While preparing this list, we realized we missed so many amazing NYC music events in 2024! Nevertheless, here is the best of what we’ve seen and want to remember. As always, with no intention of ranking, in reverse chronological order. (Although with a definite preference for 1, 9, and 23.)

_{^{Photo by Bogdan Grytsiv}}

1. “Suppose Beautiful Madeline Harvey,” a Richard Foreman play by Object Collection (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, December 13-22) 
2. David Lang’s poor hymnal (Lincoln Center, December 21) [Here is David Lang’s thought-provoking interpretation of the work’s genre.]
3. El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered (The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, December 19)
4. TRIO with special guests: Ikue Mori, Ingrid Laubrock, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Lotte Anker (The Stone, December 13) [As well as all other Lotte Anker’s appearances throughout the year. Her thoughts on improvisation are certainly worth a read.]
5. Remembering Gheorghe Costinescu (Rutgers Presbyterian Church, December 7)
6. The New Virtuoso: Borders (Carnegie Hall, October 30)
7. The music of Victoria Polevá (Faust Harrison Pianos, October 29)
8. 40th Anniversary of John Zorn’s Cobra (Roulette, October 11)
9. Indra’s Net by Meredith Monk (Park Avenue Armory, October 1-6)
10. The TIME: SPANS festival, especially its beginning, middle, and end. (DiMenna Center, August 10-24) [See one of the best shows reviewed here.]
11. Natural Studies by thingNY (The Brick, August 15-17)
12. Michael Foster / John Blum / Brandon Lopez / Joey Sullivan Quartet (Prospect Series, June 7) 
13. Sally Gates, Zoh Amba, Brian Chase (Sisters, August 12) [As well as all other Zoh Amba’s appearances throughout the year. Here is an inspiring interview with her by the Roulette Tapes.]
14. John Zorn: New Masada Quartet (Roulette, May 24)
15. Weston Olencki + TAK Ensemble (Roulette, May 21)
16. Foreign Experiences: An Opera by Robert Ashley (Roulette, May 9 – 11)
17. Ensemble Connect Up Close: Electronic Etudes (Carnegie Hall, May 6)
18. LONG PLAY FESTIVAL, especially the preview show Claire Chase & JACK Quartet Density 2036, Part XI: Terry Riley (Various venues, May 2-5)
19. Magda Mayas: Chant (Roulette, April 29)
20. Hiromichi Sakamoto / Kato Hideki & Zeena Parkins (Brooklyn Music School, February 2)
21. Improv Nights 2024: A Tribute to Derek Bailey (Roulette, January 25 -27)
22. Shelley Hirsch: “And So It Was and Was and WaAAass” (Roulette, January 23)
23. Chornobyldorf: Archeological Opera In Seven Novels (La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, January 11-21) [Here is our podcast episode about Chornobyldorf and all major operas by the composers Roman Grygoriv and Illia Razumeiko.]
24. Annual New Year’s Day Poetry Marathon, in particular, the performances by Claire Chase, and Ka Baird with Shelley Hirsch. (St. Mark’s Church, January 1)

^{Photo by Opera Aperta}