The Vail Series

Here are just a few notable speakers from past years:
  • Itzhak Perlman
  • Yo-Yo Ma
  • Renée Fleming
  • Wynton Marsalis
  • Jessye Norman
  • Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer

About the Series

Get ready for an exciting 45th season of arts performances! The Vail Series offers a captivating blend of music and artistry. From string performances to a cappella brilliance, and from multidisciplinary showcases to rising stars, the 45th season is set to enthrall audiences with a range of unforgettable experiences.

Canadian string ensemble collectif9 performs with the power of an orchestra and the intimacy of a chamber ensemble, mounting engaging and intriguing programs around the world. They present “Rituaels,” a dynamic program spanning from the Middle Ages to modern times, promising an immersive musical experience.

With a record-breaking 10 Grammy Awards and numerous other accolades, Take 6 brings exceptional a cappella vocals to the stage, astounding global audiences. We are delighted to have them come to Denison’s campus and thrill us with their vocal acrobatics!

Third Coast Percussion’s multidisciplinary show, “Metamorphosis,” combines percussion with movement artistry by Lil Buck and Jon Boogz. TCP will be joined on stage by Trent Jerry and Cameron Murphy, movement artists who specialize in street choreography in an engaging performance, with special lighting direction and music by Philip Glass, Tyondi Braxton, and Jlin.

Young Concert Artists on Tour: Four extraordinary rising stars Lun Li (violin), Daniel McGrew (tenor), Joseph Parrish (bass baritone), and Albert Cano Smit (piano) will dazzle with their performances during their campus residency in February.

Modern music collective Wild Up is committed to creating thought-provoking and exciting concerts that create a sense of community. Their innovative programming, together with Pulitzer Prize winning composer Raven Chacon, will bring exhilarating energy to the evening as part of our TUTTI 2024 New Arts Festival.

Kittel & Co: Blending classical, Celtic, bluegrass, folk, and jazz influences, Jeremy Kittel and his five-piece band promise an eclectic and electrifying performance that will bring down the house with their amazing artistry.

Read the 2023-24 Vail Season Opening Letter »

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Sights & Sounds

Ethel Perfomance detail 1
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Dafrakura Performance detail 1
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Regina Carter Performance 1
Regina Carter with students 1
Regina Carter Performance 2
Regina Carter with students 2
Regina Carter in the classroom
Regina Carter Performance 3

Series Archives

2001 - 2002

Christopher Parkening & Jubilant Sykes
Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of the world™s preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. Charismatic baritone Jubilant Sykes brings a new dimension to a traditional career of the classically trained singer by drawing on gospel and jazz influences to deliver performances in differing musical genres.
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Originally founded in 1951 by Samuil Samosud as the Moscow Youth Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra was given its current title in 1953. The prize-winning Moscow Philharmonic has performed in more than 4,000 concerts and has made over 100 recordings.
John Bayless
Pianist, composer, and recording artisit John Bayless made his stage debut in 1997 with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The New York Times proclaimed that Bayless is an evocative pianist with a lovely piano sound and considerable personal pizzazz. This is his third appearance at Denison.

2000 - 2001

"Habitats"
Denison University Fine Arts faculty and guest artists unite to create an improvisational performance. Habitats is a unique multimedia collaboration of dance, music and visual arts that explores the tactile environment of both the physical world and the metaphysical within.
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is known for its collaborative leadership style, in which the musicians, not a conductor, interpret the score. Recognized internationally as one of the world™s great orchestras, Orpheus has been playing to music lovers on four continents since 1972.
Christopher O'Riley
Artist, pianist and national media personality, Christopher O™Riley has dazzled the world on stage, over airwaves, and with his recordings. With his powerful interpretations of classical and contemporary repertoires, O™Riley has redei¬ned the possibilities of classical music.
Rachel Barton & Mark O' Connor
The Washington Post called award-winning Rachel Barton an exciting, boundary-defying performer. This is Barton™s second appearance at Denison. Mark O™Connor, one of the most talented and imaginative artists in music, is a product of America™s rich aural folk tradition as well as classical music.

1999 - 2000

Bobby Mc Ferrin
A ten-time Grammy Award winner, Bobby McFerrin is one of the world™s best-known vocal innovators and improvisers and a classical conductor. His recordings have sold over 20 million copies, and his collaborations include those with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, the Vienna Philharmonic, and Herbie Hancock. This is his second appearance at Denison.
Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott
One of the world's foremost cellists, Yo-Yo Ma has produced a phenomenal body of work, of his 75 albums, 15 have won Grammy awards. His multi-faceted career is testament to his continual search for new ways to communicate with audiences, and to his personal desire for artistic growth and renewal. This is his fourth appearance at Denison.
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman has earned the superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. One of the preeminent violin virtuosos of the 20th century, he has performed for presidents and royalty and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Kennedy Center Honors.

1998 - 1999

Netherlands Symphony Orchestra & Eliane Rodrigues
A leading light on the Dutch musical firmament, the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra guarantees adventurous symphonic programming and a plethora of concertante opera performances. A native of Rio de Janeiro, pianist and composer Eliane Rodrigues™ musical talent has been accorded both acclaim and accolades.
"Taking Sides" Featuring Jon Farris
Jon Farris has spent an illustrious career acting, directing and teaching theater. From 1981 until 2002 he chaired the Theater Department at Denison University where he admirably performed each of these separate disciplines. Ferris performs in Taking Sides, a play about the holocaust by Ronald Harwood.
Harolyn Blackwell
Soprano Harolyn Blackwell is recognized for her expressive and exuberant performances, with a career that has spanned opera, concert and recital stages around the world. Ms. Blackwell is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, and has performed in several acclaimed concert series throughout the world.
Rachel Barton
Violinist Rachel Barton has received worldwide acclaim for her virtuosic technical mastery, lustrous tone and perceptive performances. She brings emotionally charged, historically-informed interpretations to her diverse repertoire. The Washington Post called the award-winning Barton an exciting, boundary-defying performer.

1997 - 1998

Borromeo String Quartet & Friends
The critically acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet is sought after throughout the world. The Chicago Tribune calls the Quartet a remarkably accomplished string quartet, not simply for its high technical polish and refined tone, but also for the searching musical insights it brings. This is their second appearance at Denison.
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra & Emanuel Ax
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra the nation™s only full-time professional chamber orchestra, is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. Renowned for his poetic temperament and unsurpassed virtuosity, Emanuel Ax is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of our time.
Sergio & Odair Assad
Brazilian-born brothers SA©rgio and Odair Assad have created a new standard of guitar innovation, ingenuity and expression. Their exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble performances have inspired a wide range of composers to write for them, creating and introducing new music for two guitars.
Joshua Redmond Christian Mcbride & Brian Blade
One thing I've discovered about myself, the jazz artist Joshua Redmond says, is that I'm an eclectic as a person and as a musician. Saxophonist, recording artist and composer, Redmond is known for communicating the sheer joy and exhilaration of live music-making.

1996 - 1997

Morgan State Choir
Known for their consistency of excellent performances, the Morgan State Choir has shared its musical gifts on many grand stages all over the world. The choir is noted for its emphasis on preserving the heritage of the spiritual, especially in the historic practices of performance.
Andre Laplante
Canadian pianist AndrA© Laplante has firmly established himself as one of the great romantic virtuosos. He garnered international attention after winning prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions with his deep musical sensibility and expressive depth.
Tricia Park
Praised by critics for her astounding virtuosic gifts (Boston Herald) and stunning and rich-toned sound (The New York Times), Tricia Park is a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant has also given recitals throughout the United States and abroad.
Leontyne Price
Operatic soprano and national treasure Leontyne Price has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of the Arts, and 19 Grammy awards, including a special Lifetime Achievement Award. This is her second appearance at Denison.

1995 - 1996

James Galway
Since 1975, when Sir James launched his solo flute career, he has continuously performed with the world's leading orchestras and conductors, participated in chamber music engagements and popular music concerts. From Galway™s lips have come definitive treatments of classical repertoire and masterworks by Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart.
Jazz From Lincoln Center & Wynton Marsalis
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center is dedicated to inspiring and growing audiences for jazz with performances and broadcast events for all ages. Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, bandleader, educator, and a leading advocate of American culture.
The King'S Singers
One of the world™s most celebrated vocal groups, The King™s SingersA have a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, media and education work that spans the globe. Championing the work of young and established composers, they remain consummate entertainers; a class act with a delightfully British wit.
James H. Cone (Union Theological Seminary)
"Martin and Malcolm and Black Theology"
"What Makes It Great?"
For more than a decade, Robert Kapilow has brought the joy and wonder of classical music “ and unraveled some of its mysteries “ to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. As the Boston Globe said, Rob Kapilow is awfully good at what he does. We need him.

1994 - 1995

Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Known for its superlative performances and award-winning recordings, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields maintains an international concert schedule alongside its performances with Sir Neville Marriner and Kenneth Sillito.
Richard Stoltzman's "Music & Light"
Two-time Grammy Award winning clarinetist Richard Stoltzman™s virtuosity, technique, imagination, and communicative power have revolutionized the world of clarinet playing, opening up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted.

1993 - 1994

Borromeo String Quartet
Since their explosive debut in 1989, the Borromeo String Quartet has become sought after throughout the world. The Chicago Tribune calls the Quartet a remarkably accomplished string quartet, not simply for its high technical polish and refined tone, but also for the searching musical insights it brings.
Columbus Symphony Orchestra & Sarah Chang
Founded in 1951, the Columbus Symphony is the only full-time professional symphony in central Ohio. Through an array of innovative artistic, educational, and community outreach programming, the Columbus Symphony is reaching a growing and diverse audience with great music.
The Canadian Brass
Five tremendous brass musicians ” each a virtuoso in his own right ” form the legendary Canadian Brass. With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has earned the distinction of the world™s most famous brass group.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, she is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist.

1992 - 1993

Rhythm In Shoes
Rooted in traditional forms of American music and dance”swing tunes & tap, hoedowns & clogging”the varied repertoire of Rhythm in Shoes, directed by choreographer Sharon Leahy and composer Rick Good, infused the spirit of traditional dance with a thoroughly modern sensibility.
The Red Stars Red Army Chorus And Dance Ensemble
The history of legendary Red Star Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble began in 1929. The songs they perform range from Russian folk tunes to church hymns, operatic arias and popular music. After the Soviet period, the ensemble began entertaining audiences outside Russia.

1991 - 1992

Turtle Island String Quartet
The Turtle Island String Quartet was the first string quartet to achieve artistic and commercial success integrating jazz improvisation, jazz rhythms and comping. Their extensive repertoire highlight their versatility by bridging Bluegrass, European classical music, funk, jazz, Latin American music, and Indian classical music.
Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra
The beloved Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra was born of a concert series, founded in 1966, at Lincoln Center in New York. American Gernard Schwarz was music director of the Mostly Mozart Festival from 1982-2001.
John Bayless
John Bayless has been proclaimed by The New York Times as an evocative classical pianist with a lovely piano sound and extraordinary stage presence. This is his second appearance on Denison™s Vail Series.

1990 - 1991

The King's Singers
One of the world™s most celebrated vocal groups, The King™s SingersA have a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, media and education work that spans the globe. Championing the work of composers, they remain consummate entertainers with a delightfully British wit. This is their second appearance at Denison.
Tian Ying
Pianist Tian Ying made his first public appearance with the Shanghai Symphony at age l0. He has drawn widespread enthusiasm from both concert audiences and critics since capturing honors in the Eighth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in l989.
The New World & Gilbert Munguia
The New World Symphony Orchestra is America™s only orchestral academy dedicated to preparing gifted graduates from distinguished music conservatories for successful careers in symphony orchestras and ensembles. Cellist Gilberto Munguia has performed all over Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

1989 - 1990

Sweet Honey In The Rock
Founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, Sweet Honey In The Rock, internationally renowned a cappella ensemble, has been a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities of conscience around the world.
The Jupiter Symphony
Founded by the defiantly unconventional Jens Nygaard in 1979, the Jupiter Symphony was known for what The New York Times called its founders™ taste for unappreciated repertory. Jupiter concerts included works by Johann Christian Bach, Carl Reinecke, Leopold Mozart and Carl Busch.
Yo-Yo Ma & Jeffrey Kahane
World-renowned cellist and composer Yo-Yo Ma returns to Denison for his third appearance, this time with pianist Jeffrey Kahane, who is recognized internationally by audiences around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire from Bach to Gershwin.

1988 - 1989

John Bayless
John Bayless has an extraordinary imagination, sly wit, tremendous musicality and an imposing technique, according to High Fidelity Magazine, and has been proclaimed by The New York Times as an evocative pianist with a lovely piano sound and considerable personal pizzazz.
Erie Mills
Soprano Erie Mills dazzles audiences with her sparkling coloratura voice, captivating personality, and vivid portrayals of operatic roles. She has performed in the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and New York City Opera.
Joshua Bell
Since his first LP recording at age 18, Joshua Bell has enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty. His restless curiosity and multifaceted musical interests have taken him in exciting new directions that have earned him the rare title of classical music superstar.
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of Germany™s most important musical ambassadors, giving 80 concerts a year in Stuttgart and around the world. The brilliant English conductor Neville Marriner was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and received knighthood.

1987 - 1988

Bobby McFerrin
A 10-time Grammy Award winner, Bobby McFerrin is one of the world™s best-known vocal innovators and improvisers as well as a talented conductor of classical music. His recordings have sold more than 20 million copies.
Yo-Yo Ma & Emmanuel Ax
Yo-Yo Ma is one of the world™s most important cellists of the modern age, and Emanuel Ax is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of our time. Together, they are magic. This is Ma™s second performance at Denison.
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