A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we enter a new year, I want to thank you for engaging with the center in 2025. Your continued support inspires us to make art together as we make a difference. There is much to look forward to in 2026! Thank you for connecting with us.
With gratitude, Mark Fitzgerald Wilson
From showstopping performances to engaging community events, 2025 was a great year. Please enjoy these snapshots from the past year. We look forward to creating many more moments of joy with you in 2026.
PRESENTING SERIES
Prepare to be blown away! DRUM TAO delivers a breathtaking spectacle of raw power and exquisite artistry. Imagine the earth resonating with the thunderous pulse of massive Wadaiko drums, interwoven with the soaring melodies of Japanese flutes and the delicate shimmer of harps. This isn't just a performance; it's a visceral experience that shatters expectations and redefines Japanese entertainment for a new generation.
WELL-BEING CONCERT : ANAT COHEN QUARTETINHO | SAT JAN 24
Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen has won hearts and minds the world over with her expressive virtuosity and delightful stage presence. The Chicago Tribune said "The lyric beauty of her tone, easy fluidity of her technique and extroverted manner of her delivery make this music accessible to all." We're pleased to present this lively artist for our second Well-Being Concert held on-stage for a relaxing and mindful experience.
BUGS: BY KAKI KING & GLITCH | SUN FEB 1
One of the most acclaimed rock guitarists today blends music and technology with the wild and wonderful world in a fun-filled story about bugs, beetles, critters, and all things sugar! As King plays, different notes feed information into her signature projection mapping program, triggering images of the busy and fascinating lives of bugs onto her guitar. This performance is part of the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital Family Series.
Sangjaru is a captivating Korean folk fusion band that merges the energy of traditional Korean music with the infectious rhythms of gypsy swing, funk, rock, and improvisation. The name "Sangjaru" originates from the combination of two Korean words, "sangja" (box) and "jaru" (sack). While a box retains a fixed form, a sack adapts to its contents. Inspired by this analogy, the band aspires to infuse new creativity into the rich traditions of Korean music.
DOCUMENTARY SCREENING & PANEL: THE EBONY CANAL | THU FEB 12
Narrated by Academy Award winner Viola Davis, The Ebony Canal is apoignant award-winning documentary film that delves into the disparities of infant mortality and maternal health among Black and Brown women, weaving together powerful stories of healing, and hope to inspire solution-driven practices that transform the future of maternal care.
AKROPOLIS REED QUINTET | SAT FEB 14
The GRAMMY® Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet celebrates their 16th season as "a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity" (BBC Music Magazine). The quintet has graced the Classical Billboard Charts with each of their last three albums, including #2 in April, 2024.
THE JANE AUSTEN PLAYLIST | SUN FEB 15
Discover the music that Jane Austen played and loved. The Jane Austen Playlist, founded in 2019, is a historical music project featuring the music of the Austen family in digitized notations, companion recordings, and dramatically narrated performances. In addition to Jane's passion for writing, she also loved music. All of Jane's writing, including her letters and colorful characters, express music's role in her life.
TRAVELING WHILE BLACK | SELECT DATES FEB-APR
Traveling While Black is a film by Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Emmy Award-winning Felix & Paul Studios that transports viewers to historic Ben's Chili Bowl diner in Washington, D.C. A virtual reality experience, viewers share an intimate series of moments with several of Ben's patrons as they reflect on their experiences of restricted movement and race relations in the United States.
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY MUSIC DEPARTMENT
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY JAZZ FACULTY: THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK | FRI JAN 30
The Lehigh University Jazz Faculty showcases the music of America's greatest pop and jazz composers in a tribute to The Great American Songbook. Bill Warfield, director.
NEW YORK JAZZ REPERTORY ORCHESTRA: HOLLYWOOD JAZZ | SAT FEB 7
Hollywood Jazz, features iconic film music from the 1940s to the present under the direction of Bill Warfield. In 1992, Warfield was commissioned by the government of Spain to produce a musical for the Olympics. The ensemble performs the music from Hollywood Jazz.
LUVME: MORE FOOD AND LOVE | SUN FEB 8
Art songs about food and love in Korean, Italian, and English, including the premiere of Paul Salerni's Korean Love Songs. Yunah Lee, soprano and Kyung-Eun Na, pianoforte. Kyle Wernke and Darin Lewis, co-directors.
PHILHARMONIC: CONCERTO MARATHON! | FRI FEB 20 & SAT FEB 21
The Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra's annual concerto marathon returns! Come hear Lehigh's students perform a variety of concertos alongside classics by John Williams, including The Mission, his theme for NBC Nightly News. Kyle Wernke, director.
JAZZ REPERTORY ORCHESTRA: TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY BIG BAND MUSIC | SAT FEB 28
Experience the power and energy of traditional and contemporary Big Band jazz, performed by the Lehigh University Jazz Repertory Orchestra. Bill Warfield, director.
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST | FEB 20 - 28
Oscar Wilde's dazzling comedy of manners bursts to life with razor-sharp wit and deliciously clever dialogue. A sparkling romp of mistaken identities, secret romances, and satirical jabs at society-The Importance of Being Earnest is a timeless treasure that never goes out of style. Jessie Dean, director.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
We're pleased to be part of strong community connections on and off-campus!
We opened the door to festive fun at Historic Bethehem's Live Advent Calendar December 2nd at the Sun Inn Courtyard with our musical guest Alex Radus.
'Twas the season for decorating and the Zoellner team spruced up our lobby for an Instagrammable spot!
NBC Today Show host Craig Melvin and crew paid us a visit to interview The Vienna Boys Choir in Baker Hall and aired the feature on Christmas Day.
For our last performance of 2025, the Liberty High School Pipes and Drums Band raised the roof with a great curtain warmer before Sean Heely's Celtic Christmas.