This winter and early 2025, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is set to host an array of captivating events that celebrate the vibrancy of music, theater, and dance. From the enchanting 'Lord of the Rings Symphony' conducted by Johan de Meij, to the festive HolidayFest with selections from Handel's Messiah, the center offers something for every artistic palate. Join us as world-class performers, creative forces, and budding talents take the stage, promising unforgettable experiences and cultural enrichments for audiences of all ages.

A Cultural Symphony: Celebrating Artistic Excellence at Forbes Center

Forbes Center for the Performing Arts invites you to a captivating series of events featuring world-renowned artists and emerging talents. From the enchanting sounds of Sarunas Jankauskas' clarinet to the powerful storytelling of Leslie McCurdy as Harriet Tubman, and the innovative genre-mixing of Time for Three, this lineup promises a rich tapestry of cultural and artistic exploration. Whether you're a classical music aficionado or curious about contemporary performances, these events offer something for everyone, making it an exciting time to immerse yourself in the arts.

Experience the Arts: A Diverse Lineup at Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

February 2025 at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts promises a vibrant celebration of artistic talent. From the harmonic elegance of the Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra to the riveting storytelling of Leslie McCurdy in 'The Spirit of Harriet Tubman,' the month is packed with enriching experiences. Dance, opera, harpsichord, viola, and innovative ensembles like Time for Three round out a program that captures diverse cultural expressions. Whether you're drawn to classical melodies, historical narratives, or contemporary performances, the Forbes Center offers something for everyone.

A Diverse Tapestry of Art: Forbes Center Events in February 2025

From theatrical spectacles to symphonic sounds, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts offers a rich tapestry of events that cater to diverse artistic tastes. Kicking off with the whimsical 'Big Fish,' audiences will be treated to a variety of performances including the JMU Symphonic Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and captivating recitals by acclaimed musicians. With something for everyone, this series promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, theatre, and culture. Dive in to explore what makes these events unmissable.

A Cultural Feast: The Forbes Center's Line-Up of Artistic Excellence

The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts presents a remarkable lineup of events that celebrate the diversity and creativity of artistic expression. From ballet and band performances to thought-provoking theater and chamber music, this series promises to captivate audiences with a rich tapestry of cultural offerings. Highlighting renowned artists and unique performances, these events invite attendees to experience the power of storytelling, music, and dance in ways that resonate deeply with the human spirit.

A Celebration of Arts at Forbes Center: Dance, Music, and Theater Extravaganza

This spring, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is hosting an exciting array of events that promise to engage and inspire audiences. From the harmonious melodies of the JMU Concert Band and the JMU Brass Band to the thought-provoking performances in 'The Antipodes,' and the timeless opera 'Idomeneo,' there is something for everyone. Join us for a memorable season featuring an impressive lineup of talent, including the renowned Miró Quartet, and witness the fresh creativity of the New Voices in Dance 2024. Don't miss out on these enriching cultural experiences.

A Kaleidoscope of Performances: Spring 2025 at Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

From jazz to classical, JMU's Forbes Center for the Performing Arts brings a week of eclectic musical performances to Harrisonburg, Virginia. With a lineup featuring the JMU Jazz Ensemble, the Madison Singers, and acclaimed cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf, audiences can anticipate a rich tapestry of sounds and stories. These events highlight the talent and diversity within the JMU music community and provide a platform for both established and emerging artists to shine.

A Week of Musical Mastery: JMU's Diverse Ensemble Performances at Forbes Center

The JMU Wind Symphony, under the direction of Christopher Cicconi, is the premier woodwind, brass and percussion ensemble at JMU. The Wind Symphony is committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition.

JMU Wind Symphony

Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

This concert features performances by the JMU Treble Chamber Choir, University Chorus: Tenor/Bass Ensemble (UCTB), and the University Chorus: Soprano/Alto Ensemble (UCSA). The JMU Treble Chamber Choir and the UCTB are under the direction of Dr. W. Bryce Hayes. The UCSA is under the direction of Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy.

JMU Treble Chamber Choir and University Choruses

The JMU Guitar Ensemble performances include guitar music from Renaissance to 20th century, in group settings, as well as duos, trios, and quartets. The Guitar Ensemble is under the direction of Adam Larrabee.

JMU Guitar Ensemble

The Madison Singers is the advanced, auditioned choral chamber ensemble at JMU. Maintaining an active performance schedule both on- and off-campus, they have shared the stage with renowned jazz artist Bobby McFerrin, modernist string quartet ETHEL, Native American flutist Robert Mirabal, American storytelling icon Garrison Keillor, and Irish ensembles Danú and the Five Irish Tenors. A featured choir on the 2015 Josh Groban Concert Tour in Washington, D.C., The Madison Singers have also sung in master classes with noted choral ensembles, including Tenebrae, Chanticleer and The King’s Singers. The Madison Singers tour locally, regionally and internationally, including competing in the 2009 National Eisteddfod Choral Competition and appearing frequently at the Charleston Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Regionally,  they are active “audible ambassadors” for JMU, performing in the Staunton Music Festival and in local schools and assisted living facilities. The Madison Singers recently performed at the Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, Virginia which they consider one of their most meaningful concerts.

JMU Madison Singers and Chorale

Acclaimed cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf has established a stellar career in New York City as a solo, chamber, Broadway, and recording artist. In Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway Dorman-Phaneuf mesmerizes audiences with her heavenly musical prowess and exquisite arrangements for cello and piano, coupled with captivating and funny stories about her life as a Broadway musician! Since 2003, she has held chairs in 20 Broadway shows including Sunday in the Park with George, Parade, and A Little Night Music. Her debut solo album, Music of Broadway for Cello and Piano, was released in 2021 and garnered rave reviews. “Her tone is a direct hit to the soul. She is simply the best!” (Birdland Jazz Club) Following her sold-out debut at Birdland Jazz Club (2019), she continues to present headlining shows featuring many of Broadway’s greatest stars.

Cello Stories

The JMU Symphonic Band is under the direction of Christopher Cicconi; The JMU Concert Band is the band program's largest non-auditioned concert ensemble, under the direction of Amy Birdsong.  

JMU Symphonic Band and Concert Band

The JMU Jazz Band was founded in 1971 and membership is determined by audition each semester. JMU jazz groups have performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Terrace Theater, Montreux International Jazz and Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and VMEA annual convention. The JMU Jazz Band is under the direction of Greg Thomas.

JMU Jazz Band

The JMU Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1971 and membership in each is determined by audition each semester. JMU jazz groups have performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Terrace Theater, Montreux International Jazz and Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and VMEA annual convention.

JMU Jazz Ensemble

The JMU Percussion Ensemble, directed by Casey Cangelosi, consists of nearly 30 students and has performed throughout the East Coast, including concerts at the Virginia Music Educators Association Convention and Virginia Days of Percussion. They were selected to perform a feature concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Philadelphia. Most recently, the ensemble created two podcast videos featured on the VicFirth website, and toured Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

JMU Percussion Ensemble

This exciting concert features talented young dancers and choreographers from JMU’s Dance Program.

Spring Student Dance Concert

Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre

Recently crowned the 2024 North American Brass Association Championship Section winning band, the JMU Brass Band is one of the most successful collegiate brass bands in the world today. Formed by Professor Kevin Stees in the Fall of 2000, the band was named the North American Brass Band Association 1st Section Champion in 2004 and 2005, and was the 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2019, and 2022 NABBA Championship Section Runner-up.

The group maintains an active schedule, performing regularly throughout the academic year and has been a featured ensemble at numerous festivals and conferences around the globe.

JMU Brass Band

The JMU Chamber Orchestra brings students from across campus together to perform classic works composed for smaller orchestras. Kira Omelchenko directs the orchestra in conjunction with graduate students in conducting

JMU Chamber Orchestra

The literary canon explodes as the Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) once again unleashes a comic outrage on an unsuspecting public. The Bad Boys of Abridgment take audiences on a roller-coaster ride through a compact compendium of the world’s great books in All the Great Books (abridged). It’s a blast of bibliography! Confused by Confucius? Thoroughly thrown by Thoreau? Wish Swift was swifter? Tennyson tinier? Then buckle up as three cultural guerrillas zip through everything you didn’t get around to reading in school. Called a “trio of Modern Marx Brothers” (Boston Herald) RSC is London’s longest-running comedy troupe, and has charmed audiences at the White House, Lincoln Center, Off-Broadway, the Kennedy Center, and Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival. RSC shows contain some occasional bawdy language and mild innuendo, so they rate their shows PG- 13: Pretty Good If You’re Thirteen.

Reduced Shakespeare Company

​​New Voices in Dance will feature JMU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble, which is comprised of sophomore to senior JMU dance majors. This concert will highlight original choreography by five JMU dance majors and an inspiring piece choreographed by Doug Varone, who has been creating incredible works for over 30 years. This concert also includes student performances in guest artist and faculty works. Please come and share a wonderful evening of dance with us! 

New Voices in Dance 2024

Miró Quartet is one of America’s most celebrated chamber groups, captivating audiences around the world. Widely acclaimed for its thoughtful expressivity and imaginative interpretations as well as its “explosive vigor” and “technical finesse,” (The New York Times) the quartet has performed for 29 years on the world’s most prestigious concert stages, earning accolades from critics and audiences alike. The Miró takes pride in finding new ways to communicate with audiences of all backgrounds while cultivating the longstanding tradition of chamber music and their “approach…is consistently animated and imaginative.” (Gramophone) This concert includes selections from Hayden’s Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2, Mozart’s Quartet in C major, K. 465, Schubert’s Quartet in D minor, D. 810, No. 14 “Death and the Maiden,” Beethoven’s Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2 and more! 

Miró Quartet

The JMU Wind Symphony, under the direction of Christopher Cicconi, is the premier woodwind, brass and percussion ensemble at JMU. The Wind Symphony is committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition.

Since 2007, the ensemble has hosted on-campus residencies with composers including David Maslanka, John Mackey, Michael Daugherty, Joel Puckett, Steven Bryant, Donald Grantham and JMU alumnus Brian Balmages. The ensemble has also presented consortium premieres of Maslanka’s Symphony No. 8, Puckett’s The Shadows of Sirius, Grantham’s Tuba Concerto, Plog’s Concerto 2010 and Balmages’ Portraits in Bluestone. As part of JMU’s annual Contemporary Music Festival, students have had the opportunity to work with composers such as Karel Husa, Joseph Schwanter, Don Freund, Donald Erb, John Harbison, Francis McBeth, Mark Camphouse and Samuel Adler.

JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band

On his way home at last from the Trojan War, the King of Crete, Idomeneo, is shipwrecked at sea. In desperation, he promises to sacrifice the first creature he finds if he safely survives the storm. However, in a twist worthy of the greatest Greek tragedies, it is his son, Idamante, he first encounters along the beach. As conflicts swirl around Idomeneo and Idamante and the Trojan princess, Ilia, and Greek princess, Elektra, each character struggles with how to move on from crisis and war. Written in 1781 when Mozart was only 25, this 90-min distillation of his first operatic masterpiece brings the myth of Idomeneo to life, forcing us to confront timeless themes in our contemporary moment. Filled with stunning arias, choruses, and ensembles, this classical opera is a powerful reminder of why we continue to sing ancient songs. Sung in Italian with English Surtitles.

Idomeneo

Annie Baker is a Pulitzer Prize-winner and one of America’s most provocative playwrights. Her 2019 play, The Antipodes, delivers a surreal writer’s room, a #MeToo premonition, and a many-layered meditation on storytelling. Part satire, part sacred rite, Baker’s play asks what value stories have for a world in crisis. “The Antipodes leaves you glowing with a wondering satisfaction…Ms. Baker has established herself as one of the freshest voices in American theater.” (The New York Times) Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance. Contains sexual content and adult language. Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

The Antipodes

Recently crowned the 2024 North American Brass Association Championship Section winning band, the JMU Brass Band is one of the most successful collegiate brass bands in the world today. Formed by Professor Kevin Stees in the Fall of 2000, the band was named the North American Brass Band Association 1st Section Champion in 2004 and 2005, and was the 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2019, and 2022 NABBA Championship Section Runner-up.

The JMU Concert Band is the band program's largest non-auditioned concert ensemble under the direction of Amy Birdsong.

JMU Concert Band

Don’t miss this amazing evening of dance from Houston Ballet II, the second company of Houston Ballet, America’s fifth largest ballet company. Comprised of a stellar array of young dancers from around the world, this magical evening will feature The Sleeping Beauty Act III (1890), staging by Ben Stevenson after Marius Petipa with music by Tchaikovsky, the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote, Act III, and A Dance in the Garden of Mirth, with choreography by Stanton Welch, the acclaimed Artistic Director of Houston Ballet. This is an evening of exquisite ballet you will not soon forget.


Houston Ballet II

Jason Haney was chosen as a National Merit Scholar in 1988. His latest CD, Resonant Edges, was recently released by  Capstone Records. (It is also available from Amazon.) His music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Scotia Festival, Music2000 in Cincinnati, the Composers Inc. concert series in San Francisco, Richmond’s ChamberFest,  the Staunton Music Festival, and elsewhere throughout the US, as well as in Canada, Europe and Hong Kong, and by groups such as the New Millennium Ensemble, the Chester Quartet, the Sunrise Quartet, Colloquy, and the Indiana University New Music Ensemble. He has won awards and honors from ASCAP, the National Association of Composers USA, the Music Teachers’ National Association, the Washington International Competition, top honors in the University of Oregon's international Waging Peace Through Singing competition and a Dean's Prize from the Indiana University School of Music. He has earned residencies at the MacDowell Colony, the Ragdale Foundation and the Deer Valley Institute. His Symphony No. 1 was premiered in January, 2008, by the orchestra of Freiberg, Germany.

Jason Haney, composition

Andrew Willis, piano

As a pianist, Masa Ishikawa has performed at various concerts in Italy, China, and Japan. In 2023, Masa released his 2nd original piano trio album titled First Note as well as the 3rd original sextet album titled Montage. He premiered Suite for the Forgotten (jazz orchestra with strings) in 2015. The music is dedicated to people in Fukushima under the uncertain health impact of the radiation exposure from the nuclear power plants meltdown in 2011.


Masa Ishikawa, jazz piano and David Pope, saxophone

The JMU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kira Omelchenko, is the premier symphonic ensemble for the School of Music at James Madison University. The Symphony presents a number of concerts on- and off-campus each year, and has performed regularly as the invited college ensemble for the Virginia Music Educators Association. The ensemble presents a series of Youth Concerts for students from Harrisonburg/Rockingham and surrounding counties. The Symphony is the only college orchestra nationwide selected to participate in the Carnegie Hall (N.Y.) “LinkUp” concerts for young students.

JMU Symphony Orchestra

Inspired by true events, The Vanishing Elephant, an incredible story of resilience and friendship, comes to life through large-scale puppetry, illusion, and magic. Jenny, a young elephant in India, is full of curiosity and wonder. Sadly, one day, her life changes when she is captured, separated from her family, and eventually taken to America to join a circus. She must learn the ways of humans who can be cruel, but she befriends a young boy named Opu. Her special bond with Opu is the first step on an adventure so huge, it spans decades and continents, but despite the time and distance, Jenny never forgets her forever friend. Years later when Opu is an old man, their paths cross once again in an unexpected encounter with the world-famous magician Harry Houdini in New York City. Their life-long friendship is rekindled in a magical way when Jenny makes history as The Vanishing Elephant. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Contains moments of human mistreatment of animal puppets that can prompt further discussion.

The Vanishing Elephant

Dr. Paulo Steinberg  has performed as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist across the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe, including prestigious music venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. He often serves as an adjudicator in competitions, and offers master classes, lectures, workshops, and performances in the U.S. and abroad. His summer projects often include teaching at the Saarburg Chamber Music Summer Festival in Germany and traveling around Europe, Brazil and/or Canada. His research interests focus on piano technique and Brazilian music.  As part of his sabbatical leave, Paulo is planning to live in Latvia for 2-3 months in the spring of 2024 to study and perform Latvian piano solo and chamber music.  

Paulo Steinberg, piano with Dita Krenberga, flute

The JMU Chamber Orchestra brings students from across campus together to perform classic works composed for smaller orchestras. Kira Omelchenko directs the orchestra in conjunction with graduate students in conducting.

New Orleans Songbook brings the spirit and joy of Mardi Gras and the soul of New Orleans to this amazing evening, celebrating the composers and inspired songs of the Crescent City, the historic epicenter of jazz. From Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to Ellis Marsalis and James Black, New Orleans has long been an apex of innovation and inspiration. Led by today’s hottest rising stars in jazz music including acclaimed pianist, Luther S. Allison and extraordinary vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs, New Orleans Songbook immerses audiences in the captivating and timeless spirit of this vibrant city. For over three decades under the direction of Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center has been a leading advocate for jazz, culture, and arts education globally bringing jazz to over 446 cities in more than 40 countries. Catch the jazz vibe in this one-night-only musical extravaganza!

Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents

The JMU Symphonic Band is under the direction of Christopher Cicconi.

JMU Symphonic Band

Carl Donakowski was a prize winner in the 1989 Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin. His recital performances have aired on WQRS Detroit, WQXR New York and Sudwestfunk Radio Baden-Baden. As a member of the West End Chamber Ensemble, he participated in the National Endowment for the Arts/Chamber Music America Rural Residency Chamber Music Initiative. His major teachers were Timothy Eddy, Janos Starker, Gary Hoffman and Christoph Henkel.

Carl Donakowski, cello

Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest…and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him—most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart and humor, Big Fish is an extraordinary musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre—for an experience that’s richer, funnier, and bigger than life itself. Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance. Presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. www.theatricalrights.com

Big Fish

The JMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band were founded in 1971 and membership in each is determined by audition each semester. JMU jazz groups have performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Terrace Theater, Montreux International Jazz and Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and VMEA annual convention.


JMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band

Jamison Walker, voice and Jeff Wells, voice

The Steel Wheels have spent almost twenty years writing, recording, and touring, while honing their evolving brand of American roots music. Through the years, The Steel Wheels have drawn on both traditional form and modern sounds to capture the beauty in all of life’s varied trials and triumphs. Their latest release, Sideways, is a meditation on resilience and survival. Throughout Sideways, we hear and see the image of resilience, resolve, and strength despite the trials. We are reminded that we are all still here… pushed and bent by the wind, yes, but still standing. As the band’s lead singer, Trent Wagler says, “It’s beautiful and crushing to be alive sometimes. We aren’t here to sing songs that only cut one way—but if they do, they’ll cut sideways.” 

The Steel Wheels

Pianist Lori Piitz is a versatile artist whose career includes such diverse opportunities as playing chamber music at Lincoln Center in New York City and performing in a German opera house dressed as a baby chick!  She holds graduate degrees from Indiana university as well a Certificate in Injury-Preventive Piano Technique from Salem College.  She has spent the past seventeen years teaching at JMU, working with talented piano students and teaching courses in pedagogy and “Preparing for the Job Market”.

Lori Piitz, piano

Soprano Symone Harcum comes off of the 2022-2023 season with a successful string of role and house debuts including the Glimmerglass Festival in the role of Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen, Almirena in Handel’s Rinaldo and Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Minnesota Opera, and, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she sang the role of Sandra in the world premier of Will Liverman’s Factotum. Last season, Harcum appeared with Minnesota Opera as Léontine in The Anonymous Lover and Micaëla in Carmen, and Virginia Opera as La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro.

Symone Harcum, voice

GRAMMY and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three (TF3) defies conventions with genre-bending excellence. Their extraordinary sound merges classical, Americana, modern pop, and singer-songwriter styles. TF3’s collaborations with acclaimed composers and Pulitzer Prize winners, Jennifer Higdon and Kevin Puts, resulted in the GRAMMY Award-winning album, “Letters for the Future,” conducted by Xian Zhang and featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra. With charismatic performances on major stages, TF3 continues to push creative boundaries, leaving audiences worldwide captivated. “Is it bluegrass or country, jazz improvisation or some new kind of classical? One thing’s for certain. It’s fabulous!” (Albany Times Union)


Time for Three

Flutist Beth Chandler Cahill enjoys a performance career as soloist and chamber musician. Praised for her musical versatility and colorful sound, she has been featured at major venues, universities, and festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad. She can be heard on TIME PLACE SPIRIT (MSR Classics), an album of music for flute and piano. In demand as a pedagogue, she is Professor of Flute at James Madison University. She is a past president of the National Flute Association. bethchandlercahill.com

Beth Chandler Cahill, flute and Paulo Steinberg, piano

Juliet White-Smith is an accomplished violist, an engaging and dynamic teacher, and an expert string pedagogue. With performing and professional teaching careers spanning over three and a half decades, she has performed in solo, chamber and orchestral settings throughout the United States and on tour in Europe, Asia and Africa. She has performed as a member of the Texas Chamber Orchestra, with the Houston Grand Opera and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, and as a two-year fellow with the Rochester Philharmonic. She is regularly engaged as an invited presenter for music organizations around the country and across the globe including as a featured presenter and master class clinician at the American String Teachers Association annual conference, for the 75th Anniversary Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and as a recitalist and presenter for conferences of the American Viola Society as well as International Viola Congresses in Montreal, South Africa, and Thailand. She has served on several occasions as adjudicator for prominent career-advancing competitions including the William Primrose International Viola Competition and the Yellow Spring Chamber Music Competition.

Juliet White-Smith, viola

Carsten Schmidt, harpsichord

Take your family on a magical journey into the ocean, learning all about opera along the way! Based on Czech composer Antonín Dvořák's masterpiece "Rusalka," this charming, 35-min adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Rusalka longs to leave the ocean and join the human world above. But when her magical pact with a sea witch requires her to give up her voice, Rusalka must overcome great obstacles to obtain her heart's desire. Filled with some of the most beautiful melodies written for the operatic stage, this inaugural Family Opera is an event you don’t want to miss! Recommended for ages 6 and up. Performed in English

Rusalka: The Littlest Mermaid

JMU’s senior dance majors are on the verge of graduation and entering into their exciting careers as dance artists. Come watch them as they showcase their amazing work in this annual concert.

Senior Dance Concert

Acclaimed playwright and actress Leslie McCurdy thrills audiences with her passionate portrayal of Harriet Tubman in this “powerful and must-see performance.” (Michigan Arts and Humanities) McCurdy invokes the 'spirit' of Harriet Tubman from her early childhood to her elder years and chronicles the life of the courageous Underground Railroad conductor, recreating familiar stories and some rarely told. The Ottowa Citizen called the play “riveting…a wrenching and ultimately inspiring narrative leavened by humor…” For 26 Years McCurdy has captivated tens of thousands of audience members worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Vigor International Award and 2014 and 2000 Mayor’s Awards for “Artist of the Year” and “Outstanding Performing Artist” of Windsor, Ontario. Her theatre credits include Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill; Risa in August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, and many others. A Q&A follows the show. Recommended for audiences ages 8 and up.

The Spirit of Harriet Tubman

The Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the leading and oldest symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. Based in the historic capital of Moravia, the orchestra was founded in 1945 at the end of World War II and celebrated its 79th concert season in 2024. It serves as the center of musical activities in the region and ranks among the most authentic interpreters of Czech national music culture. This spectacular program will celebrate works by two of the Czech Republic’s acclaimed composers, Antonín Dvořák (1841- 1904), and Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), considered the father of Czech classical music. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of masterful music from one of the Czech Republic’s finest ensembles! 

Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra

Clarinetist Sarunas Jankauskas joined JMU faculty in 2016. His performance engagements have taken him through Europe, Canada and across the US, while participating at International Conservatory Week Festival, Musicalis Daunia, SoundSpace at Blanton, Chamber Music at the Barn, ICA ClarinetFests® and various new music events. His commissioning project Duos will culminate as a music album in 2020.

Sarunas Jankauskas, clarinet

All-star percussionists drawn from the Silkroad Ensemble present an exhibition of storytelling through the exchange of rhythm, pulse, and melody from different musical traditions around the world including India, Africa, Japan, Cuba, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. The program showcases a virtuoso performance by each world-class artist through their original compositions, alongside master percussion works by luminary composers. The GRAMMY Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble, conceived of by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, has been called “one of the most visionary arts initiatives of our time.” (WNPR) Now under the Artistic Direction of MacArthur recipient and Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, the critically acclaimed ensemble creates music that thrills audiences worldwide with artists representing dozens of nationalities.  

Percussion All Stars

Pirate School: Sea Dreams is a madcap, swashbuckling solo show created and performed by veteran New York actor David Engel. Set to an original cartoon-inspired musical score, complete with sound effects, Pirate Professor Billy Bones teaches the finer points of lighthearted mischief and offers up zany lessons on how to stand, talk, sing, and laugh like a boisterous buccaneer, all while promoting good manners and social courage. Cannons boom, skulls talk, and everyone joins in the adventure of a pirate’s life on the high seas. With astonishing puppetry and slapstick sword play, Pirate School is a riotous, interactive variety show that draws family audiences in by the boatload! Please feel free to come in costume! Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Pirate School: Sea Dreams

The beloved Irish folk supergroup Lúnasa, who the Irish Voice called the “hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet” shares a festive holiday winter solstice concert featuring a guest vocalist. Comprised of some of the finest pickers, pipers and fiddlers in the world, Lúnasa is sure to lift your spirits!  Formed in 1997, Lúnasa is one of contemporary Irish music’s leading voices. Named after an ancient Celtic festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, the group have sold over a quarter of a million records and collaborated with notable artists like Natalie Merchant and Mary-Chapin Carpenter. They have performed more than 2,000 shows across 36 countries at high profile concert venues like Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl. The band’s complex arrangements and unique sound have reshaped the boundaries of traditional music and energized audiences worldwide with their thrilling concerts! 

Lúnasa

Join the JMU Choral Area and JMU Symphony Orchestra for a joyous HolidayFest celebration of “Selections from Messiah,” a powerful and celebratory classic. Whether composing for the opera stage or the “ecclesiastical theater” of the oratorio, George Frideric Handel infused everything he wrote with drama. Composed in three weeks in 1741 and premiered in Dublin in 1742, Messiah has captivated audiences throughout history. This family-friendly event also features favorite songs and readings from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and our annual audience Carol-Sing! Prior to the December 8th matinee (at 1:00 pm), children can enjoy crafts, cookies, and cider in the lobby.


HolidayFest 2024: Selections from Handel’s Messiah

The James Madison University Wind Symphony is thrilled to welcome world-renowned composer and conductor Johan de Meij to campus. He will lead the Wind Symphony during their concert in a thrilling performance of his groundbreaking Symphony No. 1, “The Lord of the Rings.”

Tennessee Rising is a critically acclaimed solo play that explores the formative early years (1939-1945) of the young Williams when the world is on the brink of World War II. It traces his journey from the unknown young writer named Tom into one of the theatre’s greatest playwrights Tennessee Williams and explores the people in his life that will go on to inspire his most iconic characters. The show culminates in the opening night of his first Broadway hit, The Glass Menagerie. “Storms’ perfectly structured play delves into the genesis of the deeply complex man.” (Broadway World) The play is “a riveting theatrical experience” and a “brilliantly charismatic performance.” (The Scotsman) Storms is best known for his work on Amazon’s series Red Oaks. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Contains adult language and sexual content.

Tennessee Rising

The JMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band were founded in 1971 and membership in each is determined by audition each semester. JMU jazz groups have performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Terrace Theater, Montreux International Jazz and Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and VMEA annual convention.

The acclaimed vocal ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, each member contributes to creating programs that give voice to shared human experiences and are accessible to a wide variety of audiences. “The main hallmark of the Cantus sound has always been sheer quality…warming and invigorating the human spirit.” (Star Tribune) Cantus enjoys a vigorous schedule of national and international touring and has performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, UCLA, Tanglewood and other major venues. Wanting Memories explores the unique and enduring relationship between music and memory in all our lives.

Cantus

This showcase of new choreography offers audiences an opportunity to see the work of the Dance Program’s talented young artists.   

Fall Student Dance Concert

How To Take Care Of Your Flower is the premier production of JMU actor and playwright, Celeste Black. Directed and produced by JMU students and Stratford Players. How To Take Care Of Your Flower is the story of a young girl. Lily encounters trauma early in her life and we witness the effects of these events as she grows up through middle school into college. Although every character around Lily is flawed in their own way, all of their flaws help Lily grow and become who she is. Contains adult content and language, violence and implications of suicide, self-harm, and sexual violence.

How to Take Care of Your Flower

The JMU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kira Omelchenko, is the premier symphonic ensemble for the School of Music at James Madison University. The Symphony presents a number of concerts on- and off-campus each year, and has performed regularly as the invited college ensemble for the Virginia Music Educators Association. The ensemble presents a series of Youth Concerts for students from Harrisonburg/Rockingham and surrounding counties. The Symphony is the only college orchestra nationwide selected to participate in the Carnegie Hall (N.Y.) “LinkUp” concerts for young students. Join us for a Pre-Concert Talk in the Grand Lobby from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm providing insights about the music included in the concert. 

EPSG:4326

Ualbany Performing Arts Center

Based on the beloved children's book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince is a profound fable about childhood, adulthood, love, and loss. First performed at Houston Grand Opera in 2003, this operatic adaptation is the rare work of art that provides solace to both young and old alike. When a pilot crashes in the middle of an African desert, he encounters the mysterious Little Prince. What began as an awkward meeting in a moment of crisis, becomes a lasting friendship as the Little Prince shares his life and interstellar adventures as they work together to get back home. Both joyful and melancholy, childlike and wise, this opera perfectly encapsulates The Little Prince, and its adventurous harmonies and rapturous melodies. Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince has been translated into nearly every language and speaks as clearly to us today as it did when it was published in 1943. Contains haze. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Sung in English with English Surtitles. 

Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

May 8, 2025

JMU Wind Symphony

May 6, 2025

JMU Treble Chamber Choir and University Choruses

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Forbes Center for the Performing Arts