David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg: Keepers of the Flame — Live in Concert

Saturday, February 21, 2026
7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)

One Longfellow Square, Portland

$30 advance • $40 at the door

What happens when world-renowned artists spend an intensive week making music with an intergenerational ensemble of Maine musicians — and then everyone takes the stage together?

Join us for Keepers of the Flame, a vibrant culminating concert featuring Grammy-nominated clarinetist David Krakauer, internationally acclaimed pianist/composer/producer Kathleen Tagg, and the extraordinary group of musicians (from high schoolers to seniors) who have spent the week learning, experimenting, and creating alongside them.

During the Keepers of the Flame music camp, participants dive into klezmer, jazz, classical, and global traditions, exploring improvisation, rhythm, collaborative composition, and what it means to carry cultural memory forward through music. This concert is the joyful, high-energy finale to that journey.

Expect:

• • Intergenerational ensembles performing newly created and reimagined works
  • Dynamic collaborations between Krakauer, Tagg, and the camp musicians
  • A musical experience that moves from intimate storytelling to full-throttle celebration

This is more than a performance — it’s a communal act of creativity, culture, and connection. Witness how tradition transforms when passed from one generation to the next, and how music keeps the flame alive.

Come cheer them on. Come be inspired. Come be part of the story.

Meet Our Guest Artists

David Krakauer

Grammy-nominated Clarinetist • Composer • Innovator

David Krakauer is one of today’s most celebrated clarinetists, known for his genre-defying work in klezmer, jazz, classical, and avant-garde music. Born in Manhattan, he has built an international reputation as both a powerful solo voice and a fearless musical explorer. Krakauer helped revitalize klezmer music — rooted in Eastern European Jewish tradition —  by infusing it with new energy, improvisation, and contemporary expression.

Krakauer has performed with leading ensembles, collaborated across musical worlds, and premiered works that stretch the boundaries of his instrument. Krakauer’s performance career includes collaborations with the Kronos Quartet, his own innovative ensembles like Klezmer Madness!, and numerous world tours. As a sought-after educator and mentor, he brings deep musical insight and exuberant performance energy to Keepers of the Flame.

Kathleen Tagg

Pianist • Composer • Producer • Sonic Innovator

Kathleen Tagg is a South African-born pianist, composer, and producer whose artistic vision spans classical, improvised, and experimental music. Based in New York, she has performed on four continents and collaborated with a wide range of leading artists and ensembles. Tagg’s work reimagines the piano through extended techniques, electronics, live looping, and creative sound exploration.

Equally at home in concert halls and unconventional spaces, Tagg draws audiences into rich musical dialogues that blur genre boundaries. She co-directs Table Pounding Music with David Krakauer, a platform for shared creative projects, and the duo’s collaborations — including film scores and large ensemble works — highlight her adventurous spirit and deep commitment to artistic connection.

Registration information coming soon — stay tuned!

This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Davis Family Foundation

Thank you to our sponsors