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.

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.
The FREE family concert invites families throughout Asheville to come together for a special
evening of empowerment and connection. The first 100 youth attending will receive a FREE 72-
page creative expression journal, EXPRESS IT!, empowerment wristband and stickers to
support mental wellness and encourage creative expression. Youth and their families are also
invited to create together on a collaborative art mural that will be displayed in Asheville post-
event. The EXPRESS IT! book was created by award-winning empowerment nonprofit,
Free2Luv, during Covid to support youth, teens, and young adults struggling with depression,
anxiety, and isolation. Free2Luv utilizes the arts to promote mental wellness, build self-esteem,
and empower youth to be their best selves.
'Turn the Sound Up for Mental Health' featuring some of Asheville's brightest musicians will
feature a FREE family pre-show followed by a 21 & over show. The line-up includes Lenny
Pettinelli from Empire Strikes Brass on keys; Nik Hope from Empire Strikes Brass on drums;
Datrian Johnson, vocalist from The Fritz & Free Radio; Josh Blake from The Funk Jam Band on
guitar; Kayla Lynn, vocalist and Free2Luv Music Ambassador; King Garfield from Funk'N
Around on trombone; Melissa McKinney, vocalist, The One Voice Project; and guest vocalists
Dani Cox, Reggie Headen, Kathryn O'Shea, Debrissa McKinney, and Rachel Waterhouse.
‘Turn the Sound Up for Mental Health’ Event Details:
May 19, 2022
Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
5 pm Doors open for family show, art mural available to create before show start
6 pm – 7 pm: FREE Family show (Free creative expression activity books and swag for the first
100 youth)
8 pm Doors open for 21 & over show, $10 per person
9 pm – midnight: 21 & over show

Beginning in May and running through September, these free outdoor shows will ramp up downtown fun on the third Thursday of each month, complete with craft beverages, food trucks and kids’ activities. Each concert will take place at the south end of Main Street, closing off the blocks between Allen and Caswell streets.
As the premier live music event of Hendersonville, Rhythm & Brews brings in a variety of established acts as well as up-and-coming artists from around the nation. Whether you love soul, rock, bluegrass or the funky stuff, Rhythm & Brews will put a smile on your face and broaden your musical horizons.
2022 Rhythm & Brews Concert Series Lineup:
May 19: Flow Tribe [[New Orleans funk rock]] with LazrLuvr [[80s cover party]]
June 16: Erin & The Wildfire [[indie-pop soul]] with Hustle Souls [[soul/rock]]
July 21: Melt [[soulful indie/jam]] with Pink Beds [[danceable indie-pop]]
August 18: Alexa Rose [[americana/folk]] with Aaron Burdett [[singer-songwriter]]
September 15: The Wooks [[upbeat bluegrass]] with The Greybirds [[classic-style rock]]
Opening acts will kick off each evening at 5:30 p.m. followed by the headliner performance from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.
For the youngest in the family, the Hands On! Kid Zone will provide kid-friendly activities. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy downtown Hendersonville’s first fully integrated beer and wine garden featuring locally crafted drinks from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Guidon Brewing Co., Oklawaha Brewing Co., Dry Falls Brewery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, Flat Rock Cider Company and Bold Rock Hard Cider.
All net proceeds from adult beverage sales will benefit the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville 501c3 nonprofit, whose mission is to identify, preserve and enhance the key factors that contribute to the authentic small town urban character of historic downtown Hendersonville. In the past year, the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville has supported downtown businesses with over $35,000 in direct business support through the façade and pivot grant programs.
New in 2021, R&B Super Fan Tent provides an enhanced experience with a shaded viewing area including beer, wine and light refreshments from Moe’s BBQ. Individuals can become R&B Super Fans by purchasing a season package sponsorship for $200. The package includes two sponsor tent tickets to each show and two R&B season t-shirts. Becoming a R&B Super Fan sponsor support will not only help sustain R&B, but other Downtown Program events including Hendersonville Farmers Market, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk, and more. Visit the event website for more information on how to become a Super Fan. The Super Fan Tent is supported by B Squared Realty.
Looking for a fun volunteer opportunity? Lending your time at Rhythm & Brews is a great way to meet new people and get involved in a community event. Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form to get started.
Rhythm & Brews Concert Series was started in 2013 by Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, a 501c3 nonprofit operated by the Downtown Division of the City of Hendersonville Community Development Department. For more information, visit downtownhendersonville.org.
At the eighth annual Sound Effects concert to benefit Asheville Music School on Thursday, May 19 from 6 – 10 PM at Salvage Station, Asheville musicians team up to perform The Beatles’ White Album. The Asheville Beatles Band, made up of an all-star cast of Asheville musicians, will perform songs from the fab four’s only double album, with classics like “Dear Prudence,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and the controversial “Helter Skelter.”
“‘The White Album’ was recorded during an interesting time for the group,” says AMS director Ryan Reardon. “A lot of the songs were written, and even recorded, without all of the members. So, you have a handful of intimate, solo acoustic type of songs, like ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Julia,’ along with some epic rock anthems. We plan to highlight and showcase this contrast in the live setting.”
AMS flagship student rock band Minør will be opening the show, along with Liminal Spaces led by Mar Perez-Albela. All proceeds from the event will benefit Asheville Music School’s operations, mission, and programs, particularly the school’s growing outreach and scholarship programs.
Tickets
Tickets to the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door; all ages. Children under 10 years of age are free. Advance tickets may be purchased on the Salvage Station website at salvagestation.com.
We are a group of women who love to sing a cappella harmony in a variety of styles. We are seeking Leads but welcome other parts too—Baritone, Bass, Tenor.
Because we care about quality, we require user -friendly auditions.
We meet weekly.
Check us out!

Spring 2022 Amphitheater Series
An eclectic mix of music in TFAC’s popular Peterson Amphitheater awaits you this spring! From energetic folk to blends of country and rock, TFAC’s lineup of 90-minute, outdoor concerts will fill the air with music and have you singing & dancing.

Music’s elders and icons established the initial template for Rock ‘n’ Roll, but it’s the newer generation that keeps it thriving and moving forward. So credit the Kenny George Band for doing exactly that.
Comprised of Kenny George (lead guitar, vocals, songwriter), Randy Borawski (drums, harmony vocals), Center Ely (steel guitar) and Brooks Andrews (bass), this hardworking ensemble has earned their stripes the hard way. Performing an average of 150 to 180 shows per year throughout the heartland, they bring their music to the masses one gig at a time.
“Our goal has always been to connect with our audiences,” George insists. “Our music is honest and organic, and we deliberately avoid pretense. We may seem like a ragtag bunch, but there’s a passion, purpose and sincerity that underscores everything we do, and hopefully that’s apparent even the first time you hear us play.”
Hailing from Aiken, South Carolina, the Kenny George Band has created an indelible impression with fans throughout the Southeast and Midwest, playing 250 concerts in the last two years alone. They’ve traveled the highways and byways between North and South Carolina, Tennessee,Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Missouri, reconnecting with their fervent followers and picking up new fans along the way.
The concert begins at 6:30 PM. Food options and beverages will be available for purchase.

Come join us for Spiro!

***Performance moved to The Orange Peel from Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre! Original tickets/links purchased are still valid for entry at Orange Peel***

from McKinney & Funk’N Around
from Empire Strikes Brass
from The Fritz & Free Radio
from Empire Strikes Brass
from The Funk Jam Band
from Funk’N Around
Dani Cox
from Secret Agent Skidoo
from Free Radio & Secret Agent Skidoo
Step Into the heart of Rwanda With Culture Keeper David Kwizera + the LEAF International Rwanda Jr. Troupe! This spring documentary is exactly what you need!

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.
Downtown After 5, presented by Prestige Subaru, returns to Lexington Avenue this Friday, May 20 with music from two-time GRAMMY winner Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience and locals Sanctum Sully.
Lot’s of local and regional brews, as well as cider, seltzer and wine available for purchase. Plus, food vendors: Buggy Pops, Cecelia’s Kitchen, Cooking with Comedy, Funnel King, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Kernel Mike’s Kettle Corn, Sunshine Sammies and Tin Can Pizzeria.
Grab your friends, grab your family and join Odyssey Community School for an evening of music, dance and joy! Ticket includes food, 1 drink and headphones for our Silent Disco fundraiser event!
Visiting Asheville soon and looking for a fun way to fill your Friday night? The Asheville Drum Circle is a tradition unique to the area. While locals usually begin the beating of drums, tourists are welcome to join, dance, or simply take in the incredible atmosphere at any point.
If you’re looking for things to do in the area during your stay, this is a must! Here’s everything you should know about the Drum Circle.
The Asheville Drum Circle is a free event that’s open to all.

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Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
This production is presented in partnership with the Asheville High School Theatre Department. MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
This production is presented in partnership with the Asheville High School Theatre Department.
*Effective September 3, 2021: This event has been rescheduled to May 20, 2022.
A phenomenally successful instrumentalist whose recordings routinely made the pop, R&B, and jazz charts during the 1980s and ’90s, Kenny G‘s sound became a staple on adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio stations. He’s a fine player with an attractive sound (influenced a bit by Grover Washington, Jr.) who often caresses melodies, putting a lot of emotion into his solos. Because he does not improvise much (sticking mostly to predictable melody statements), his music largely falls outside of jazz. However, because he is listed at the top of “contemporary jazz” charts and is identified with jazz in the minds of the mass public, he is classified as jazz.

Few artists can pinpoint an emotion as clearly and honestly as Beach Bunny’s Lili Trifilio. On Honeymoon, the excellent debut album from Trifilio’s songwriting project and four-piece band,it’s as if she’s singing about things everyone has felt before but never had the courage to put in words themselves. It’s the stunning culmination of her evolution as a songwriter and artist, which started in 2015 as a bedroom pop solo project. Recorded at the iconic Chicago studio Electrical Audio with producer Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Algernon Caldwaller), the nine songs on the LP burst with energy that capture their vital and life-affirming live shows. Songs like the swooning and anthemic singles “Dream Boy” and “Ms. California” encapsulate the highs and lows the exiting the honeymoon stage of a relationship. It’s album for anyone whose felt uncertain and doubtful about their future and had the courage to dive in and choose optimism and love. Unlike Beach Bunny’s self-released EPs which were largely written in a single month, Honeymoon came about patiently, over the course of nine months. The result is a more confident and clear-eyed band that make some of the most charming and relatable rock anthems of the year.
You couldn’t get enough the first time, and you’ve been requesting it every year since! Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” brought together icons Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley for one unforgettable night. Featuring over 20 rock ‘n’ roll hits including: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Down By the Riverside,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and many more. Don’t miss Nat Zegree returning as Jerry Lee Lewis! Tickets will fly away fast, so don’t miss your chance to see this exceptional musical feast.

Few artists can pinpoint an emotion as clearly and honestly as Beach Bunny’s Lili Trifilio. On Honeymoon, the excellent debut album from Trifilio’s songwriting project and four-piece band,it’s as if she’s singing about things everyone has felt before but never had the courage to put in words themselves. It’s the stunning culmination of her evolution as a songwriter and artist, which started in 2015 as a bedroom pop solo project. Recorded at the iconic Chicago studio Electrical Audio with producer Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Algernon Caldwaller), the nine songs on the LP burst with energy that capture their vital and life-affirming live shows. Songs like the swooning and anthemic singles “Dream Boy” and “Ms. California” encapsulate the highs and lows the exiting the honeymoon stage of a relationship. It’s album for anyone whose felt uncertain and doubtful about their future and had the courage to dive in and choose optimism and love. Unlike Beach Bunny’s self-released EPs which were largely written in a single month, Honeymoon came about patiently, over the course of nine months. The result is a more confident and clear-eyed band that make some of the most charming and relatable rock anthems of the year.

Reserved Seat Tickets are available with Dinner reservations – You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 to make dinner reservations and secure those tickets.
General Admission Tickets are available for the main stage balcony only. Seating in the balcony is first come, first serve.
You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 for Reserve Seat Tickets and to make dinner reservations.
Masks are required for this concert by request of the Artist
All ticket sales are final.

Don’t miss 2x Grammy nominee Gretchen Peters for a seated show at Isis Music Hall on Friday, May 20th!
“…songs that manage, with deft use of language, to cram a whole epic into three minutes. It’s astonishingly good writing.” – Pop Matters
“Stunning” – Rolling Stone Country
“Beautifully defined and utterly compelling album.. Peters’ ability to give voice to believable characters is unbeatable.” – The Mirror (UK)
“50 minutes of exquisite-sounding emotional devastation, depression, murder and heartbreak” – The Tennessean
Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis Music Hall. Reservations are highly recommended.
Reserved Seat Tickets are available with Dinner reservations – You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 to make dinner reservations and secure those tickets.
General Admission Tickets are available for the main stage balcony only. Seating in the balcony is first come, first serve. Dinner service is NOT currently being offered for general admission tickets.; drink service is available at the downstairs bar on the main floor.
Currently, Only General Admission Tickets are available on line
You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 for Reserve Seat Tickets and to make dinner reservations.
https://www.gretchenpeters.com/
A singer and songwriter whose work is both literate and easily relatable, Gretchen Peters has enjoyed a successful career as a recording artist, releasing a series of albums that have made her a cult heroine thanks to her clear, expressive voice and way with a melody. Her recordings have earned her a devoted following, but there are plenty of folks who are fans of her work and don’t even know it — Peters is a go-to songwriter for many of the biggest names in country and pop. In 1991, Peters’ “The Chill of an Early Fall” was recorded by George Strait and became her first hit as a tunesmith, while Martina McBride’s 1993 recording of “Independence Day” was not only a major success, but was voted Song of the Year by the Country Music Association.
Since then, she’s penned hits for Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Bonnie Raitt, and Neil Diamond, among many others, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014. Peters received a solo writing credit for “Let That Pony Run,” which became a Top 10 Country hit for Pam Tillis in 1993.
Peters received her first Grammy nomination for Song of the Year in 1995 for “Independence Day,” recorded by Martina McBride. She was nominated again for a Song of the Year Grammy in 1996 with the Patty Loveless chart-topper “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am.” In 2014, Peters was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Step Into the heart of Rwanda With Culture Keeper David Kwizera + the LEAF International Rwanda Jr. Troupe! This spring documentary is exactly what you need!

Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.
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“Owen is in isolation. He has locked himself away from society. No one seems to understand, respect and love him. Owen is healing his own wounds. However, Owen has a new crush on a boy in the mirror. Owen said he was done with love. But, will he learn the true message of love this time? Or is the answer in the reflection?…”
You couldn’t get enough the first time, and you’ve been requesting it every year since! Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” brought together icons Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley for one unforgettable night. Featuring over 20 rock ‘n’ roll hits including: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Down By the Riverside,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and many more. Don’t miss Nat Zegree returning as Jerry Lee Lewis! Tickets will fly away fast, so don’t miss your chance to see this exceptional musical feast.

Dumpstaphunk stands out amongst New Orleans’ best, cementing themselves as one of the funkiest bands to ever arise from the Crescent City. Born on the Jazz & Heritage Festival stage, and descended from Neville and Meters family bloodlines, these soldiers of funk ignite a deep, gritty groove that dares listeners not to move. Their performances combine ingenious musicianship through complex funk, rock, and jazz arrangements accompanied by soulful melodies and Big Easy traditions.
The band just released their 4th studio album Where Do We Go From Here on April 23, 2021 featuring Marcus King, Trombone Shorty and Chali 2Na, and is now available on double bronze vinyl, CD and all digital platforms. Dumpstaphunk culled material from many different sources over the past few years, creating during downtime and rare off tour cycle stop-gaps at various studios in New Orleans: some songs were born on-the-spot in the studio, others as a drum beat or a groove at sound-check. A few were simply covers that were already in the band’s live repertoire. The songwriting was largely collaborative, with all band-members contributing their own respective stylistic nuances.
For the past 17 years, Dumpstaphunk has earned its reputation as the most well-regarded next-generation New Orleans live powerhouse, the type of band whose live shows attract sit-ins from legends like Carlos Santana, Bob Weir and Trombone Shorty. Alongside Hall, Daniels, Alex Wasily, Ryan Nyther and drummer Deven Trusclair, cousins Ivan and Ian Neville have built upon their family’s iconic NOLA legacy as they’ve transformed Dumpstaphunk into the city’s pre-eminent 21st-century funk-fusion export, resulting in recent career highlights like their July 2019 opening gig for the Rolling Stones on their home turf at the Superdome.
Dueling baselines from Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III set off one of the dirtiest rhythm sections on the planet, while Ivan Neville lights up the Hammond B3 keys and cousin Ian Neville’s funky guitar riffs send the groove into overdrive. Dumpstaphunk tosses around lead vocals and four-part harmonies the way Sly & the Family Stone did, but with three studio albums under their belt, Dumpstaphunk stands on the merit of their own material.
Dumpstaphunk has performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every year since 2001 and continues to tour all over the world. Most recently, before the pandemic the band supported The Rolling Stones in New Orleans, as well as toured with George Clinton & The Parliament Funkadelic for his farewell tour. They have performed on hundreds of festival stages likeJamCruise, Dead & Company’s Playing in the Sand, Lockn Festival, NYC’s Summerstage, and Byron Bay Bluesfest, and you never know who may appear as a guest on stage with the band on any given night. Guest appearances have included Santana, Bob Weir, John Oates, Lucas Nelson, Deen Ween, Blackbyrd McKnight, Jerry Harrison, Marcus King and Nicki Bluhm.
REBEKAH TODD: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
Growing up in the small town of Benson, North Carolina, Rebekah Todd has been surrounded by music for as long as she can remember. At 11 years old, Rebekah’s father, a musician himself, gave her a black acoustic Washburn guitar and taught her to play. Flooding the house with sounds of classic rock and folk, her father played everything from Pink Floyd to the Righteous Brothers, leading Rebekah to instantly find her musical niche somewhere between melodic soul and alternative folk-rock. Growing into her soulful voice and musical style, the singer-songwriter started to pull inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, citing passionate singer/songwriters like Lauryn Hill and Susan Tedeschi as her inspiration and shaping the music she writes and performs today. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from East Carolina University in 2012, Rebekah has been devoting her life to writing and touring. Currently based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Rebekah is a gifted performer with a natural, soulful, and effortless voice and two releases under her belt, releasing her debut EP, Forget Me Not, in 2011, first LP, Roots Bury Deep, in 2014 and most recent full length, ‘Crooked Lines’ in February 2017. Todd has received countless awards and recognition including 2013 Carolina Music Awards “Best Female Musician”, 2016 winner of Floyd Fest “On The Rise” Competition, 2017 Wilma Magazine’s Woman to Watch, 2018 Encore Magazine’s “Best Female Musician” and much more.
Todd is currently writing a new album set to be released and toured with her full band, Rebekah Todd & The Odyssey in 2022.

Ever since her acclaimed 2007 VizzTone debut Gina Sicilia has been known as a uniquely talented blues and soul singer, soon expanding her range to cover all sorts of American Roots music, working with producers including Dave Gross, Dave Darling, Glenn Barratt, Cody Dickinson, and now Colin Linden. Colin enthuses: “Gina – pure blues, old world, old soul, new sound… Every day was a fresh take on sharing joy, heartache and redemption.” As soon as they started pre-production, Gina and Colin discovered a mutual affinity for classic Gospel music, setting the tone for the sessions. The album features a few classics by the likes of Sam Cooke and Reverend Gary Davis, as well as a variety of more contemporary styles, but all the tracks embraced the deeply emotional delivery and the sometimes understated, sparse ambiance that allow Gina and Colin to shine through.

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Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
This production is presented in partnership with the Asheville High School Theatre Department. MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
This production is presented in partnership with the Asheville High School Theatre Department.



