NEW YORk, NY.- Musical performances return to The Museum of Modern Art’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden this summer, offering a diverse selection of live music in July and August.

The Museum’s free Summergarden series returns to the Sculpture Garden for four Sunday evenings beginning July 5, 2009. Summergarden, a tradition that began in 1971, is part of MoMA’s long history of presenting jazz and new music concerts in an outdoor setting. MoMA once again welcomes the participation of The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center, whose collaboration makes possible Summergarden’s continuing programs of musical premieres.

This year, Summergarden will present concerts by musicians from the Juilliard School on July 5 and 19, and by groups selected by Jazz at Lincoln Center on July 12 and 26. Among the jazz performers will be the Si o Si Quartet, led by Cuban-born drummer and composer, Dafnis Prieto, who has established himself on the Latin and jazz scene since coming to New York in 1999. Juilliard concerts, under the artistic direction of Joel Sachs, will comprise one program for string quartet and another for mixed ensemble, and will feature works by an impressive roster of composers from around the world.

For MoMA Thursday Nights, the Museum will remain open until 8:45 p.m. on Thursdays in July and August, giving visitors an extended opportunity to see MoMA's renowned collection and special exhibitions. This year, MoMA Thursday Nights will present Brazilian and Chinese music groups in the Sculpture Garden, with performances presented in two sets (at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.).

In July, MoMA Thursday Nights will present Brazilian ensembles in conjunction with MoMA's Premiere Brazil ‘09 film exhibition. The music series will feature rhythms ranging from samba to bossa nova to forró and beyond. Performances will be given by acclaimed and influential artists from Brazil’s vibrant music scene.

In August, Chinese musicians will perform as a tie-in with the Museum’s exhibition Projects 90: Song Dong, a large-scale installation in The Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium by contemporary Chinese artist Song Dong. Among the performers will be the virtuosic pipa player, Min Xiao-Fen, who will appear with her Blue Pipa Trio to perform her compositions and arrangements inspired by Chinese folk music, American jazz standards and Bluegrass.

The full concert program will be available in mid-May.