Our Events

Each year, we invite around 4-7 guests to perform as part of our Green Guest Artist series. Past guests have included Yo-Yo Ma, Rhiannon Giddens, Postmodern Jukebox and many others! These concerts are often preceded by masterclasses, workshops, and class visits to give all our students a chance to meet and work with some of the best artists in the world! This year we welcome the Sinta Quartet, the American Brass Quintet, Terell Stafford and Sweet Honey in the Rock!

Saturday, Sept 24 • 7:30 PM • Kresge Auditorium

To kick off our Green Guest Artist Series, we have three-time Grammy-Award nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock! This performance marks the start of this incredible group's 50th-anniversary tour!

From fully staged operas and musicals to more intimate revue-style performances, we do it all! Each Fall, our beautiful Moore Theatre whirls into action as the collaborative process of performing a musical begins. Then in the Spring, the opera moves in and calls it home. In the between-time, Thompson Recital Hall hosts the performance of our “Music for the Stage” class as they perform scenes from various operas and musicals!

Thursday, September 29 - Sunday, October 2

Our first theatrical production of the year is "The Rocky Horror Picture Show!" For a special treat, join us at the Saturday showing of this cult classic at 10 PM!

The DePauw University School of Music is home to 7 unique large ensembles: University Orchestra, University Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, University Choir, Festival Choir, and Vox Animae. These large-scale collaborations give each student an opportunity to perform with their peers and perform great repertoire of old as well as contemporary masterworks. Alongside our large-ensembles, we also host an array of studio concerts, jazz combo performances, and collaborative events involving multiple groups! Pictured here is a photo from our Holiday Gala closing number which included the orchestra, band, choir, as well as faculty performers!

Sunday, Sept 18 • 3 PM • Kresge Auditorium

The DePauw University Orchestra starts the School of Music concert season in Kresge Auditorium at 3pm Sunday, September 18 with "Music for a Season Opener."  According to Orcenith Smith, Music Director of the Orchestra, "We are excited to channel the energy of the students into the narratives of this first concert!"  The program will feature the powerful and mysterious romantic masterpiece by Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8, the "Unfinished," and audience favorites like Hoe Down by Copland and Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 6. The orchestra will also present American composer Anne Gebuhr's Prelude to the opera "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" and Dance Rhythms by mid-twentieth century American Wallingford Riegger.  The one-hour concert is free and open to the public.

Our world-renown faculty perform regularly on our various stages! Whether giving a solo recital or performing alongside our new Lunchbox Series, there is always an opportunity for the students to hear their professors onstage!

Tuesday, Sept 20 • 11:40 PM • Music on the Square

Join us for the premiere concert of our new Lunchbox Series! This concert will feature the Catherine Marchese Bassoon Quartet as they perform Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

The Global Music Experience is a chance for students and faculty to experience music from various cultures across the world. Last year, the program focused on music from China and featured guest performers Gao Hong and Issam Rafea (pictured.)

This year's Global Music Experience will focus on India and Southeast Asia and will conclude with a Green Guest Artist Concert by table player Sandeep Das!

We host 2 different festivals each year: Music of the 21st Century and Jazzfest! Both of these events provide a wealth of opportunities for everyone involved! The week-long Music of the 21st Century Festival gives the students a chance to work with living composers as they prepare their works for two performances: an intimate chamber concert and a large-scale closing concert! In contrast, Jazzfest is a single day where the GCPA transforms into a Jazz beacon featuring guest artists, masterclasses for both individual students as well as high school jazz ensembles from across Indiana, performances from DePauw’s Jazz Ensemble, and a closing performance by a special artist!

This year's Music of the 21st Century festival will feature guest composers Melissa Dunphy, Evan Williams, and Drew Zaremba! Jazzfest will conclude with trumpet-legend, Terell Stafford!

Every performance major will perform 2 solo recitals during their time at DePauw: a 30-minute recital that caps off their junior year and an hour long one at the end of their senior year to showcase all that they have learned!

And these recitals are not just limited to performance majors, every student in the music program is welcome to perform a recital. Invite your friends, family, and everyone you know to experience music in a way that only you know how!

An all-hands-on-deck performance featuring all of our ensembles, faculty performances, and, sometimes, a special guest! This family-friendly concert is always a hit for the students, faculty/staff, and the community!

This year's theme is "Top 40 Holidays!" Stop by the Green Center to hear your favorite Holiday Hits!