Calendar of Events
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.
Embark on a journey across jazz music’s four earliest decades in Songs We Love, a thrilling live musical performance featuring the genre’s top rising stars. This all-star band, whose members were carefully selected by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, sings and plays its way through the 20th century, paying special homage to iconic singers and performers like Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland.
The Beauty of
Divine Beings Dancing
The gong resounds, the curtain opens, and a heavenly scene is right before your eyes. Fairies emerge from a sea of billowing clouds. Mongolians ride on horseback across grasslands as vast as the sky. Classic stories of love and loss, of humor and heroic deeds, come to life. You will be amazed by how vibrant, exciting, and profound classical Chinese culture can be.
“An explosion of color and sound…
Chinese culture in its fullest flower.”
– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
The point of an odyssey is to return home changed—still the same person, but deepened somehow, wiser and better, wearing your traveling scars proudly. Bass Drum of Death’s new album Say I Won’t is the end result of a journey that took singer and bandleader John Barrett from a small town in Mississippi and sent him across the world and back home again. The music still rips, with blown-out guitars and drums that sound like bombs going off, and the melodies are catchier than ever, hollered in Barrett’s trademark yelp. But the music hits differently now, more at peace with itself, propelled by a new swagger. Say I Won’t is the record of a veteran band finding its stride and leaning into it, stripping back the excess and finding the raw core of their sound.
Say I Won’t, the band’s fifth record, comes at a time of massive change for Barrett, having relocated from New York to his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi during the pandemic. The record is also a homecoming of a different sort, with the band rejoining the ranks of Fat Possum, also in Oxford, the label that released their first record GB City in 2011.
Say I Won’t is the first Bass Drum of Death album written, demoed, and recorded with the touring band instead of Barrett doing everything on his own. He found a freedom in working with collaborators that wasn’t available to him before, opening different aspects of the songwriting. It was a process of live recording, layering on different parts and overdubs, and then stripping it all back to the bones of the song, keeping the raw wild heart of the music intact.
The result is a groove-oriented, 1970’s-indebted collection of rock songs, with tempos set for cruising and scuzzy guitars galore. There’s an energy and vitality to the music that feels in line with the best of the Bass Drum songs, but with an added boost that comes from new bandmates and a new perspective.
DEAD TOOTH
After an early stint drumming and singing in Haybaby (Tiny Engines), Zach James began writing and self-producing folk records in his bedroom, donning the name The Silver Spaceman. The project evolved into a post-punk band featuring Andrew Bailey (DIIV) on lead guitar. It snarled and simmered around darker textures, miles away from its early folk roots. James looked to his darkened smile and rechristened the project Dead Tooth. They gained momentum opening for bands like Hand Habits, The Space Lady and Current Joys.
TONGUES OF FIRE
Most bands fit cleanly within a genre, but Tongues of Fire don’t. At their heart, they are a punk band; their shows are unhinged; the music is straightforward and hard hitting; there is no trace of excessiveness, but they are accessible, and there is a well-crafted feel to what they do. The production is clean, and the instrumentals deceptively complex. There aren’t bands out there that are like Tongues of Fire. They are themselves and intent on moving the scene forward.
Symphonic MasterpiecesOpening 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 HighlightsLegendary 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 forMr. 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.OperaWith 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 PresentsRelax 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 legendPatti 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 HighlightsPrepare 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 EncountersThis 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 EraBrevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEOMark 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 Festival2023 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 SeriesParker 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 & FESTIVALFounded 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®
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Program Launch and Expansions
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
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. 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!
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.
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 Series
February 23 – Getting Your Dahlias Ready for Planting
August 3 – Disbudding Dahlias for Better Blooms
October 26 – Dividing and Storing Dahlias
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.
Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Watch the transformation from winter to spring on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.
Special screening and moderated discussion hosted by Bill Kopp, followed by a screening of the film and then a moderated discussion about what we’ve just seen and heard.
“Riff Randell, rock ‘n’ roller.”
That’s how P.J. Soles introduces her character in Rock N Roll High School, the cult film that built upon a foundation of B-movies and served it up to a generation raised on a diet of second-wave rebellious rock ‘n’ roll, aka punk. Allan Arkush’s film starred The Ramones, non actors all, alongside Warhol denizens Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov. The clash of (sub)cultural icons makes for a rousing, fun and unashamedly of-its-time movie.
Rock N Roll High School spawned a cult following, writ small. You may recall that the underground success of The Rocky Horror Picture Show manifested in fans attending the movie in theaters dressed in costumes that copied (or at least followed on from) those on the screen, and rather than remaining seated in the darkened movie house, they jumped up and participated in the film.
Well, in the very late ‘70s, fans of Rock N Roll High School often did the same thing. They were inspired by the silly antics, the self-consciously cliché plot line, and the great music. And while we won’t actively encourage similar behavior at the Grail Moviehouse in Asheville on March 27, neither will we prohibit it. So come join us for a screening of the cult classic Rock N Roll High School, followed by an interactive discussion to follow. It’s the latest in our ongoing series of Music Movie Mondays, hosted by Bill Kopp (that’s me).
Symphonic MasterpiecesOpening 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 HighlightsLegendary 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 forMr. 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.OperaWith 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 PresentsRelax 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 legendPatti 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 HighlightsPrepare 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 EncountersThis 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 EraBrevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEOMark 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 Festival2023 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 SeriesParker 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 & FESTIVALFounded 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®
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Program Launch and Expansions
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
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. 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!
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.
|
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.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
Location: TEDC Building, Room 236
In-person only
No cost due to sponsor support
As a business owner, the mental health of your employees is imperative to a healthy, happy, and productive workplace. Mental Health First-Aid for Business Owners teaches employers and managers how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. This two part training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and/or experiencing a crisis. Mental Health First Aiders will never diagnose or treat; they will merely provide emergency support until the individual can be connected to a certified mental health professional. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate.
Speaker(s): Angela Uhl-Kalev and Guest Speaker Laura Simmons
Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce
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

The UNCA Bluegrass Band will give a free performance at Pack Library on Tuesday, March 28 at 6 p.m. The UNCA Bluegrass Band is a highly energetic and entertaining ensemble made up entirely of university students and their instructor, Wayne Erbsen. The band features red hot instrumentals on banjo, three fiddles, mandolin, guitar dobro, cello, and bass, along with powerful and heartfelt vocals. Their rich repertoire includes traditional bluegrass, western swing, blues, old-time fiddle tunes, and gospel. They have performed at many venues in western North Carolina and at the World of Bluegrass festival in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is a free concert and everyone is welcome.
– ALL AGES
– FULLY SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE
SHAWN MULLINS
After a series of indie record releases, Shawn Mullins’ critical breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core album shot him to fame on the strength of its Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby” followed by AAA/Americana No. 1 “Beautiful Wreck” from 2006’s 9th Ward Pickin Parlor. His song, “Shimmer” was used in promotion of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and was included on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack. He co-wrote “All in My Head” which was featured in episode one of the hit TV sitcom “Scrubs.” Mullins also co-wrote the Zac Brown Band’s No. 1 country tune “Toes.” In early 2002, he formed super group The Thorns with Matthew Sweet and Peter Droge. Mullins’ most recent album My Stupid Heart, was released in 2015, the theme of which, Mullins says, can be summed up most succinctly by the song title, “It All Comes Down To Love,” the guiding force behind just about every song on the album.
Mullins is currently embarking on a recording project in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the release of his album Soul’s Core, which came out July 17, 1998. He always performs songs from Soul’s Core in his live sets including “Lullaby” (Rockabye), “Gulf of Mexico,” “Twin Rocks Oregon,” “Shimmer” and “Anchored in You”. The song arrangements have evolved through the years as he continues to perform them live and grow as an artist.
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS
Multi-instrumentalist-singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams’ acclaimed eponymous 2015 debut, released after seven years of playing in Levon Helm’s band – and frequent guesting with Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, brought to the stage the crackling creative energy of a decades-long offstage union. A whirlwind of touring and promo followed, and when the dust cleared, the duo was ready to do it all again. Which brings us to Contraband Love, a riskier slice of Americana.
Larry, who produced Contraband Love, says, “I wanted this record to be a progression, bigger than the first one. That’s all I knew. I wanted the songwriting to be deeper, the arrangements more interesting, the performances more dynamic. Specifically how to get there, I didn’t know. I did know the songs were different. The subject matter was darker than anything else I’ve written.”
“More painful!” Teresa says, and laughs.
“Yeah,” Larry says with a smile. “I’m proud of our debut, but I felt like the songs were lighter than what I’m capable of doing. As a songwriter, I aspire to a sense of uniqueness: this is a great song and it could only have been written by me. I want to get there. It’s a journey, a goal, a pursuit. The mechanics of that pursuit are figuring out what you need to do to surpass your last body of work.”
Symphonic MasterpiecesOpening 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 HighlightsLegendary 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 forMr. 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.OperaWith 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 PresentsRelax 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 legendPatti 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 HighlightsPrepare 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 EncountersThis 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 EraBrevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEOMark 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 Festival2023 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 SeriesParker 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 & FESTIVALFounded 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®
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Program Launch and Expansions
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
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. 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!
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.
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 Series
February 23 – Getting Your Dahlias Ready for Planting
August 3 – Disbudding Dahlias for Better Blooms
October 26 – Dividing and Storing Dahlias
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.
|
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.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
Iron & Wine is the musical project of singer-songwriter Sam Beam. Born and raised in South Carolina, Beam was teaching film when his home recorded debut, The Creek Drank the Cradle, was released on Sub Pop records in 2002. Garnering both critical and popular acclaim, Beam was vaulted into the spotlight of the burgeoning indie-folk and Americana scenes. Now entering its 20th year, Iron & Wine have released seven full length recordings, numerous EPs/singles, and collaborations with Calexico, Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) and Jesca Hoop all on their way to becoming a four-time GRAMMY nominee. Iron & Wine’s music has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with their distinctly cinematic songs; in particular they’ve become synonymous with the movies Twilight and Garden State and continue to find a home in your favorite film, TV show or streaming playlist. As the world continues to spin — so do Iron & Wine continue on their path of releasing new music and touring.
“John Ford taps the roots of blues, giving those fortunate enough to hear him, a lesson in Blues 101….. ”
— Andrew Benson – Depot BBQ, Cincinnati, Ohio
It’s pre war blues, old school country, southern gospel and the history behind the music. John Ford assimilates the blues of the 1920’s and 30’s, the blues of Robert Johnson and Son House, a bit of 1940’s country and a pinch of gospel rhythm, and comes up with his own brand of the roots experience.
Ford has been writing since his early teens, growing up in New Richmond, Ohio a small river town 20 miles east of Cincinnati. “Whether it be a new song I’ve written or an old song from the 1930’s, I play what I fall in love with.”
John’s most recent album “John Ford Live at Morehead State University” was released in early 2020. With some of the area’s finest musicians playing along, Ford performs some classic blues standards as well as his original tune ” Ma Sibbi’s Chicken and Dumplins” an ode to his grandmother.
In 2016, he released “The John Ford Blues Society”, his first full length album.
John recorded the 2014 EP “Songs From Room 414″ at The Gunter Hotel in San Antonio Texas – the hallowed ground where Robert Johnson recorded 16 out of his 27 songs in November of 1936.
His first EP, “Injection of the Blues” was released in 2011.
Over the past few years he has performed at venues through out the Midwest and South including” The Shack Up Inn” in Clarksdale Mississippi and BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups in St. Louis, as well as opening for Cedric Burnside, Patrick Sweaney, Damon Fowler and Ruthie Foster.
Symphonic MasterpiecesOpening 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 HighlightsLegendary 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 forMr. 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.OperaWith 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 PresentsRelax 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 legendPatti 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 HighlightsPrepare 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 EncountersThis 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 EraBrevard Music Center celebrates the decade-long tenure of President & CEOMark 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 Festival2023 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 SeriesParker 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 & FESTIVALFounded 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.



