2026-2027 Season
Isidore String Quartet + Sterling Elliott, cello
Thursday, September 24, 2026
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Experience a transformative evening of chamber music as the Isidore String Quartet—celebrated for their commitment to “revisit, rediscover, and reinvigorate…” the classical canon—joins forces with the virtuosic cellist Sterling Elliott. This powerhouse collaboration moves from the elegant, cello-forward brilliance of Mozart’s String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575 and the evocative Bridge 3 Idylls to the monumental emotional depth of Schubert’s Cello Quintet. Combining the quartet’s Banff-winning precision with Elliott’s acclaimed “joyous musicianship,” the performance promises to treat these established masterpieces with a sense of innovation.
Actors From the London Stage: “Much Ado About Nothing”
Thursday, October 22, 2026
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Experience the wit and wordplay of Much Ado About Nothing as brought to life by Actors From The London Stage, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious touring Shakespeare companies. Co-founded by Sir Patrick Stewart and featuring elite talent from the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe, this ensemble delivers a high-energy, actor-driven tour de force that makes the Bard’s work feel immediate and accessible. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to see Shakespeare’s timeless comedy performed with the mastery and vibrancy that only these world-class artists can provide.
Vox Luminis: Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610
Thursday, November 12, 2026
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Under the meticulous direction of Lionel Meunier, Vox Luminis delivers a breathtaking interpretation of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 that highlights the Belgian early music vocalensemble’s signature blend of individual vocal character and seamless choral unity.
Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 (formally titled “Vespro della Beata Vergine”) is a monumental work of sacred music that bridges the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Published while Monteverdi was working in Mantua, it combines traditional Gregorian chant with innovative compositional techniques of the emerging Baroque style.
NexTonal, chamber winds
Tuesday, January 26, 2027
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Experience the evolution of wind music with NexTonal, a premier wind decet dedicated to bridging the gap between classical legacy and modern innovation. Their performance at Wake Forest, titled Breath of the World, takes listeners on a sonic journey featuring a sophisticated ensemble of ten virtuoso musicians performing a blend of foundational masterworks and bold new commissions. This performance highlights the vibrant voices of today, including new works by Danielle Fisher and David Huang Mailman. Join us for an evening that honors the past while championing the diverse and vital future of chamber music.
Zlata Chochieva, piano
Thursday, February 18, 2027
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Celebrated for a “refined tonal sensitivity” and a mastery reminiscent of the great Sergei Rachmaninov, Zlata Chochieva brings her “overwhelming power” to a program that spans the technical and emotional extremes of the piano. Weaving together the structural brilliance of Saint-Saëns and the tempestuous passion of Beethoven’s “Appassionata,” the repertoire also includes works by Henry Cowell, Ravel, and Brahms.
Angela Brown, soprano: “When the Caged Bird Sings”
Thursday, March 18, 2027
7:30 PM
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center
Join world-renowned soprano Angela Brown—a veteran of the Metropolitan Opera and international stages—for a transcendent evening celebrating the enduring legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou and her deep roots in Winston-Salem. This performance features “A Woman’s Life,” composed by Richard Danielpour for Ms. Brown, and setting the poems hand-selected by Dr. Angelou following a personal visit at the poet’s home. Having graced global stages from the Paris National Opera to the Kennedy Center, Ms. Brown brings a profound, personal resonance to this collaboration, honoring Angelou’s cherished connection to Wake Forest University and the local community.