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Appalachian’s “The Schaefer Center Presents…” 2018-19 Performance Series, Starts October 5

The 2018-19 season of “The Schaefer Center Presents…” performance series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, offers students, faculty, staff and the community a diverse array of music, theatre and dance events, spanning from Oct. 2018 through April 2019.
 
The series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance by creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities. Tickets for these events are on sale now at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. 
 
Shovels and Rope will perform at the Schaefer Center on October 5th, blending traditional folk with rock and roll and country rock.

Oct. 5, 2018 – Shovels & Rope

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
Shovels & Rope is an American folk duo from Charleston, South Carolina composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. Combining threads from their individual solo careers, Shovels & Rope blends traditional folk, rock and roll and country rock.
 
The North Carolina Symphony will perform a program reflecting Cherokee identity at the Schaefer Center on October 19th.

Oct. 19, 2018 – North Carolina Symphony

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
Under the direction of Grant Llewellyn, the North Carolina Symphony will return to the Schaefer Center to present a program featuring the Cherokee Chamber Singers, soprano Eliza Bagg and the Hayes School of Music’s Appalachian Symphony Orchestra.
 
The Symphony and the Singers will perform selections from a brand-new work by Brooklyn-based composer and Western North Carolina native William Brittelle—a work reflecting Cherokee identity through the perspectives and poetry of its youth. This project was undertaken with the support of the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, with the goals of engaging Cherokee youth in cultural conversations, preserving and sharing the Cherokee language, and providing extensive orchestral music education opportunities for Cherokee students.
 
Program:
Overture to Candide – Leonard Bernstein
Quiet City – Aaron Copland
Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here) – William Brittelle
Suite from Appalachian Spring (1945 orchestration) – Aaron Copland
 
Stephen Stills and Judy Collins will perform, sharing how their love affair from 50 years ago led them to shape modern music, at the Schaefer Center on November 8th.

Nov. 8, 2018 – Stephen Stills and Judy Collins

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
Over 50 years ago, Stephen Stills met Judy Collins and their tumultuous love affair was immortalized by Stills with his composition “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash on their landmark debut. Both artists would go on to shape modern music with visionary approaches, but Stills and Collins’ short fiery union remains a transformative era for the two artists. 
 
These music icons will pull from their rich catalogs and share warm and intimate stories from their journeys and the 1960s folk and Laurel Canyon scenes they helped build.
 
Ballet Folkórico de México will perform dances that reflect the cultural traditions of Mexico at the Schaefer Center on November 14th.

Nov. 14, 2018 – Ballet Folkórico de México

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
This world-renowned, folkloric ballet ensemble from Mexico City is beloved for its artistry and ability to captivate audiences. For six decades, the company has presented dances reflecting the cultural traditions of Mexico, featuring authentic music and costumes, combined with inspired dancing that brings audiences to their feet. With its permanent home at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most historic venues, the company has developed choreography for 40 ballets, composed of 76 folk dancers who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad. 
 
Ballet Folkórico de México will also be performing a matinee for K-12 students from 10 surrounding counties as part of the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series sponsored by Appalachian’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. 
 
Herbie Hancock will be performing at the Schaefer Center on February 13th, pushing the boundaries of musical thought by embracing elements of different genres.

Feb. 13, 2019 – Herbie Hancock

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
Herbie Hancock has defied tradition over the years creating music that expands the possibilities of musical thought. Embracing elements of rock, soul, funk and electronica, Hancock is often described by many as a visionary, an architect in the post-bop sound. With a career spanning more than 50 years, his passion for innovation and creativity remain unparalleled.
 
A legendary pianist and composer, Hancock has received an Academy Award for his Round Midnight score and 14 Grammy Awards, including Album of The Year. He currently serves as Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and as Institute Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.  In 2011 Hancock was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, received a Kennedy Center Honors Award in 2013 and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016. 
 
The Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform at the Schaefer Center on February 19th.

Feb. 19, 2018 – Dance Theatre of Harlem

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem is a globally-acclaimed dance institution that has occupied a distinguished place in the New York City’s cultural landscape and brings innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences across the country and around the world. The 16-member professional dance ensemble has performed in 41 countries on six continents, in 44 states and more than 250 cities across North America.
 
Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its fourth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with a legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.  
 
This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and also involves residency activities from Feb. 18-20, 2019.
 
The World of Musicals will perform at the Schaefer Center on April 5th, bringing musicals that the audience will feel compelled to sing along with.

April 5, 2019 – The World of Musicals

7 p.m., Schafer Center for the Performing Arts
“The World of Musicals” brings the very best of musical theatre to life. This captivating production is an emotional journey through the great world of musicals that will leave audiences spell-bound and singing along with their favorite show tunes from the movies and musicals they love.  
 
With beautiful and emotional ballads from “Evita,” “Les Miserables” and “Phantom of the Opera” along with great up-beat favourites from “Dirty Dancing,” “Rock of Ages” and “Mamma Mia,” there is something in this show for everyone. Highlights from the newest musicals such as “Sister Act II” will also be featured along with the classics from the Golden Age of American Musical Theatre by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, George Gershwin and Stephen Sondheim.
 
“The World of Musicals” will also be performing a matinee for K-12 students from 10 surrounding counties as part of the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series sponsored by Appalachian’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs. 
 

Tickets

Tickets for these events are on sale at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office and online at http://theschaefercenter.org.  A faculty/staff and retired faculty/staff discount is available when tickets are purchased over the phone or at the box office. A local resident discount with proof of residence in Watauga, Ashe or Avery counties for Ballet Folkórico de México and Dance Theatre of Harlem is available when tickets are purchased over the phone or at the box office. To purchase tickets, call or visit the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at 800-841-2787, 828-262-4046 or visit: http://theschaefercenter.org.
 
For more information, visit http://theschaefercenter.org/ or call 828-262-4046.
 

About “The Schaefer Center Presents…”

“The Schaefer Center Presents” is a series offering campus and community audiences a diverse array of music, dance and theatre programming designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the Appalachian State University campus and surrounding area. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists; and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region. Musical events range from symphony orchestra and chamber music performances to jazz, folk, traditional, international, and popular artists. Theatre productions run the gamut from serious drama to musical comedy. Dance performances offer an equally wide array of styles, from ballet to modern dance to international companies representing cultural traditions from around the world.