Alexandria’s QuinTango Expands Global Reach with European Tour

By Lisa-Helene Lawson

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The final notes of Piazzolla’s tango faded into silence before the audience in Vilnius, Lithuania, rose to its feet in thunderous applause. For QuinTango, the Alexandria-based quintet, the ovation was a reminder of how music, with its emotional resonance, can cross borders and speak directly to the heart.

QuinTango, founded in 1998 and led by violinist and artistic director Joan Singer, has dedicated over 27 years to bringing Argentina’s iconic musical export to audiences around the globe. The quintet consists of Regino Madrid (violin), Joan Singer (violin), Ali Cook (bass, vocals, composer), Hai Jin (piano), and Emmanuel Trifilio (bandoneón, composer). Through the interplay of violin, cello, bass, piano, and bandoneón, the ensemble has developed a reputation for transforming tango into a vivid and personal experience, capturing the energy of Buenos Aires’ dance halls and bringing it to concert venues.

This summer, QuinTango embarked on a European tour that included performances in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Vilnius, Lithuania. Singer described the tour as a profound cultural exchange, enriching both the musicians and the diverse audiences they encountered. The group also included Yiddish melodies in their program in Vilnius.  “In Rotterdam, we looked out and saw people from so many different cultures all leaning in, breathing with us,” Singer said. “By the end, they were on their feet. That’s when you realize tango speaks a language everyone understands.”

Although the quintet has performed at venues ranging from the Kennedy Center to festivals in Costa Rica, Mexico, and France, QuinTango remains deeply connected to its Alexandria home base. The group rehearses locally, collaborates with area musicians, and brings tango to community stages, striking a balance between its international presence and local engagement.

QuinTango also emphasizes education, offering workshops, masterclasses, and school programs that introduce young audiences to tango’s storytelling and emotional depth.

“You never know when a piece of music is going to open a door for someone,” Singer said. “In Lithuania, young musicians came up after our concert and told us they had never heard tango live before. To watch their eyes light up—that’s why we do this.”

Audiences often describe QuinTango concerts as experiences that blend narrative, history, and rhythm. For Singer, this response underscores tango’s universal appeal.

“When we perform, we’re not just sharing music; we’re telling a story,” she said. “Tango expresses love, longing, and resilience, and those emotions resonate with everyone.”

As QuinTango prepares for its next season, its mission remains the same: connecting audiences across cultures, ethnicities, and even political differences through the universal language of music.

QuinTango will perform on Tuesday, September 23, at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., Sasha Mikhlin will be playing for Regino Madrid.

By Lisa-Helene Lawson