Performing Arts Series

Learn more about this concert’s music in a free pre-concert lecture by Professor Emeritus of Music Larry Hamberlin.

Food Drive at the MAC

Rising star jazz pianist Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Middlebury debut with “A Guaraldi Holiday,” which promises to start your December in a swinging mood. Thompson will highlight the works of composer/pianist Vince Guaraldi, who introduced generations to jazz through his Peanuts cartoon-accompanying scores. Guaraldi’s works are in good hands with Thompson, who’s already been named a Steinway artist, and is the winner of the 2023 American Pianists Association Awards, as well as their Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz.

The forgotten story of Mozart’s genius sister. This award-winning play written and performed by Sylvia Milo tells the true story of Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Amadeus. She was a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso, and composer who performed throughout Europe with her brother, to equal acclaim—but her work and her story faded away, lost to history.

The visiting faculty ensemble from the Music Institute of Long Island (our Rothrock Residency artists) share what recordings they are listening to that inspire them.  Open to all Middlebury ID holders. Bring your own lunch or grab from Ross Dining upstairs.  A free playlist will be provided after lunch. Signup at go/listeninglunch

Faculty musicians from the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) treat us to an evening of chamber music including Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Turina, Mendelssohn, and more!  Established in 1990, MILI is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. This performance is the culminating event of their current Rothrock Residency working with Middlebury students.

About the Artists: 

Theatre Workshop with The Acting Company
Mahaney Arts Center, Room 232

A workshop for Middlebury theatre students, led by Robert Cornelius (playing West in Two Trains Running) and other members of the The Acting Company. After an introduction to August Wilson, his Century Plays, and his overall impact on the American Theater, conversation will narrow in on the details of Two Trains Running, and the specific choices that created this production. Participants will also get up on their feet for theatre exercises.

An interactive textual analysis workshop for actors from on- and off-campus, led by Robert Cornelius (playing West in Two Trains Running) and other members of the The Acting Company. Free, but advanced sign up required.

Professors Claudio Medeiros (Theatre) and Jerry Philogene (Black Studies) will lead a cozy book club session about August Wilson’s Two Trains Running. Refreshments provided. This event is a lead-up to the production at Wright Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 13, performed by The Acting Company and presented by the Middlebury Performing Arts Series.

NOTE: Sign-up for this event is now closed as capacity for attendance has been reached.

Join us for the Vermont premiere of Sky Was Possible, a song cycle for soprano, flute, and piano composed by Middlebury’s own Fletcher Professor of the Arts and Music Department Chair Su Lian Tan, with texts by Middlebury President and Professor of Religion Laurie Patton. Sky Was Possible consists of four poems from Patton’s books Fire’s Goal: Poems from a Hindu Year and House Crossing, taking us on a journey through love, love lost, and love passing. Soprano Kristen Watson andpianist John McDonald will start the evening with J.S.

Jillian Meyers is an Emmy Nominated LA based Choreographer who has been an assistant to Brian Friedman, Tovaris Wilson, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Gil Duldulao and Mandy Moore. She worked with Moore on the award winning film La La Land and both herself and Moore earned Emmy nominations for their work on the hit series Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Myers has been fortunate to work with leading musical acts such as The Lumineers, Vance Joy, Hozier, Janet Jackson, and more. Ultimately, Jillian loves to dance and is excited by any experience related to her passion.