN
Saturday, April 19th, at 3:00pm. The soundcheck for performers is between 1:00pm-2:30pm the same day. Sound check is strongly encouraged for all acts, and required for dancers and anyone bringing in amplification/electronic materials. We do not have an on site tech crew but our staff is happy to help where we can.
WHERE
The “Bach” Room at Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD 20812
An intimate, blackbox-style space connected to the Spanish Ballroom. The Bach Room is not a theatre, not a concert hall, not a gallery, but a blank canvas suitable for a wide range of artistic expression. In the past, the Bach Room has been used for events such as recitals, parties, and orchestra rehearsals. For more info email Operations@washingtonconservatory.org
HOW
Apply via our Jotform, wait for a confirmation email, and show up on the 19th ready to share!
KEEP READING FOR TIMELINE, GUIDELINES, AND Q&A
2025 CommUNITY Showcase Timeline
March 24th – Application opens
April 13th – Deadline for Applications
April 14th – Showcase setlist/visual artist list goes out to all performers
April 19 – CommUNITY Showcase!
1:00-2:30PM – Artist check-in* starts, Soundcheck/Safety check**
2:30PM – House doors open
2:45PM – End of artist check-in
3:00PM – Top of show!
≈5:00PM – End of CommUNITY Showcase
*All artists must check in between 1:00pm-2:45pm, no exceptions.
**Soundchecks/safety checks are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are required for dancers and any acts using speakers/amplification equipment.
Please carefully read the following guidelines for the 2025 WCM CommUNITY Showcase. These guidelines are established in alignment with its organization’s values of commitment, harmony and solidarity. Washington Conservatory of Music is a nonprofit, accredited community music school serving children, teens, and adults in the D.C. metro area and has not previously produced an interdisciplinary event on the scale of the CommUNITY Showcase. Check the Q&A on the next page, and please email Operations@washingtonconservatory.org should you have any unanswered questions.
CommUNITY Showcase ARTIST GUIDELINES
THE WASHINGTON CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC DOES NOT TOLERATE HATE SPEECH, AND WILL NOT BOOK ANY ACTS DEEMED AS SUCH BY ITS MODERATORS.
- While this is not specifically a children’s event, children are likely to be present as both performers and audience members, Therefore, Artists are asked to keep it mostly family friendly Moderators reserve the right to request the censorship of excessive profanity and of overtly violent and/or sexual content (See Q&A).
- All artists must stay for the entire duration of the CommUNITY Showcase
- Live Performance Artists:
- In general, we ask that acts be 2-8 minutes in duration (see Q&A)
- The Bach Room is spacious, but not so large that most musical/spoken word acts would require amplification. Artists desiring amplification must bring their own equipment and must attend the soundcheck.
- For safety, all dance acts must come to the sound check to test the space
- Visual Artists:
- We cannot permit the sale of works during this event, but we can permit (and encourage!) the presence of business cards and other promotional materials. Sales outside of the Bach Room after the Showcase are none of our business 😉
- Visual Artists must arrive on 4/19 at 2:30pm at the latest to set up their own stations.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I have never showcased my work before, can I be in the CommUNITY Showcase?
Of course! The showcase is open to all levels of experience.
How many people can perform at once?
We strongly encourage group acts to sign up! Numbers will change case by case depending on the act, for acts over 5 people check with Operations@washingtonconservatory.org.
Will there be a piano?
Yes. The Bach Room has a beautiful, regularly tuned Steinway D piano that will be onstage for the whole duration of the showcase. We do not have an on-site pianist, acts must bring their own if they require one.
Will there be a tech crew present for lighting and sound?
No. but there will be WCM staff and volunteers on site to help with set-up, sound checks, ect.
Do I need my own amplification equipment?
YES. Though it is unlikely that you will need it in the space, we strongly recommend keeping acts as acoustic and stripped-down as possible. The staff is happy to coordinate in special circumstances.
My act has a backing track, how would that work?
We are currently working on getting a speaker on site with an aux cord for such acts. A staff member or volunteer will be present to hit play.
I want to perform a monologue/spoken word act that is shorter than 1 minute, is that okay?
Yes! To fill up time please introduce yourself and give a little bit of context/background information on your work.
My act is longer than 10 minutes, is that okay?
Maybe! It depends how much longer the act is and why. That is an excellent topic to discuss with our moderators.
I’m worried my art may be deemed too controversial, what do I do?
All you can do is apply and see! Your application is not automatically your final draft. Art is subjective, and we understand that what is “too much” to one person may not be to another. The moderators are artists themselves, and are happy to work with acts to find a middle ground. Small changes in wording and program notes can go a long way. We’ll be flexible with you, please be flexible with us.
THANK YOU
We at WCM are so excited to take on this project with you; in times like these, it is essential to remember that our unity is our strength. To our future acts: We thank you for your courage, your willingness to share, and your commitment to artist solidarity.
For questions/comments/concerns, emailOperations@washingtonconservatory.org