Gustav Mahler, who died on May 18, 1911 (#mahlerday)

In 2004, Catherine Andrews and Mike Grass agreed to let me write about classical music for DCist, their recently launched blog on all things Washington, D.C. That was back when you still had to explain what a blog was after you announced that you were writing for one. It was a long shot that anyone who read a blog would want to read about classical music, but reviews and this weekly concert agenda found an audience. The opportunity to write in this forum has led to more and more work for me in other publications, which sadly means that this installment of the agenda, along with a review which will be published this afternoon, will be my final contribution to DCist. Thanks to all of you who have read so faithfully over the years, and thanks to all of the editors who have allowed the experiment to continue through so many administrative changes.

Anyone who may be interested in taking up the classical music beat for DCist is encouraged to contact Editor-in-Chief Aaron Morrissey.

THE PICKS:
>> Tonight (May 18, 7:30 p.m.) soprano Sarah Coburn gives a free recital at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. A reservation is required, and the auditorium is already full, but you can contact reservations@nmwa.org or call 202-783-7370 to inquire about last-minute availability.

>> Conductor Thomas Dausgaard and virtuoso pianist Nikolai Lugansky join the National Symphony Orchestra this week (May 19 to 21), in a program of music by Sibelius, Beethoven and Nielsen.

>> Guitarist Aaron Grad remembers his father, who played the clavichord, in a program of music by Bach as well as his own new work, The Father Book, on Thursday (May 19, 7:30 p.m.) at the Strathmore Mansion.

>> Violinist Gilles Apap plays both Bach and country fiddle tunes in a concert the same night (May 19, 7:30 p.m.) at La Maison Française.

>> Go support the struggling musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra when they come to town on tour this Friday (May 20, 8 p.m.) for a concert with conductor Charles Dutoit and violinist Gil Shaham, presented by WPAS in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

>> The same evening (May 20, 8 p.m.), the pioneering contemporary music ensemble known as eighth blackbird plays a free concert at the Library of Congress.

>> Choral Arts Society of Washington will give the world premiere of a new piece by Finnish composer Olli Kortekangas on Sunday (May 22, 5 p.m.) in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

>> Also on Sunday (May 22, 6 p.m.), Washington Concert Opera gives a concert performance of Massenet’s Werther, starring tenor Giuseppe Filianoti and soprano Jennifer Larmore, at Lisner Auditorium.

>> For a free concert on Sunday (May 22, 6:30 p.m.), the National Gallery of Art will present a concert of music by Mahler, who died one hundred years ago today, performed by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

>> The Embassy Series and the Embassy of the Czech Republic present a program of music by Dvořák, Spohr and Janáček next Friday (May 27, 7:30 p.m.), with soprano Rosa Lamoreaux, clarinetist Richard Spece and pianist Elizabeth Hill.

>> The Friday Morning Music Club hosts the Washington International Piano Competition next Saturday (May 28, 2 p.m.), a free event in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

>> Next Saturday (May 28, 8 p.m.), the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs music by Mahler, Sibelius and Walton at the Music Center at Strathmore, with guest conductor Carlos Kalmar and violinist Karen Gomyo.

>> Celebrate Memorial Day next Sunday (May 29, 2 p.m.) with the National Memorial Day Choral Festival, a free event in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

>> The same day (May 29, 4 p.m.), mezzo-soprano Kyrsty Swann will perform at the Phillips Collection.

>> As always, get the complete concert calendar at Ionarts.