As Bethel Woods celebrates its 20th Anniversary, the Event Gallery Concert Series expands to include new artistic experiences that bring audiences closer to the music in intimate and meaningful ways. Presented in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center, the 2026 Jazz Series features four thoughtfully curated performances showcasing a diverse lineup of world-class musicians. This cabaret-style series transforms the Event Gallery into a sophisticated jazz club setting, where artistry, atmosphere, and connection come together. Guests will gather at reserved tables and enjoy a cocktail-forward dining experience inspired by the iconic jazz rooms of New York City — offering a more personal way to experience live music and connect with the spirit of jazz.

For over three decades, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center has brought the art form of jazz from the heart of New York City to over 446 cities in more than 40 countries. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents touring initiative provides an affordable opportunity to present great jazz programming, featuring up-and-coming musicians who have been identified as rising stars by JALC. The initiative also allows for expansion of the mission of JALC “to entertain, enrich, and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education, and advocacy.

About Julian Lee: Julian Lee is quickly establishing himself as one of the most sought-after and versatile saxophonists of his generation. He is the recipient of the 2017 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award from Jazz At Lincoln Center and has performed both internationally and nationally with a wide array of critically acclaimed artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Herlin Riley, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and Jon Batiste.

Julian hosted the late-night jam session at Dizzy’s Club in Jazz at Lincoln Center from 2015 until 2019, playing with countless of the finest musicians on the New York scene. In addition to headlining his own projects at Dizzy’s, he has played at the Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Le Duc Des Lombards, Newport Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival.

Julian is a regular section member with the JLCO (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), having played over 80 shows with the band since 2015. Julian has performed with the Christian McBride Big Band, Mingus Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. Julian is also a member of Isaiah J. Thompson’s quartet, which appeared on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series.

Julian comes from a family of musicians; his parents, siblings, grandparents, and cousins are all professional musicians. Julian completed his undergraduate studies at the Juilliard School, where he had the honor of studying with master saxophonists Joe Temperley, Ron Blake, and Ted Nash. You can hear Julian on his debut release, Clementine.

About Mar Vilaseca: Vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Mar Vilaseca was born in 1998 in Barcelona, Spain. Classically trained in piano and traditional harmony at the Conservatori del Liceu, at the age of 14, she began singing professionally in her father’s band, marking the beginning of her career in jazz and contemporary music.

After moving to New York City to pursue her Master of Music in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School, studying with Wynton Marsalis, Carla Cook, and Elio Villafranca, among others, she expanded her expertise across performance, education, music business, arranging, and production. She graduated in 2022 and was awarded the Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship Award.

In 2026, Mar was awarded First Prize at the 7th UNISA International Jazz Voice Competition in South Africa, one of the most prestigious international competitions for jazz vocalists. This recognition further established her as one of the most compelling emerging voices of her generation.

About Caelan Cardello: The New Jersey native is a graduate of William Paterson University and The Juilliard School (masters). He was invited by Jazz at Lincoln Center to be the Music Director for their Centennial Celebration of Sarah Vaughan, which featured Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cyrille Aimee, Jazzmeia Horn, Lucia, Tyreek McDole, and more. He leads his own trio and is a first-call sidemen for tours around the world.

“When he [Cardello] plays the piano, it is an extension of his soul, and he has the rare gift of being able to emotionally connect with his fellow musicians and with the audience.” -Bill Charlap

“Caelan Cardello is a one-in-a-million talent. He is gifted as a composer and player.” -Vincent Herring

About Russell Hall: Whether it's a swanky, sophisticated jazz club or a boozy, bombastic rock joint, one thing is for certain: Russell Hall is bringing the party with him wherever he goes. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Miami, Florida, Russell has been playing and recording music since the tender age of 13. He furthered his study of music at the most prestigious conservatory in the world, The Juilliard School, under the tutelage of Ben Wolfe, Ron Carter, and Wynton Marsalis. He is currently a preeminent bassist in New York City, where his session and freelance work has allowed him to work in virtually every facet of the New York music scene. Stay tuned for his upcoming album COLORZ on April 3, 2026, on Ring Road Records with his dynamic Pirate Rock Band, Bessie and the Rainbowkids.

About Matthew Lee: Matthew Lee is a jazz drummer from Montclair, New Jersey, who graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School. He spent much of his younger life around the New Jersey jazz scene, learning from greats such as Bruce Williams, Billy Drummond, Billy Hart, Christian McBride, Alvester Garnett, among others. Matt’s father, Mike Lee, who is a gigging tenor saxophonist in New York, helped greatly to expose him to a lot of music at a young age. He currently resides in New York City, where he plays regularly throughout various venues with some of the scene’s best young musicians, most frequently in Russell Hall’s Quintet.