Free Pop-Up Concerts at Miller Theatre in Morningside Heights, NYC: Steven Beck on Dec. 1

Miller Theatre at Columbia University is in the 15th season of its Pop-Up Concerts, a free series that runs monthly. Each one is an hour long and takes place early in the evening, which makes it easy to fit in after work or class.

The format is part of the appeal. The audience sits onstage with the musicians, so you hear the music up close. When the performance ends, there's a free drink and time to mingle with other attendees.

The next installment is Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 6 PM, with pianist Steven Beck. Miller bills itself as a leading presenter of new music in New York City, and its season pairs these free evenings with ticketed concerts. Two days later, on December 3 at 7:30 PM, the early-music ensemble The Tallis Scholars performs "Hail Mary."

The theater is at 2960 Broadway in Morningside Heights, on the Columbia campus. Admission to the Pop-Up Concerts is free. For a low-stakes introduction to contemporary or classical music, it's a good way to try one hour without a ticket.

The theater's mailing list carries announcements about upcoming Pop-Up Concerts, and the box office can be reached at 212-854-7799.