Daniel Hope Creates a Musical Mosaic at The Barns

Oct 02, 2025

Acclaimed violinist Daniel Hope brings his extraordinary musical expertise to Wolf Trap this season as the new Artistic Advisor for Chamber Music at The Barns. With a career that includes more than 35 years of international performance experience and over 30 albums, Hope now turns his sights to organizing an exceptional lineup of concerts alongside Wolf Trap’s classical programming team.

“Wolf Trap has long been on my radar as one of America’s most cherished and forward-thinking cultural institutions. Over the years, I’ve admired its extraordinary ability to fuse nature and music, tradition and innovation. The invitation to become Artistic Advisor for the Chamber Music at The Barns series felt like a natural fit—an opportunity not only to contribute to a legacy but also to shape it.” –Daniel Hope

Exploring Musical Heritage

Hope has curated a multifaceted adventure at The Barns featuring prominent composers and artists that span borders, instrumentation, and eras. According to Hope, “Whether it’s a hidden gem from the 20^th century or a beloved piece of music, the goal is always the same: to move people.”

This season features an ongoing partnership with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The Boccherini & Beethoven program unites Baroque, Classical, and Romantic works while Quintet Revelations: Arensky, Viotti, Saint-Saëns explores compositions by Russian masters, French Romantic greats, and more. Hope’s programming also reflects a wide range of cultural influences shaped by his birth in South Africa, upbringing in the United Kingdom, and Irish and Jewish German heritage.

He elaborates, “From my great grandfather’s recollections of Ireland to my maternal grandparent’s world shaped by exile and resistance, to my own experiences touring the globe, I carry those influences with me wherever I go. At The Barns, I’m keen to explore programs that reflect that multicultural lens. Music has this uncanny ability to transcend boundaries, and I believe our programming should echo that.” 

Nowhere is that more apparent than with programs like Imani Winds who bridge music from the Mississippi Delta, Cuba, and Turkey, and The Aznavoorian Sisters who explore their Armenian heritage through the cello and piano.

Embracing an Intimate Setting

Having already proven himself in programming for sizeable venues and classical events, Hope believes the almost sacred space of The Barns provides a special opportunity for chamber music. 

“Unlike larger concert halls, you can hear the [musician’s] breath before the bow and the silence between the notes,” he says. “It encourages musicians to speak more personally and audiences to listen more deeply.”

On March 8, Hope will experience this unique atmosphere first-hand. In his Barns debut, he appears alongside his close friends cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, who completed her tenure as Chamber Music at The Barns’ Artistic Advisor last season.

“Sharing the stage with them at The Barns feels both symbolic and deeply personal,” says Hope. “It’s a moment of continuity and renewal—a way to honor their remarkable legacy while embarking on a new chapter together. And honestly, I’m just excited to make music with two people I admire so greatly, in a space that values intimacy and sincerity.”

Shaping Chamber Music’s Future

For the upcoming seasons, Hope looks forward to using his programming as a form of storytelling. As the musicians’ instruments converse onstage, they also convey the tales of time-honored and unexpected works across cultures, allowing audiences to discover new favorites and return for more.

Hope concludes, “Chamber music, for all its elegance and tradition, is one of the most radical forms of expression we have. It thrives on dialogue, difference, and shared purpose. In a world that often feels divided, spaces like The Barns—and the music we make within them—remind us of our common humanity.”

“That’s the spirit I hope to bring to this role, and I couldn’t be more honored to begin this journey at Wolf Trap.”

Deborah F. and David A. Winston, 2025–2026 
Chamber Music at The Barns Series Sponsors