07/07/2026
On Friday, July 24, award-winning jazz pianist Justin Kauflin joins six talented emerging disabled musicians in a showcase performance for the 2026 Access/VSA International Young Musicians Program. This concert at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium commemorates Disability Pride Month and the signing anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This event is FREE to attend. Advance RSVPs are appreciated and can be made at the link at the bottom of this post.
A protégé of Clark Terry and collaborator of Quincy Jones, Kauflin blends post-bop and gospel influences in his playing. He has been featured in publications including the New York Times, DownBeat, The New Yorker and the LA Times. After losing his sight at age 11, he channeled that turning point into a life of extraordinary music, mentorship and advocacy. A 2012 alumnus of the Access/VSA program, Kauflin embodies the promise of young musicians with disabilities.
Over its four-decade history, the Access/VSA International Young Musicians has equipped young disabled musicians with the tools for career development in the music industry. This year’s cohort includes musicians spanning the genres of classical, rock, R&B and more. This concert is presented by the Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA program in cooperation with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and the Music Division of the Library of Congress. The IYM program is funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240164.
Co-presented with The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Learn more at www.loc.gov.
