Smith Fine Arts Series announces 2024-25 performers
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A half-dozen music and dance groups will delight and amaze audiences with their diverse styles and world-class abilities during the 2024-25 Smith Fine Art Series beginning October at Western Oregon University’s Rice Auditorium.
From mariachi to the music of Wes Anderson films - and a little bit of everything in between - the Smith Series has much to offer during its 47th season.
Series subscriptions and individual performance tickets are available for purchase. Act now to guarantee your seats.
Oct.11 - Lucia Micarelli & Leo Amuedo
Lucia Micarelli and Leo Amuedo combine to shatter the boundaries of genre and tradition. Micarelli is a violinist, singer, and actress who has performed with Josh Groban, Barbara Streisand, and Jethro Tull. The Grammy-nominated guitarist Amuelo has worked with Stevie Wonder, Chris Botti, and legendary Brazilian singer Ivan Lins. Listen to magic happen as Micarelli and Amuedo create their own sound.
Dec. 7 - Grupo Bella
The Los Angeles-based Grupo Bella elegantly expands the styles of traditional Mexican folk performance. With an ever-evolving sound, the quintet’s interpretations of Mexican Folk are supported by expert musicianship and sheer passion. While their instrumentation is familiarly mariachi, what emerges is an enticing fusion of Mexican Pop, Boleros, Huasteco, and more. Todos son bienvenidos.
Jan. 8 - Emily Schoen Branch
Emily Schoen Branch’s choreography blends masterful dancing with subtlety and heart. This contemporary repertory concert features dance works spanning 13 years, original musical compositions, poetry by the renowned poet David Whyte, and a dynamic cast of five magnetic dancers. Through wit, fervor, and tenderness, the performance invites audience members to see themselves in the artists on stage.
March 15 - Marty Isenberg’s Wes Anderson Playlist
Bassist Marty Isenberg and his ensemble of young, extremely talented musicians capture the melancholy, wonder, and precision of filmmaker Wes Anderson. Isenberg has been part of the New York City music scene for more than two decades and played at legendary venues such as Birdland and the Blue Note, as well as on Broadway. He has also toured nationally and internationally, bringing his unique blend of jazz, classical music, theater, and contemporary music to audiences across the world.
April 12 - BEO String Quartet
Founded by two Mexican-American brothers in 2015, the eclectic and highly polished Beo String Quartet is a daring, genre-defying ensemble. BEO plays a standard classical repertoire of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich, along with contemporary composers including Gabriela Ortiz (Mexico), Missy Mazzoli (USA), and its own Sean Neukom. BEO is a hip, full-immersion group that is compelling, thought-provoking, and musically satisfying.
June 7 - The Revelers
The Grammy-nominated band The Revelers is dedicated to the “holy trinity” of Cajun culture: hot music, all-night dancing, and great food. Their sound encompasses the genre-bending world of Louisiana music, including swamp pop, zydeco, and Americana. Synthesizing these genres with old-school Louisiana music, The Revelers have created a “Louisiana jukebox” that is at once modern and traditional. Have your feet prepared for a lively evening of dancing and toe-tapping with The Revelers.
All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Leonard W. Rice Auditorium at Western Oregon University. Come and experience the transformative power of music and dance with the Smith Fine Arts Series.
About Smith Fine Arts Series
The Smith Fine Arts Series was launched by music professor Edgar H. Smith during the 1976-1977 school year. Since then, the series, which was renamed for him after his death in 1979, has provided world-class performances for people of all ages and educational outreach to thousands of mid-Willamette Valley students.
