Jacqueline Schwab: Be The Light

Pianist Jacqueline Schwab, heard on Ken Burns’ Grammy-award winning Civil War, his new The American Revolution and many of his other PBS documentaries, is delighted to return to Cape Cod Covenant Church in Brewster, to perform her newest program Be The Light! on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Inspired by noted poet Amanda Gorman’s quintessential words, “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it,” Be the Light! celebrates music embracing hope, inner strength and change. Jacqueline’s program features traditional Celtic airs and dance tunes, vintage American music, spirituals, Ukrainian, Haitian, and Brazilian music and more—an oasis of quiet reflection, peace and joy in these challenging times. Jacqueline will share stories about how historical tunes can speak to us today and help create a ripple effect in the world.

Jacqueline spins emotive musical stories out of the many strands in the American quilt, with community music making at their heart. Her signature playing features in over a dozen of Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series, including his new The American Revolution, his Civil War, Baseball and many others, as well as in other PBS documentaries, such as The Irish in America—The Long Journey Home. She has performed at the White House for President Clinton and on national PBS with the American Pops Orchestra, and she has accompanied Scottish singer Jean Redpath on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion and on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman. She has been long known in the traditional dance world for her playing with the Bare Necessities ensemble. She has collaborated with DC’s Alliance for New Music-Theatre on a production featuring recently written Ukrainian plays. Her most recent solo album I Lift My Lamp—Illuminations from Immigrant America celebrates vintage music from American immigrants. She has lived on Cape Cod and currently lives in the Boston area. https://www.jacquelineschwab.com