Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

Carsten Schmidt enjoys a flourishing career as a pianist, harpsichordist and conductor, and has performed widely throughout Europe, North America and Asia. He is a professor of music at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and artistic director of the Staunton Music Festival in Virginia. This concert features harpsichord works by the young Johann Sebastian and his musical inspirations, including Buxtehude, Boehm, Froberger, Pachelbel, Ritter, D'Angelbert, and more! More

Ian Zook is an active orchestral and solo performer, and has appeared in concerts throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. Zook will perform with fellow JMU faculty members Eric Ruple, Šarūnas Jankauskas and Sam Suggs. More

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

The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? are proud to present their new improv tour Whose Live Anyway? The show is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song, all based on audience suggestions, featuring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray. More

From opera and oratorio to musical theatre and pops, Dr. Jamison Walker has performed in recital, opera, symphonic, and academic settings nationally and internationally across the United States and in Europe and Asia. More

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

The American family takes center stage in this haunting and humorous work by rising playwright Stephen Karam. Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play, The Humans is “truly remarkable and exceptionally moving…a play about the horrors of ordinary life, and the love we need to counter them.” (Chicago Tribune) Features students from JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance. More

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Chilean-born Melissa Aldana is a Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer whose playing has “an austere beauty,” with Aldana “as persuasive with long-lined phrases as with a flurry of fast-flying notes.” (Chicago Tribune) Aldana, who released the album 12 Stars in March 2022, will perform a program of jazz standards with members of the Madison Jazz Collective. A CVPA Cultural Connections Artist-in-Residence Event. More

Imagine you’re a million miles from Earth, your rocket ship breaks open, and now you’re floating in space with only 40 minutes of air left in your tank. Faced with this crisis, playwright and science fiction guru Ray Bradbury conjures up a fascinating story of life, fate, purpose, and death. Contains violence and strobe lighting. 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

Cuarteto Latinoamericano is one of the world’s foremost string quartets, and for 40 years, the leading proponent of Latin American music for the genre. Mexico: A Musical Journey will explore the thematic intersections between music and art in Mexican history from the Aztecs to the modern day. This package offer includes a ticket to Cuarteto Latinoamericano plus a curated talk about the magnificent Mexican art housed in JMU’s Madison Art Collection by director Ginny Soenksen with a Q&A and pre-concert reception. More

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With “vital, fresh, imaginative music and sensitive, brilliant performances,” (The Washington Post) Cuarteto Latinoamericano is one of the world’s foremost string quartets, and for 40 years, the leading proponent of Latin American music for the genre. Mexico: A Musical Journey will explore the thematic intersections between music and art in Mexican history from the Aztecs to the modern day, with pieces by composers like Chávez, Ponce and Revueltas. More

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Japanese-born violinist Ayako Yonetani has performed numerous solo recitals, solos with orchestras, chamber music and ensemble performances in the U.S. and abroad. In 2012 and 2013, Yonetani performed for the President of Panama and the Japanese Ambassador to Panama in an event to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Japan’s earthquake/tsunami and for the Japanese emperor’s birthday event. 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

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

This year’s festival features the music of award-winning composers Ingrid Stölzel and Dale Trumbore. Stölzel will premiere a new string trio commissioned by the festival, and Trumbore is a prominent Los Angeles-based choral composer and writer. JMU faculty, ensembles and students will present the music of Stölzel and Trumbore as well as other contemporary works in three main concerts during the festival. More

This year’s festival features the music of award-winning composers Ingrid Stölzel and Dale Trumbore. Stölzel will premiere a new string trio commissioned by the festival, and Trumbore is a prominent Los Angeles-based choral composer and writer. JMU faculty, ensembles and students will present the music of Stölzel and Trumbore as well as other contemporary works in three main concerts during the festival. More

This year’s festival features the music of award-winning composers Ingrid Stölzel and Dale Trumbore. Stölzel will premiere a new string trio commissioned by the festival, and Trumbore is a prominent Los Angeles-based choral composer and writer. JMU faculty, ensembles and students will present the music of Stölzel and Trumbore as well as other contemporary works in three main concerts during the festival. 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

This lively cocktail reception is followed by a curated talk and exclusive tour of the Savoring the Moon exhibition by Ginny Soenksen, director of JMU’s Madison Art Collection and Lisanby Museum. Savoring the Moon: Japanese Art of the Floating World highlights the Madison Art Collection’s impressive Japanese paintings and woodblock prints in the ukiyo-e style. Event is 6:30-8 pm and is capped at 30 guests. More