Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

“Choose your own adventure” and vote on the order of the literature performed in this exciting program by the JMU Concert Band, under the direction of Amy Birdsong. More

The JMU Symphonic Band is under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad. More

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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. More

Pianist Gila Goldstein is a versatile musician who has captivated audiences worldwide with her unique artistry and soulful interpretations. She has performed as a solo artist and collaborative pianist throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, Korea, the Philippines, Europe and Israel. This concert features music by Bach, Chopin, Ben-Haim, and more! More

This laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s’ all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.” The musical comedy follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction. Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance and School of Music. Note that there is no Sunday matinee. More

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The JMU Wind Symphony, under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad, 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. More

Often considered the greatest opera ever composed, Mozart’s masterpiece combines comedy and drama to capture the downfall of a serial womanizer. From its thrilling overture to final breathtaking scene, the opera explores issues of amorality, power and justice, making it as relevant today as it was in Mozart’s time. This production will feature multimedia effects and capture the style of film noir. More

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Due to conditions beyond our control, Street Scene has been cancelled. The production has been replaced with Don Giovanni and tickets are now on sale.  The dates remain the same.   More

The Joe Fonda Quartet is a powerful group of musicians who have collectively been active within the New York Jazz community for over 40 years. More

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The JMU Brass Band is the university’s premier brass ensemble. Directed by professor of music Kevin Stees, it is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. More

The JMU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Foster Beyers, is the premier symphonic ensemble for the JMU School of Music. More

The JMU Concert Band is under the direction of Amy Birdsong. More

This concert features performances by the JMU Treble Chamber Choir and the University Men's, Women's and Combined Choruses. The JMU Treble Chamber Choir and the University Men’s and Combined Choruses are under the direction of Dr. W. Bryce Hayes. The University Women’s Chorus is under the direction of Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy. More

The JMU Chamber Orchestra brings students from across campus together to perform classic works composed for smaller orchestras. Foster Beyers directs the orchestra in conjunction with graduate students in conducting. Note the change of time and venue. More

The JMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band were founded in 1971 and are under the direction of Dr. Chuck Dotas. 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. More

The JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad, are committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. More

Join JMU’s music ensembles for an inspired Christmas collage of holiday works for choirs and orchestra! Check back for programming updates. More

JMU piano faculty members perform on one, two, and even four Steinway grand pianos in this concert that includes popular operatic music from Bizet’s Carmen, Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and more! More

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, Steve Dorff is the master songwriter behind 400 legendary and iconic songs recorded by over 250 artists, including Kenny Roger’s “Through the Years,” Anne Murray’s “I Just Fall in Love Again,” and George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart.” Dorff performs some of his most beloved songs and shares the stories behind them in this entertaining evening! More

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Experience internationally-acclaimed Latinx pop artist Gina Chavez in concert! A 2020 Latin Grammy nominee for her album La Que Manda (The Woman in Charge), Chavez is a 12-time Austin Music Award  winner whose NPR Tiny Desk Concert boasts over 1.2 million views. Her passionate collection of songs traverse cumbia, indie folk, blues, and Latin pop. More

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The Amernet is one of today’s exceptional string quartets, praised by The New York Times for its “intelligence” and “immensely satisfying” playing of new music and commissions as well as neglected works of the past. Currently the ensemble-in-residence at Florida International University in Miami, the Amernet will perform with special guest Heather Coltman, JMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. More

Join us for an evening of scenes and arias from your favorite operas by composers whose work championed social and political change! JMU Opera Theater students will perform songs from Verdi’s Aida and Otello, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Turandot, Bernstein’s Candide, and more! More

The JMU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band were founded in 1971 and are under the direction of Dr. Chuck Dotas. 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. More

With a legendary career spanning several generations, Aretha Franklin possessed powerful vocals that skyrocketed her to international stardom. Musician, vocalist and composer Damien Sneed pays homage to the “Queen of Soul” with fresh takes on her hits like “Respect,” “Knew You Were Waiting,” “Think,” and more! The show features four-time Grammy Award winner Karen Clark Sheard backed by a stellar cast of jazz, soul and gospel musicians and vocalists. More

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The JMU Brass Band is the university’s premier brass ensemble. Directed by professor of music Kevin Stees, it is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. More

The King’s Singers has represented the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over 50 years. This class act with a delightfully British wit is unmatched for its “sheer musicality and ability to entertain.” (Times, London) More

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The JMU Symphonic Band is under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad. More

On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful love story. The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Once draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance and School of Music. More

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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. More

The JMU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Foster Beyers, is the premier symphonic ensemble for the JMU School of Music. More

This concert features the JMU Chamber Orchestra and the University Men's, Women's and Combined Choruses. The JMU Chamber Orchestra brings students from across campus together to perform classic works composed for smaller orchestras. Foster Beyers directs the orchestra in conjunction with graduate students in conducting. The University Men’s and Combined Choruses are under the direction of Dr. W. Bryce Hayes. The University Women’s Chorus is under the direction of Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy. More

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Amsterdam-based Calefax Reed Quintet is acclaimed for its contemporary yet timeless interpretations of classical music. The Times of London has called the group, “five extremely gifted Dutch gents who almost made the reed quintet seem (like) the best musical format on the planet." More

Under the direction of Dr. Chuck Dotas, the JMU Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1971 and is the premier jazz group in the School of Music at JMU. The ensemble has 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. More

The JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad, are committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. More

This special show commemorating the centennial of the birth of jazz giant Dave Brubeck features stories by the Brubeck brothers, video interviews with Dave Brubeck and musicians he influenced, as well as music by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, “a wondrous combination of swing, melodic majesty, masterful arrangements and a truckload of truly inspirational solos.” (The Seattle Times)  More

The JMU Brass Band is the university’s premier brass ensemble. Directed by professor of music Kevin Stees, it is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. More

Sunny, funny, and with more tra-la-las than any other operetta in the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, The Gondoliers combines all the right ingredients for a stunning show! In this flight of the satirical whimsy, brothers Marco and Guiseppe lead a charmed life as gondoliers in Venice until they discover that one of them is the King of Barataria. The two must travel to Barataria and rule the kingdom jointly until the truth can be determined. More

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. More

Learn how ancient and modern stringed instruments have played an integral role in the African and African American communities through folktales, stories and songs by Charlotte Blake Alston. Her “incredible presence and cleverness unifies audiences of all ages.” Renowned jazz violinist, composer and arranger Diane Monroe—whose orchestrations appear on the soundtrack recording for the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood—will illuminate Alston’s stories with her instrumental ingenuity in this performance perfect for the whole family! More

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Small Island Big Song (SIBS) is a multimedia musical spectacle reuniting the ancient seafaring cultures of the Pacific and Indian Oceans through song. Performing Oceanic grooves to soulful island ballads on traditional instruments and in native languages, artists from 10 nations come together for a live concert that combines music, spoken word and panoramic cinema to make a powerful statement about a region at the frontline of the climate crisis. More

Experience the JMU Symphony Orchestra as they accompany the 2021 and 2022 winners of the prestigious School of Music Concerto Competition. More

Under the direction of Dr. Chuck Dotas, the JMU Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1971 and is the premier jazz group in the School of Music at JMU. The ensemble has 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. More

The JMU Jazz Band was founded in 1971 and is under the direction of Dr. Chuck Dotas. More

The Madison Singers is the advanced, auditioned choral chamber ensemble at JMU. Ranging from 60-80 voices, the JMU Chorale is an auditioned and highly select choir. More

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

The JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, under the direction of Stephen P. Bolstad, are committed to performing the great works of the wind band’s core repertoire while also exploring the best of contemporary composition. More