The halls of the North Carolina History Center in historic downtown New Bern will echo with the sounds of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 21.
The North Carolina Symphony will give a free outdoor concert Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. on the Town Common in Tarboro. Symphony Associate Conductor David Glover will lead the orchestra in “Concerts in Your Community: Your Favorite Light Classics.” In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held in Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus of Edgecombe Community College.
Branford Marsalis and some talented friends will present an evening of unforgettable performances from across the musical spectrum on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Meymandi Concert Hall. The Grammy Award-winning saxophonist joins forces with Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the bluegrass supergroup the Kruger Brothers, as they join North Carolina Symphony Music Director Grant Llewellyn and the orchestra for a one-of-a-kind concert to benefit the North Carolina Symphony’s statewide service and education programs. Mr. Marsalis, Ms. Giddens, and the Kruger Brothers are all donating their performances for the benefit.
Even with clouds from a tropical depression, Civil War re-enactor Philip Brown began walking backroads May 11 on a 166 mile. 13-day journey from New Bern to Durham. The "Soldiers' Walk Home" event, organized by Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham, recalls the trek Washington Duke made when delivered to New Bern by the Union Army in 1865. Although Brown does not portray Duke, his route is similar to the one Duke might have taken.
The North Carolina Symphony launches its 2015 Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m., with a concert program that features pianist Timo Andres performing Gershwin’s incomparable Rhapsody in Blue, the orchestra’s performance of Dvořák’s New World Symphony, and other works by Copland and Sousa that feature “citizen musicians” as they join the orchestra.