Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Thursday, March 30, 2023
Brevard Music Center’s 2023 SUMMER FESTIVAL SEASON
Mar 30 all-day
Brevard Music Center
Symphonic Masterpieces
Opening Night + Season Finale: BMC Principal Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, named by Gramophone as one of the 50 Greatest Conductors of All Time, kicks off the season with Opening Night! on Friday, June 23 performing Carl Orff’s epic audience favorite for orchestra and choir, Carmina Burana. With Keith Lockhart on the podium, Verdi’s Requiem will thrill and delight patrons for the Season Finale on Sunday, August 6. Scored for double choir, full symphony orchestra, and featuring four soloists, Verdi’s Requiem is one of the world’s most beloved choral works, bringing drama and grandeur to the concert stage.
Symphonic music highlights planned for this summer include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, Vaughan Williams’s “A London Symphony”, Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Strauss’s Till Eulinspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan”, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Liszt’s Les Préludes, Hanson’s “Romantic” Symphony, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5, and many more. BMC’s tradition of performing movie scores live to full length feature films continues in 2023 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert.
Legendary Artists Series with Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald + Guest Artist Highlights
Legendary Artist Patti LuPone, a true Broadway legend and three-time Tony Award winner, performs a special BMC Presents concert on Saturday, June 24. Ms. LuPone explores her lifelong love affair with Broadway through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes. On July 25 and 26, Emmy, GRAMMY®, and record-breaking six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald comes to Brevard Music Center for a double-header with two legendary performances. Ms. McDonald brings her luminous voice and dramatic incisiveness to two programs of beloved Broadway classics, as she presents popular standards and lesser-known treasures in both the intimate setting of Parker Concert Hall, and with full orchestra on the big stage. These performances are made possible by 2023 Legendary Artists Series Sponsors,
Drs. Joanne and Tom Parker, and the Robinson-Hill Humanitarian Fund.
2023 Summer Festival Season Guest Artist Highlights:
Artistic Director Keith Lockhart leads five programs this summer featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Strauss, and Prokofiev. Maestro Lockhart closes the season with Verdi’s monumental Requiem. Principal Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct two core symphonic programs, Carmina Burana and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6. Internationally acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk makes his long-awaited Brevard debut with two concertos on two nights, performing Brahms’s 2nd Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. Renowned violist Roberto Díaz, a BMC alumnus and President of the famed Curtis Institute of Music, visits Brevard to play Bright Sheng’s new viola concerto written specially for
Mr. Díaz. Mr. Denk and Mr. Díaz are the inaugural honorees of The Thomas C. Bolton Distinguished Artist Chair, a newly-established program supported by The Payne Fund. Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann conducts two programs of orchestral favorites including Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto. Virtuoso violinist Simone Porter performs Bruch’s soaring Scottish Fantasy, and superstar flutist Anthony Trionfo plays two showpieces for flute and orchestra with Ken Lam and the Brevard Concert Orchestra. Performance Today’s ‘Classical Woman of the Year’ Lara Downes returns to the Brevard Music Center for two concerts, including a preview performance of a new work by the dean of American composers Adolphus Hailstork, and a recital of music from her upcoming album, Love at Last.
Opera
With fully staged productions of La Traviata, The Turn of the Screw, and Into the Woods, PLUS An Evening of George Gershwin, 2023 is a powerhouse season for vocal music at Brevard Music Center!
Verdi’s La Traviata is a tale of romance, tragedy, passion – and parties! Filled with enduring melodies, iconic arias, and an unforgettable score, Violetta and Alfredo’s love story will transport opera goers to a bygone era. Join BMC’s Janiec Opera Company to see why Verdi’s La Traviata is the world’s most popular opera.
Britten’s The Turn of the Screw is a timeless ghost story based on the Henry James novella of the same title. Regarded by many as the finest of all Benjamin Britten’s works for stage, it is a fable of good versus evil, natural versus the supernatural, and possession and exorcism, creating an astonishing dramatic power that has a shattering impact in the theater. This is a rare chance to see and hear this melodic and scary masterpiece!
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning triumph Into the Woods takes everyone’s favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. With a book and score that are both enchanting and touching, the Brothers Grimm hit the stage and come to life in an epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make.
An Evening of George Gershwin is a glorious tribute to a true American genius known for such classic songs as “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” and “S’Wonderful.” Members of Brevard’s Janiec Opera Company will take audiences on a grand tour of these favorites from the Great American Songbook.
BMC Presents
Relax into the groove of easy summer nights with specials featuring artists we all know and love and the nostalgic music we crave. International avatar of contemporary artistic excellence, jazz master Branford Marsalis joins Jazz@Brevard on Friday, June 16, for a swinging night to remember. Broadway, television, and film legend
Patti LuPone shares her lifelong love affair with Broadway through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes when she performs on the big stage on Saturday, June 24. Revolution: The Music of the Beatles is a symphonic celebration of the world’s most famous foursome. With songs like “Penny Lane,” “Hey Jude,” “All You Need is Love,” everyone will be singing and dancing in the aisles on Tuesday, June 27. The 2023 BMC Presents lineup also includes the second annual North Carolina Guitar Celebration hosted by guitarist Bryan Sutton in partnership with the Blue Ridge Guitar Camp and Mountain Song Productions on June 3. The BMC Presents season would not be complete without the tradition of Béla Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Concert, with Béla Fleck and over 110 banjos on stage, to close out the summer season on August 19. A wide variety of programs are planned, with more announcements expected soon!
Chamber Music Highlights
Prepare to be enchanted inside the intimate and elegant Parker Concert Hall. Highlights include Beethoven’s Archduke Trio, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds, Schubert’s String Quintet, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, A Steinway Piano Celebration, and much more. BMC’s distinguished Artist Faculty will be joined by celebrated guest artists such as pianist Lara Downes, the Seraph Brass, the Jasper String Quartet, and violist Roberto Díaz.
New World Encounters
This season’s “festival within a festival,” is New World Encounters, which has been curated to explore the influences of American Jazz on some of the most important European composers of the 20th century. Part of the summer’s focus on Americana programming, New World Encounters uses music from the past and present to illuminate connections through the voices of a variety of composers: Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Maurice Ravel, Woody Herman, and more. Multimedia program “New World Encounters,” designed and written by cultural historian Joseph Horowitz, will be an engaging highlight of the festival.
The Weinstein Era
Brevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEO
Mark Weinstein, who is retiring at the end of 2023. Under Weinstein’s leadership, Brevard Music Center has achieved unprecedented growth in fundraising, infrastructure, curriculum, and programming. Critical building projects and renovations, a multitude of new programs, and a multi-genre roster of internationally acclaimed artists have cemented BMC’s reputation as a foremost, international treasure that is fortified by the warmth and support of the Brevard community. Join us as we celebrate Mark’s leadership and delight in this exceptional finale season.
How to Get Tickets for BMC’s 2023 Summer Festival
2023 Price Freeze!: To help ease the sting of inflation everyone is feeling right now, BMC has decided to freeze all ticket prices this season in gratitude for its valued patrons. There will be no changes in pricing from last year!
Tickets: Subscriptions to the 2023 Summer Festival are available with a variety of benefits including savings of up to 25% off single ticket prices, same seat benefits, advance access to popular programs, add-on discounts for guests, and more. The Golden Ticket Subscription provides the ultimate in reserved seats to all Symphony, Opera and Chamber Music Series performances and also includes BMC’s Opening Night and Season Finale— a full summer of musical inspiration with tickets to 35 concerts! Subscriptions may also be purchased to the Symphony Series (17 concerts), the Opera Series (4 concerts), or the Chamber Music Series (12 concerts). Flexible Subscription options like “Compose Your Own” and “Flex 6” provide the opportunity for you to curate your own custom series with as few or as many events as you want based on your schedule and musical preferences.
On Sale Dates: Subscription sales and renewals begin February 6. Single ticket Donor Presale for all Brevard Music Center contributors of $150+ begins March 13. All single ticket sales to the general public will open on April 17. Complete details about the 2023 Summer Season is available at brevardmusic.org.
2022-23 Parker Concert Hall Series
Parker Concert Hall is Brevard Music Center’s state-of-the-art, intimate 400-seat concert hall overlooking scenic Lake Milner. The new hall plays host to an 18-concert series from October through May featuring a varied lineup of classical, jazz, vocal, and fusion artists. The series continues Thursday, February 9, with the legendary folk singer Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa, Valentine Romance with award-winning British vocal ensemble Gesualdo Six on Thursday, February 16, singer-songwriters Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth on Tuesday, February 28, St. Patrick’s Day revelry with Irish music icons Dervish on Tuesday, March 14, award-winning piano trio Sitkovetsky Trio on Thursday, March 30, cellist Benjamin Hughes in recital on Tuesday, April 18, Rodney Marsalis and the Philly Big Brass on Thursday, April 27, the renowned Barcelona Flamenco Ballet on Thursday, May 4, and Mostly Mozart at the Parker Concert Hall on Monday, May 15, part of the Asheville Amadeus Festival. Great seats remain for these performances; tickets are priced from $35.
To find out more about the 2023 Summer Festival Season at Brevard Music Center and remaining 2022-23 Parker Concert Hall Series performances, please visit brevardmusic.org/tickets. You can also contact the BMC Box Office at (828) 862-2105 or at [email protected].
ABOUT BREVARD MUSIC CENTER | SUMMER INSTITUTE & FESTIVAL
Founded in 1936, the Brevard Music Center stands as one of this country’s premier summer classical music training programs and festivals. Each summer, over 700 gifted students come to the Music Center from across the United States and around the world to study with a distinguished faculty and renowned guest artists. Brevard’s hallmark is the powerful sense of community that re-emerges each year as faculty and students present remarkable concerts and events to summer audiences.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library®
Mar 30 all-day
online
LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp
Mar 30 – Mar 29 all-day
LEAF Global Arts

LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!

LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.


Scholarships are available! Qualifications include
:

  • Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
  • Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
  • Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)

To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].

Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.

In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.

Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.

• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)

• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience

• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording

• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)

• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace

Register for Summer Camps

Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.

This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members

Playhouse Jr. Summer Camps Registration Open
Mar 30 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

 

The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!

Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!

 

This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?

• Playhouse Jr. is classes and camps for K-12th Graders and Adults.
• Playhouse Jr. is mainstage shows performed by our Playhouse Jr. students and families.
• Playhouse Jr. is our touring company that visits our local schools and is performed by our fall apprentices.
• Playhouse Jr. is a licensing program for our new and exciting Playhouse Jr. touring shows!

Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!

We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!

To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849

Questions? Please email [email protected]!

Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!

Summer Camps at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute-PARI
Mar 30 all-day
PARI

Camps for all passions and interests

Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.

25" Optical telescope observing at night

Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.

Don Cline making presentation

Tailored Camps

Build your own camping experience according to your interest.

Summer Counselor Application
6/1 – 7/31
Ages 17 years 6 months – 99
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session
6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1
6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Exoplanet Exploration
6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM
Grades 8th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Secrets of a Spy Station
6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Grades 6th – 8th
$1,700.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2
7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Above & Beyond
7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Milky Way Trailblazers
7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
The Kesha Young Health Careers Scholarship 
Mar 30 all-day
online

Mission Health is accepting applications from throughout the community for the Kesha Young Health
Careers Scholarship , with the aim of supporting the education goals for high school seniors and college
students of color from Western North Carolina who are pursuing careers in healthcare.
For more than 25 years, Mission Health has been awarding the Kesha Young Health Careers Scholarship,
with more than $1 million given to make college more affordable for high school seniors and college
students of color from Western North Carolina who are pursuing careers in healthcare. The scholarship
is named in honor of Kesha Young, a 22-year-old, bi-racial woman who was born with mental and
physical disabilities and underwent multiple surgeries at Mission Hospital. Kesha died just months
before she was scheduled to earn her high school diploma. Despite her health struggles, Kesha was
described by her adoptive parents as embodying the characteristics that are vital to how healthcare
team members engage with patients, families and visitors, with a strong spirit, warm smile and positive
encouragement.
At Mission Health, we recognize that having a diverse workforce, especially in healthcare, is very
important to provide the best possible care to our patients and communities. This is integral to who we
are as a company. Our mission statement is based around recognizing and affirming the unique and
intrinsic worth of each individual: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of
human life.”
The completed application, along with all additional materials, must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday,
April 14th, 2023 for consideration. Recipients will be notified in early May and invited to a reception at
Mission Hospital on Wednesday June 7th.

Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Mar 30 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

LEARN MORE THIS YEAR

Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Bryson City, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Collegedale, TN
  • Greenville, SC

Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!

RAIL Project Symposium
Mar 30 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
UNCA Campus

Schedule for RAIL Project Symposium – March 30, 31, and April 1

Thursday, March 30 – Mannheimer Room, OLLI

7:00 PM – Keynote: Dr. Darin Waters, Deputy Secretary, NC Office of Archives and History

Reception following

Friday, March 31 – Mountain View Room, Kimmel Arena

8:30 AM – Coffee and Pastries

9:00 – Welcome – Dr. Tracey Rizzo (Dean of Humanities, UNCA)

9:15 – Session 1

How We Began, What We Did, and What It All Means

RAIL Board Member Roundtable

Moderator – Steve Little (Mayor, City of Marion)

Ray McKesson (CFO McDowell Technical College, ret.)

Stephanie Stepson Twitty (President and CEO Eagle Market Streets Development Corp.)

RoAnn Bishop (Director, Mountain Gateway Museum)

Ashley Whittle (Archives and Special Collections Assistant ,UNCA)

Jim Stokely (President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy)

Jeff Futch (Western Regional Supervisor, NC Department of Cultural and Natural Resources)

10:45 – Break

11:00 – Session 2

Using Human Remains Detection Dogs and Ground Penetrating Radar to Help Locate Historic

Burial Grounds

Moderator – Dr. Sarah Judson (Chair, Department of History, UNCA)

Cat Warren (Department of English, NC State University, Author: What the Dog Knows)

Blair Tormey (Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University)

Paul Martin (Martin Archaeology Consultants)

12:30 – Lunch Break

1:30 – Session 3

Moderator – Dr. Abena Boakyewa-Ansah (Department of History, UNCA)

Partners in Memorializing: The Asheville African American Cemeteries Project, The Buncombe

County Remembrance Project, and The African Americans in the Smokies Project

Dr. Ellen Holmes Pearson (Department of History, UNCA and South Asheville and The 828

Digital Archives for Historical Equity Project)

Dr. Joseph Fox (CEO Fox Management Consulting Enterprises and Buncombe County

Remembrance Project)

Antoine Fletcher (Science Communicator, Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

 

3:00 – Break

3:15 – Session 4

Where Do We Go From Here: Challenges and Opportunities

Moderator – Dr. Dan Pierce (Department of History, UNCA)

Cayla Colclasure (Ph.D. candidate, Department of Anthropology, UNC-CH)

Dr. Jeff Keith (Department of Global Studies, Warren Wilson College)

Dr. Kevin Kehrberg (Department of Music, Warren Wilson College)

Anne Chesky-Smith (Director, WNC Historical Association)

Saturday, April 1

Four Field Opportunities: Session 1 @ 10:00 AM; Session 2 @ 11:30 AM

The Swannanoa Gap – Anne Chesky Smith

Andrews Geyser and the RAIL Memorial – Steve Little and Paul Twitty

Andrews Geyser and Human Remains Detection Dogs – Cat Warren

A Walk Down the Point Lookout Greenway (2 miles on pavement) – Dan Pierce

Elementary After-School Volunteer Creative Peacemakers
Mar 30 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Deaverview Apartment Community

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing.  We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities.  Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week. 

Volunteer Responsibilities:

  • Assist with serving snacks
  • Interact with children during activity time
  • Supervise games and outdoor free time
  • For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration

Requirements:

  • Background check
  • Orientation booklets will be provided
  • Masks are required if unvaccinated
Live Music with Aaron Lafalce
Mar 30 @ 6:00 pm
131 Main Restaurant
Every Thursday
OUTPOST: Mile Twelve w/ Zoe and Cloyd
Mar 30 @ 7:00 pm
The Outpost

Mile Twelve is back in motion. From the first manic, dissonant downbeat of their virtuosic new record, Close Enough to Hear, you’ll discover a band that is ready to explode from a restless pandemic-induced hiatus. The first track “Romulus,” glides and rages as the narrator wrestles with the ultimate impermanence of the empire he’s forged.

Next comes the magical realism of “Johnny Oklahoma,” the youth who volunteers to be fired out of a cannon for the good of his community, in one big beautiful nihilistic burst. These musicians are clearly working through some hard questions posed by the last few years. You’ll hear the same warmth and innovation that earned the band IBMA’s 2019 Album of the Year nomination and 2020 New Artist of the Year Award, and that’s gained them an international reputation as one of the most dynamic groups in contemporary acoustic music. The title track “Close Enough to Hear,” is a stripped down dream of all that we missed so dearly in those early, terrifying months of lockdown.

Something else is close enough to hear on this new album. You’ll notice the presence of two new members: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky. Take note of the new dimension they add to the band, and their ability to lock in with founding members Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), and Nate Sabat (bass, vocals). These aren’t session players; this album captures the formation of a new coherent unit.

Zoe and Cloyd

Klezgrass. This one word may best describe the vast musical world of Asheville, NC duo Zoe & Cloyd. Springing from rich and complementary traditions, the artistic stylings of fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Cloyd Miller fit together in a harmonic dovetail.

In 2022, the band was an official showcase artist at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, featured guest artists for the Davidson College Holiday Gala, as well as hosts of A Swannanoa Solstice at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. Their fifth studio album, Songs of Our Grandfathers, is set to release in May of 2023 on Organic Records, just before their international debut in Northern Ireland.

Zoe & Cloyd delight audiences with soaring harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, seamlessly combining original bluegrass, klezmer, old-time and folk with sincerity and zeal.

Sitkovetsky Trio Exceptional Chamber Music
Mar 30 @ 7:30 pm
Brevard Music Center-Parker Concert Hall

The Sitkovetsky Trio has established itself as one of today’s exceptional piano trios, with sensational performances in the foremost concert halls around the world. The thoughtful and committed approach of violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, pianist Wu Qian, and cellist Isang Enders has brought the ensemble critical acclaim and invitations to renowned concert halls around the world, such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Palais des Beaux Arts, Musée du Louvre, l’Auditori Barcelona, Wigmore Hall and Lincoln Center, to name but a few. First prize-winners of the International Commerzbank Chamber Music Award, the trio is also a recipient of the NORDMETALL Chamber Music Award at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival and the Philharmonia-Martin Chamber Music Award.

Sitkovetsky Trio Sitkovetsky Trio Exceptional Chamber Music
Mar 30 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Brevard Music Center-Parker Concert Hall

The Sitkovetsky Trio has established itself as one of today’s exceptional piano trios, with sensational performances in the foremost concert halls around the world. The thoughtful and committed approach of violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, pianist Wu Qian, and cellist Isang Enders has brought the ensemble critical acclaim and invitations to renowned concert halls around the world, such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Palais des Beaux Arts, Musée du Louvre, l’Auditori Barcelona, Wigmore Hall and Lincoln Center, to name but a few. First prize-winners of the International Commerzbank Chamber Music Award, the trio is also a recipient of the NORDMETALL Chamber Music Award at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival and the Philharmonia-Martin Chamber Music Award.

The Collection
Mar 30 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY

THE COLLECTION

When we lean on one another, we don’t fall. The Collection derives an inimitable musical language from the unbreakable bond between its members. Fronted by David Wimbish, the Saxapahaw, NC-based band places just as much emphasis on interpersonal community and relationships as it does on the music itself.
On their new EP How To Survive An Ending (Nettwerk Music Group, January 2023), The Collection emanates positivity from a place of pure love encoded in a pastiche of alternative, pop, folk, and roots.

This isn’t an overnight success story. This is generating tens of millions of streams across various releases, logging tens of thousands of miles on the road, earning praise from American Songwriter, Glide, Parade, and more, and landing on NPR Tiny Desk Judges’ Picks – all before signing their first record deal.

Over the years, the group has fine-tuned their approach to making music and being together on the road to the point of codifying a signature set of “rules for how to be a band.” Wimbish notes these rules maintain “good boundaries and foster better relationships, better shows, and overall better conditions amongst the crew.

He reveals, “The first rule is a strict ‘No Sarcasm Rule’. We don’t put each other down or act passive aggressively.” Instead, they’re honest, direct, and open. They take time for therapy and mental health as another rule. “We’re always supportive of each other. We’re listening, we’re trying our best to show up for one another.” It’s clear when you speak to Wimbish about his bandmates that they are real friends. It isn’t just about music or the shows. They really do care for one another.

“We try to give each other constant encouragement, especially on the road” notes Wimbish. “If someone needs a cheerleading session, we pitch in and encourage that person. Before we get on stage, we’ll do breathing exercises together and get everyone in the same place mentally. In general, we try to implement healthy practices—whether we’re on tour or at home. It’s part of who we are and it’s part of our community.”

And that community has only continued to blossom. Following 2014’s full-length debut Ars Morendi, the  band attracted a devout fanbase with Listen To The River [2017] and Entropy [2018]. Among many highlights from the latter, standout single “Beautiful Life” has gathered 6.5 million Spotify streams and counting. At the same time, they became renowned for raucous and rowdy performances. The group has lit up festival stages and crisscrossed the country with The Oh Hellos, RIPE, Tall Heights, and Sammy Rae & The Friends, to name a few.

Of “Blue Day,” the first of the bunch, Parade proclaimed, “Breezy acoustic guitar and a sweet melancholy sentiment help paint this pristine vocal landscape,” and American Songwriter noted, “The raw track evokes a sense of serenity with lofty vocals that eloquently deliver a timely reminder of kindness.” “GET LOST” came along next, which Alfitude hailed as “a song with deeply meaningful lyricism, emotive vocals and a beautifully constructed melody.”

MOM ROCK

Friday, March 31, 2023
Brevard Music Center’s 2023 SUMMER FESTIVAL SEASON
Mar 31 all-day
Brevard Music Center
Symphonic Masterpieces
Opening Night + Season Finale: BMC Principal Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, named by Gramophone as one of the 50 Greatest Conductors of All Time, kicks off the season with Opening Night! on Friday, June 23 performing Carl Orff’s epic audience favorite for orchestra and choir, Carmina Burana. With Keith Lockhart on the podium, Verdi’s Requiem will thrill and delight patrons for the Season Finale on Sunday, August 6. Scored for double choir, full symphony orchestra, and featuring four soloists, Verdi’s Requiem is one of the world’s most beloved choral works, bringing drama and grandeur to the concert stage.
Symphonic music highlights planned for this summer include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, Vaughan Williams’s “A London Symphony”, Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Strauss’s Till Eulinspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan”, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Liszt’s Les Préludes, Hanson’s “Romantic” Symphony, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5, and many more. BMC’s tradition of performing movie scores live to full length feature films continues in 2023 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert.
Legendary Artists Series with Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald + Guest Artist Highlights
Legendary Artist Patti LuPone, a true Broadway legend and three-time Tony Award winner, performs a special BMC Presents concert on Saturday, June 24. Ms. LuPone explores her lifelong love affair with Broadway through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes. On July 25 and 26, Emmy, GRAMMY®, and record-breaking six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald comes to Brevard Music Center for a double-header with two legendary performances. Ms. McDonald brings her luminous voice and dramatic incisiveness to two programs of beloved Broadway classics, as she presents popular standards and lesser-known treasures in both the intimate setting of Parker Concert Hall, and with full orchestra on the big stage. These performances are made possible by 2023 Legendary Artists Series Sponsors,
Drs. Joanne and Tom Parker, and the Robinson-Hill Humanitarian Fund.
2023 Summer Festival Season Guest Artist Highlights:
Artistic Director Keith Lockhart leads five programs this summer featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Strauss, and Prokofiev. Maestro Lockhart closes the season with Verdi’s monumental Requiem. Principal Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct two core symphonic programs, Carmina Burana and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6. Internationally acclaimed pianist Jeremy Denk makes his long-awaited Brevard debut with two concertos on two nights, performing Brahms’s 2nd Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. Renowned violist Roberto Díaz, a BMC alumnus and President of the famed Curtis Institute of Music, visits Brevard to play Bright Sheng’s new viola concerto written specially for
Mr. Díaz. Mr. Denk and Mr. Díaz are the inaugural honorees of The Thomas C. Bolton Distinguished Artist Chair, a newly-established program supported by The Payne Fund. Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann conducts two programs of orchestral favorites including Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto. Virtuoso violinist Simone Porter performs Bruch’s soaring Scottish Fantasy, and superstar flutist Anthony Trionfo plays two showpieces for flute and orchestra with Ken Lam and the Brevard Concert Orchestra. Performance Today’s ‘Classical Woman of the Year’ Lara Downes returns to the Brevard Music Center for two concerts, including a preview performance of a new work by the dean of American composers Adolphus Hailstork, and a recital of music from her upcoming album, Love at Last.
Opera
With fully staged productions of La Traviata, The Turn of the Screw, and Into the Woods, PLUS An Evening of George Gershwin, 2023 is a powerhouse season for vocal music at Brevard Music Center!
Verdi’s La Traviata is a tale of romance, tragedy, passion – and parties! Filled with enduring melodies, iconic arias, and an unforgettable score, Violetta and Alfredo’s love story will transport opera goers to a bygone era. Join BMC’s Janiec Opera Company to see why Verdi’s La Traviata is the world’s most popular opera.
Britten’s The Turn of the Screw is a timeless ghost story based on the Henry James novella of the same title. Regarded by many as the finest of all Benjamin Britten’s works for stage, it is a fable of good versus evil, natural versus the supernatural, and possession and exorcism, creating an astonishing dramatic power that has a shattering impact in the theater. This is a rare chance to see and hear this melodic and scary masterpiece!
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning triumph Into the Woods takes everyone’s favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. With a book and score that are both enchanting and touching, the Brothers Grimm hit the stage and come to life in an epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make.
An Evening of George Gershwin is a glorious tribute to a true American genius known for such classic songs as “Embraceable You,” “I Got Rhythm,” and “S’Wonderful.” Members of Brevard’s Janiec Opera Company will take audiences on a grand tour of these favorites from the Great American Songbook.
BMC Presents
Relax into the groove of easy summer nights with specials featuring artists we all know and love and the nostalgic music we crave. International avatar of contemporary artistic excellence, jazz master Branford Marsalis joins Jazz@Brevard on Friday, June 16, for a swinging night to remember. Broadway, television, and film legend
Patti LuPone shares her lifelong love affair with Broadway through indelible interpretations of classic Broadway show tunes when she performs on the big stage on Saturday, June 24. Revolution: The Music of the Beatles is a symphonic celebration of the world’s most famous foursome. With songs like “Penny Lane,” “Hey Jude,” “All You Need is Love,” everyone will be singing and dancing in the aisles on Tuesday, June 27. The 2023 BMC Presents lineup also includes the second annual North Carolina Guitar Celebration hosted by guitarist Bryan Sutton in partnership with the Blue Ridge Guitar Camp and Mountain Song Productions on June 3. The BMC Presents season would not be complete without the tradition of Béla Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Concert, with Béla Fleck and over 110 banjos on stage, to close out the summer season on August 19. A wide variety of programs are planned, with more announcements expected soon!
Chamber Music Highlights
Prepare to be enchanted inside the intimate and elegant Parker Concert Hall. Highlights include Beethoven’s Archduke Trio, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds, Schubert’s String Quintet, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, A Steinway Piano Celebration, and much more. BMC’s distinguished Artist Faculty will be joined by celebrated guest artists such as pianist Lara Downes, the Seraph Brass, the Jasper String Quartet, and violist Roberto Díaz.
New World Encounters
This season’s “festival within a festival,” is New World Encounters, which has been curated to explore the influences of American Jazz on some of the most important European composers of the 20th century. Part of the summer’s focus on Americana programming, New World Encounters uses music from the past and present to illuminate connections through the voices of a variety of composers: Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Maurice Ravel, Woody Herman, and more. Multimedia program “New World Encounters,” designed and written by cultural historian Joseph Horowitz, will be an engaging highlight of the festival.
The Weinstein Era
Brevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEO
Mark Weinstein, who is retiring at the end of 2023. Under Weinstein’s leadership, Brevard Music Center has achieved unprecedented growth in fundraising, infrastructure, curriculum, and programming. Critical building projects and renovations, a multitude of new programs, and a multi-genre roster of internationally acclaimed artists have cemented BMC’s reputation as a foremost, international treasure that is fortified by the warmth and support of the Brevard community. Join us as we celebrate Mark’s leadership and delight in this exceptional finale season.
How to Get Tickets for BMC’s 2023 Summer Festival
2023 Price Freeze!: To help ease the sting of inflation everyone is feeling right now, BMC has decided to freeze all ticket prices this season in gratitude for its valued patrons. There will be no changes in pricing from last year!
Tickets: Subscriptions to the 2023 Summer Festival are available with a variety of benefits including savings of up to 25% off single ticket prices, same seat benefits, advance access to popular programs, add-on discounts for guests, and more. The Golden Ticket Subscription provides the ultimate in reserved seats to all Symphony, Opera and Chamber Music Series performances and also includes BMC’s Opening Night and Season Finale— a full summer of musical inspiration with tickets to 35 concerts! Subscriptions may also be purchased to the Symphony Series (17 concerts), the Opera Series (4 concerts), or the Chamber Music Series (12 concerts). Flexible Subscription options like “Compose Your Own” and “Flex 6” provide the opportunity for you to curate your own custom series with as few or as many events as you want based on your schedule and musical preferences.
On Sale Dates: Subscription sales and renewals begin February 6. Single ticket Donor Presale for all Brevard Music Center contributors of $150+ begins March 13. All single ticket sales to the general public will open on April 17. Complete details about the 2023 Summer Season is available at brevardmusic.org.
2022-23 Parker Concert Hall Series
Parker Concert Hall is Brevard Music Center’s state-of-the-art, intimate 400-seat concert hall overlooking scenic Lake Milner. The new hall plays host to an 18-concert series from October through May featuring a varied lineup of classical, jazz, vocal, and fusion artists. The series continues Thursday, February 9, with the legendary folk singer Tom Rush accompanied by Matt Nakoa, Valentine Romance with award-winning British vocal ensemble Gesualdo Six on Thursday, February 16, singer-songwriters Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth on Tuesday, February 28, St. Patrick’s Day revelry with Irish music icons Dervish on Tuesday, March 14, award-winning piano trio Sitkovetsky Trio on Thursday, March 30, cellist Benjamin Hughes in recital on Tuesday, April 18, Rodney Marsalis and the Philly Big Brass on Thursday, April 27, the renowned Barcelona Flamenco Ballet on Thursday, May 4, and Mostly Mozart at the Parker Concert Hall on Monday, May 15, part of the Asheville Amadeus Festival. Great seats remain for these performances; tickets are priced from $35.
To find out more about the 2023 Summer Festival Season at Brevard Music Center and remaining 2022-23 Parker Concert Hall Series performances, please visit brevardmusic.org/tickets. You can also contact the BMC Box Office at (828) 862-2105 or at [email protected].
ABOUT BREVARD MUSIC CENTER | SUMMER INSTITUTE & FESTIVAL
Founded in 1936, the Brevard Music Center stands as one of this country’s premier summer classical music training programs and festivals. Each summer, over 700 gifted students come to the Music Center from across the United States and around the world to study with a distinguished faculty and renowned guest artists. Brevard’s hallmark is the powerful sense of community that re-emerges each year as faculty and students present remarkable concerts and events to summer audiences.
Cinderella Magic Package
Mar 31 all-day
online w/ Flat Rock Playhouse

We are excited to bring this special package to you and your loved ones. It’s super easy!

  1. Pick your show date – June 14, 17, 21, 24 (Evening only)
  2. Choose 2 Adult Seats and 2 Student Seats
  3. At Checkout, discount will be applied

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

Your wish is granted!

TICKETS + INFO

If you have any problems, our Box Office is happy to help!

828.693.0731

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library®
Mar 31 all-day
online
Global LEAF classes and workshops
Mar 31 all-day
LEAF Global Arts Center

Current Classes Available

Click on a class to learn more! Once you have purchased a class, a LEAF staff member will reach out with further details! Classes are held Virtually or at the LEAF Global Arts Center in downtown Asheville. Please see class descriptions for more information.

Questions, requests, or scholarship inquiries? Please email [email protected]

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    Queer Music Exploration with Kayla Lynn

    $15.00 – $50.00

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    Intro to Ukulele Class with Melissa McKinney

    $15.00 – $50.00

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    Intro to Guitar Class with Melissa McKinney

    $15.00 – $50.00

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    LEAF Lights Program

    $15.00 – $50.00

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    All Ages Hip Hop Dance Class

    $15.00 – $50.00

  • LEAF Schools & Streets

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    LEAF Summer Camp

    $230.00

  • Otto Vazquez

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    The ROK Experience (Virtual)

    $40.00

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    Adama’s West African Drumming Workshop

    $15.00

Other Classes and Workshops

We are always striving to expand our offerings! If you have an idea for a class or workshop you’d like to see, send us a suggestion!

If you are an artist and would like to host a class or workshop at LEAF Global, please reach out, we would love to hear from you.

For all inquiries, or to reserve a session virtually or in person at LEAF Global please email [email protected]

LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp
Mar 31 – Mar 30 all-day
LEAF Global Arts

LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!

LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.


Scholarships are available! Qualifications include
:

  • Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
  • Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
  • Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)

To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].

Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.

In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.

Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.

• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)

• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience

• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording

• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)

• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace

Register for Summer Camps

Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.

This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members

Playhouse Jr. Summer Camps Registration Open
Mar 31 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

 

The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!

Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!

 

This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?

• Playhouse Jr. is classes and camps for K-12th Graders and Adults.
• Playhouse Jr. is mainstage shows performed by our Playhouse Jr. students and families.
• Playhouse Jr. is our touring company that visits our local schools and is performed by our fall apprentices.
• Playhouse Jr. is a licensing program for our new and exciting Playhouse Jr. touring shows!

Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!

We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!

To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849

Questions? Please email [email protected]!

Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!

Summer Camps at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute-PARI
Mar 31 all-day
PARI

Camps for all passions and interests

Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.

25" Optical telescope observing at night

Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.

Don Cline making presentation

Tailored Camps

Build your own camping experience according to your interest.

Summer Counselor Application
6/1 – 7/31
Ages 17 years 6 months – 99
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session
6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1
6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Exoplanet Exploration
6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM
Grades 8th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Secrets of a Spy Station
6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Grades 6th – 8th
$1,700.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2
7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Above & Beyond
7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Milky Way Trailblazers
7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
The Kesha Young Health Careers Scholarship 
Mar 31 all-day
online

Mission Health is accepting applications from throughout the community for the Kesha Young Health
Careers Scholarship , with the aim of supporting the education goals for high school seniors and college
students of color from Western North Carolina who are pursuing careers in healthcare.
For more than 25 years, Mission Health has been awarding the Kesha Young Health Careers Scholarship,
with more than $1 million given to make college more affordable for high school seniors and college
students of color from Western North Carolina who are pursuing careers in healthcare. The scholarship
is named in honor of Kesha Young, a 22-year-old, bi-racial woman who was born with mental and
physical disabilities and underwent multiple surgeries at Mission Hospital. Kesha died just months
before she was scheduled to earn her high school diploma. Despite her health struggles, Kesha was
described by her adoptive parents as embodying the characteristics that are vital to how healthcare
team members engage with patients, families and visitors, with a strong spirit, warm smile and positive
encouragement.
At Mission Health, we recognize that having a diverse workforce, especially in healthcare, is very
important to provide the best possible care to our patients and communities. This is integral to who we
are as a company. Our mission statement is based around recognizing and affirming the unique and
intrinsic worth of each individual: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of
human life.”
The completed application, along with all additional materials, must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday,
April 14th, 2023 for consideration. Recipients will be notified in early May and invited to a reception at
Mission Hospital on Wednesday June 7th.

The Learning Garden: A Hub of Gardening Education in 2023
Mar 31 all-day
Buncombe County Extension Office

After six years of hard work, the dream of using The Learning Garden as a hub for public gardening education is finally a reality. The Learning Garden, located at the Extension Office, 49 Mt. Carmel Road, is offering the public the opportunity to Visit and Learn in the garden on selected 2nd and 4th Thursdays, February – October. The Thursday in-person programs will consist of five garden-specific series. Visitors can walk around before or after the program and soak in our lovely gardens. Our gardens will open at 9:00 a.m. and all the demonstration programs run between 10-11:30 a.m.  To ensure a good learning experience, attendance will be limited and registration will be required.

Dahlia_labbradolci_CC BY-NC 2.0_Flickr

Dahlia Series
February 23
 – Getting Your Dahlias Ready for Planting
August 3
 – Disbudding Dahlias for Better Blooms
October 26 – Dividing and Storing Dahlias

 

Naturally dyed cotton_by Lucia Garcia Gonzalez_CC 1.0_Flickr

Dye Garden Series
May 4 – Planning Your Dye Garden
June 22 – Introduction to Natural Dyeing
July 27 – Fresh Indigo
August 24 – Botanical Printing: Printing with Leaves and Flowers
September 28 – Dyeing with Hopi Black Sunflower
November 9 – The Magic of Indigo

Rose Garden Series
March 9 – Pruning Roses
April 6 – Climbing Roses
April 13 – Rose Pests and Pathogens
May 20 – Growing Beautiful Roses (Saturday Seminar)

 

Sun & Shade Garden Series
May 11 – Planting a Native Butterfly Host Plant Garden
June 29 – Foodscaping Edible Plants in Flower Beds
August 31 – Dealing with “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” Plants
Sept 14 – Native Butterfly Life Cycles in the Fall Garden

 

Vegetable Garden Series
March 23
 – Building an ADA Compliant Raised Garden
April 26
 – Planting Root Crops: Leeks, Onions, Carrots, Parsnips
May 25 – Planting a Seed Saving Garden
June 8 – Common Vegetable Garden Pests
July 13 – Kid Friendly Gardening
                                       August 10 – Preserving Your Vegetable Harvest

In addition to the Thursday programs listed above, The Learning Garden will present a series of ninety minute (+/-) hands-on seminars covering various gardening topics. These in-person programs will be held at The Learning Garden on selected Saturday mornings, February – September.

Saturday Seminars
February 18 – Tool Selection and Sharpening
March 18 – Pruning Trees and Shrubs
April 22 – Gardening for the Birds
May 20 – Growing Beautiful Roses
June 17 – Pollinator Plants in The Learning Garden
September 16 – Bulbs for All Seasons

Each of the programs in The Learning Garden will be announced individually through this blog and on our website two weeks before each program.  Each announcement will include instructions on how to register. Mark your calendar and register to attend as many as you can.

RAIL Project Symposium
Mar 31 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
UNCA Campus

Schedule for RAIL Project Symposium – March 30, 31, and April 1

Thursday, March 30 – Mannheimer Room, OLLI

7:00 PM – Keynote: Dr. Darin Waters, Deputy Secretary, NC Office of Archives and History

Reception following

Friday, March 31 – Mountain View Room, Kimmel Arena

8:30 AM – Coffee and Pastries

9:00 – Welcome – Dr. Tracey Rizzo (Dean of Humanities, UNCA)

9:15 – Session 1

How We Began, What We Did, and What It All Means

RAIL Board Member Roundtable

Moderator – Steve Little (Mayor, City of Marion)

Ray McKesson (CFO McDowell Technical College, ret.)

Stephanie Stepson Twitty (President and CEO Eagle Market Streets Development Corp.)

RoAnn Bishop (Director, Mountain Gateway Museum)

Ashley Whittle (Archives and Special Collections Assistant ,UNCA)

Jim Stokely (President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy)

Jeff Futch (Western Regional Supervisor, NC Department of Cultural and Natural Resources)

10:45 – Break

11:00 – Session 2

Using Human Remains Detection Dogs and Ground Penetrating Radar to Help Locate Historic

Burial Grounds

Moderator – Dr. Sarah Judson (Chair, Department of History, UNCA)

Cat Warren (Department of English, NC State University, Author: What the Dog Knows)

Blair Tormey (Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, Western Carolina University)

Paul Martin (Martin Archaeology Consultants)

12:30 – Lunch Break

1:30 – Session 3

Moderator – Dr. Abena Boakyewa-Ansah (Department of History, UNCA)

Partners in Memorializing: The Asheville African American Cemeteries Project, The Buncombe

County Remembrance Project, and The African Americans in the Smokies Project

Dr. Ellen Holmes Pearson (Department of History, UNCA and South Asheville and The 828

Digital Archives for Historical Equity Project)

Dr. Joseph Fox (CEO Fox Management Consulting Enterprises and Buncombe County

Remembrance Project)

Antoine Fletcher (Science Communicator, Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

 

3:00 – Break

3:15 – Session 4

Where Do We Go From Here: Challenges and Opportunities

Moderator – Dr. Dan Pierce (Department of History, UNCA)

Cayla Colclasure (Ph.D. candidate, Department of Anthropology, UNC-CH)

Dr. Jeff Keith (Department of Global Studies, Warren Wilson College)

Dr. Kevin Kehrberg (Department of Music, Warren Wilson College)

Anne Chesky-Smith (Director, WNC Historical Association)

Saturday, April 1

Four Field Opportunities: Session 1 @ 10:00 AM; Session 2 @ 11:30 AM

The Swannanoa Gap – Anne Chesky Smith

Andrews Geyser and the RAIL Memorial – Steve Little and Paul Twitty

Andrews Geyser and Human Remains Detection Dogs – Cat Warren

A Walk Down the Point Lookout Greenway (2 miles on pavement) – Dan Pierce

Jolly Rancher
Mar 31 @ 3:00 pm
DSSOLVR

Yeehaw! THIS SHINDIG GONNA BE A REAL HUMDINGER!
DSSOLVR Brewery is hosting a rootin’ tootin’ Western Country themed party .
March 31st at 7pm pick yourself up by the bootstraps and giddyup ondown to
THE JOLLY RANCHER! A night of Outlaw Country Bangers, that’ll make you happier than a dead pig in the sunshine.
Join us for an evening of delicious food from JollyBBQ starting at 3pm, a photo booth to capture your best bolo tie and giant mustaches, line dancing to get those boots stompin’, and music spun by DJ BOOTSCOOTBOOGIE (aka DJ DUCHESS) that will keep you two-steppin’ all night long!
So saddle on up and come on down. Ya’ll aint ready for this gotdamn hootinanny!

Music at the Vineyard – The Paper Crowns
Mar 31 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Burntshirt Vineyards

Join us Friday, March 31 at Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room & Winery for live music at the vineyard with The Paper Crowns! The Paper Crowns are the multi-instrument, genre-crossing power duo of Spiro and Nicole Nicolopoulos. They are earning their reputation as the genuine article as a band on the cutting edge of modern roots music. Their musical chemistry is a gumbo of music genres. Mixing Appalachian folk, bluegrass, delta blues, acid rock, and more, they cook up a sound all their own. As a duo, they have a full band sound with drums, bass, guitars, banjos, and live looping, on-the-spot compositions. Their mix of modern and traditional performance creates a captivating intensity, yet always honors their intimacy and emotional rawness as a duo.

Their music has found placement in major network TV campaigns and online ad campaigns, including the Olympic Games and Pepsi. The Paper Crowns have been featured on various local and regional radio stations including Asheville FM, WBTV Charlotte, and 98.1 The River. The dynamic duo will be at Burntshirt Vineyards Hendersonville Friday from 3-6 PM. Come on down to the vineyard for an afternoon of amazing music, fabulous wines, and good times!

New Media Student Juried Exhibition Opening Reception and Keynote Address by Ayodamola Tanimowo Okunseinde
Mar 31 @ 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
UNCA Campus-Owen Hall 102

Visiting lecturer and New York-based new media artist Ayodamola Tanimowo Okunseinde will offer a keynote address for the opening reception of the 2023 New Media Student Juried Exhibition at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31 in Owen Hall, room 102.

Following Okunseinde’s keynote, the exhibition’s opening reception will take place at 5:45 p.m. in the New Media Gallery in Owen Hall.

Okunseinde, also known as ayo, is a Nigerian-American artist, designer and anthropologist living and working in New York. His works range from painting and speculative design to physically interactive works and wearable technology. His residency participation includes ITP’s S.I.R., IDEO’s Fortnight, The Laundromat Project and Eyebeam, and he has exhibited and presented at the 11th Shanghai Biennale, Tribeca Storyscapes and EYEO Festival, among others. He is the co-founder and director of the Iyapo Repository, a resource library that houses a collection of digital and physical artifacts created to affirm and project the future of people of African descent.


Accessibility

UNC Asheville is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. If you have any questions about access or to request reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this event, please contact the Event Organizer (see below). Advance notice is necessary to arrange for accessibility needs.

Visitor Parking

Visitors may park in faculty/staff and All Permit lots from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends, holidays, and campus breaks. Visitors are not permitted to park in resident student lots at any time.
Prior to 5pm, any visitor (regardless of their reason for visit) need to adhere to the current practices listed on the parking website. Get your visitor parking permit here

LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
Mar 31 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Brother West
Mar 31 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Point Lookout Vineyards

Enjoy the music of Brother West.  Wear your dancing shoes.