James Fernando has been hailed by World Music Report as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” by Jazz Sensibilities as “limitless in his ability to articulate his ideas,” and by Contemporary Fusion Reviews as “creating one of the most amazing musical experiences you’ve ever had.” After building an impressive career with international performances, collaborations with GRAMMY Award-winning artists, and five album releases, James formed his trio in 2023. Despite being relatively new to the scene, the trio has already established itself as one of the finest jazz groups active today. They have been presented nationwide at leading venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and The Ravenscroft, while also holding workshops and concerts at universities across the country. 

Based in Philadelphia, the James Fernando Trio creates music steeped in the tradition of jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, and Thelonious Monk. With a balance of playfulness and technical mastery, the trio delivers fresh interpretations of jazz standards alongside compelling original compositions. Their performances bring the jazz genre into the present day through inventive improvisation, clever arrangements, and captivating rhythms. Dynamic, powerful, and downright fun, the James Fernando Trio puts on a show you won’t want to miss.

Since their inception, The Lettermen have always taken a current song of the day and put their 3-part harmony to it which is called Lettermenizing a song. Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton and Rob Gulack, each of whom are entertainers in their own right, have kept the meaning of harmony alive with their soft, romantic, harmonic blend of music which is as popular with their fans today as it was in 1961 when The Lettermen recorded their first hit, “The Way You Look Tonight”.

For The Lettermen debut single record in the summer of 1961, Capitol Records decided to put a romantic ballad on the B-side of “That’s My Desire”, which was an attempt at a doo-wop single, figuring radio stations would have to play the A-side because the B-side was so sweet, and slow, and did not necessarily encompass the commercial sound of the day. The B-side was “The Way You Look Tonight”. Soft, melodic and romantic, it was a departure from the rock ‘n’ roll music of the day. Eventually, listener requests made it a must for radio station play lists nationwide. The song shot to No. 13, on the Billboard chart. The group’s second single that year did even better. “When I Fall In Love,” another soft, slow ballad hit No.7, establishing The Lettermen as the most romantic singing group of a generation.

The Lettermen have recorded over 75 albums – eighteen gold records internationally – and a myriad of hits including “When I Fall In Love”, “Goin’ Out Of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” and “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” to name just a few. They continue to perform interesting, updated arrangements of several classics such as “The Way You Tonight” and “Theme From A Summer Place”. 

While always honoring their roots, audiences are showing a resounding love for the “Lettermenized” new arrangements of “Never Enough” from the mega-hit The Greatest Showman, “Sugar” Medley (“I Can’t Help Myself”, “Sugar”, “How Sweet It Is”) and “Happy” Medley (“Happy”, “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, “Happy Together”). These talented individuals interestingly play with the harmonies on songs like “Suspicious Minds”, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and “Over The Rainbow”. Their amazing vocals continually swoop over one another, mesmerizing audiences all over the world.

The one constant that has remained through the years is the unique three-part harmony as only The Lettermen can achieve. Though musical tastes have changed over the years, The Lettermen legacy continues. Harmony will always endure the true test of time – just as The Lettermen have stood the test of time.

This captivating show celebrates the extraordinary music and legacy of Neil Sedaka, one of America’s most exceptional songwriters. Presented as part of the Piano Man Series, this incredible performance features the talented Terry Davies and his remarkable band, who will take you on a journey through Sedaka’s iconic career, spanning over five decades of chart-topping hits.

Neil Sedaka has been part of the American music culture for over 65 years and has sold millions of singles, albums and CD’s. He is simply one of the most prolific American songwriters in pop music history. With sensational live performances of classics like “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” “Laughter in the Rain,” and “Calendar Girl,” this unforgettable show will transport you back in time to the golden era of rock and roll, with all the energy and excitement that made Neil Sedaka a true legend. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to Sedaka’s music, “Calendar Girl: The Neil Sedaka Legacy” is a must-see tribute that will have you singing and dancing all night long.

When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond running naked through the wide open fields of Bluegrass and Americana, JigJam is born. Bluegrass and American Folk music originated from the group’s home, and now JigJam is here to take it back! The group made its Grand Ole Opry Debut in Nashville in March of 2023 to critical acclaim, receiving a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd on Country Music’s biggest stage. The group was joined that night by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, Lauren Alaina, and many more. The Offaly and Tipperary-born musical powerhouse is known for foot stomping high energy performances wherever they travel.   

Founding members Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (5 string banjo and dobro) are joined by Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) and Kevin Buckley (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish Bluegrass) quartet. Described as “the best Irish band in bluegrass”, these lads have been hailed as Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival.

Join Gaslight favorite, David Fanning, as he performs his concert of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits with a full band! You’ll hear songs like Sweet Caroline, Cracklin’ Rosie, America, Forever in Blue Jeans and so many more! 

INTRODUCTION TO OIL AND COLD WAX 

Instructor: Tonja Vojacek Sell

Dates: Feb 24-25, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (bring a sack lunch)

Fee: $300, (Early Bird Special $270 if paid in full by January 27, 2026)

Last Day to Register: February 17, 2026

Luminous layers of color and wax combined to make painting in this medium magical. Combining layers of wax and paint with marks produces results with texture and depth that cannot be duplicated in any other medium. This ancient technique may be utilized to create rich deep surfaces with paintings from abstract to landscape to realism. In this workshop you learn basic concepts and techniques of oil/cold wax painting as well as how to incorporate other media including oil pigment sticks, pencils, charcoal & powdered pigments. Techniques include methods of application, ways of building depth & texture and mark-making. Cold wax is a mixture of beeswax, resin, and odorless mineral spirits. Unlike encaustic, cold wax is applied at room temperature and does not involve the use of heat. Students will be introduced to multiple methods of working in oil and cold wax through an intuitive process utilizing various non-traditional mark making tools and experimentation. 

This is a fun, experimental and relaxed workshop, appropriate for artists at all levels. Students will experiment and create one or more pieces daily.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of sheer talent and musical brilliance with the exceptionally gifted artists of the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera. Selected from a highly competitive pool of over 550 applicants, these rising stars represent the future of opera!

This special concert will showcase an exciting and diverse repertoire, offering something for every musical taste. The Green Valley community will be treated to a dynamic selection of styles, ranging from opera favorites, to musical theatre classics and even hits from the Great American Songbook. 

Whether you’re a longtime opera lover or simply appreciate extraordinary vocal talent, this is a program you won’t want to miss. Experience the passion, storytelling, and artistry of these remarkable performers as they take center stage in a spectacular celebration of music.

Award winning singer/producer Katherine Byrnes brings the passion of legendary performer and rock icon Janice Joplin to the stage in “Piece of My Heart” – a concert that pays tribute to the musical zeitgeist of the 60s. In addition to Janis’ iconic songs such as “Me and Bobby McGee”, “Tell Mama” and “Piece of My Heart”, the show includes numbers saluting Janis’ contemporaries and influences such as Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Kris Kristofferson, and more!

Variations have been one of the most enduring musical forms and have inspired creativity from centuries of musicians as the limitations set by repeating forms paradoxically give way to unbound inventiveness. In “The Art of Variation,” Accademia de’ Dissonanti presents an intriguing program of research, exploration, composition, and performance that corresponds to the most recent innovations in eighteenth-century performance practice. It is well known that most performers in the 18th century also composed, both for their own instruments and for the ensembles in which they worked, and that elements of improvisation and variation were an integral part of musical practice. This new program explores the Baroque art of variation through celebrated music by Corelli and Vivaldi as well as a new cello sonata by Elinor Frey.

Accademia de’ Dissonanti, founded in 2020, presents concerts, publications, and educational academies focused on historical performance and creative research under artistic director Elinor Frey. Named after a 17th-century Modenese society, the ensemble fosters musical exploration. They have toured Canada and performed at major festivals, including Montréal Chamber Music Festival and Festival Classica.

This concert is presented by the Arizona Early Music Society. Founded in 1982 by University of Arizona, Arizona Early Music is dedicated to enriching contemporary life with music of the past. AEM’s series is internationally known for presenting world-class performances by specialists in historical performance from around the globe. 

Founded in Dallas, TX in 1983 by Michael Levine, Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. Dallas Brass repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, Swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. In addition to their solo engagements, Dallas Brass appears with symphony orchestras nationwide. Symphonic credits include the Cincinnati Pops conducted by Erich Kunzel, New York Pops conducted by Skitch Henderson, and the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. Dallas Brass has performed at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has toured overseas to Europe and the Far East. They have shared the stage with the late Bob Hope, have performed for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush, have appeared on the CBS “Early Show”, and their music has been used numerous times on the television show, “The Young & The Restless”. 

The ensemble has released seven recordings: Debut, Dallas Brass II, A Merry Christmas with Brass, Windborne, Nutcracker, American Songbook and American Musical Journey. Dallas Brass has a strong dedication to working with young musicians. They have published two books of original small ensemble music for middle school and high students called Brass Grooves, and they have played a major role in helping launch Harmony Bridge — a community outreach program for student musicians. In addition, many public performances have a student component including a clinic and invitation for students to join them on stage for a selection on the Dallas Brass concert. Over 300,000 students have performed with Dallas Brass over the years. Dallas Brass is comprised of Michael Levine, Brian Neal, Luis Cardenas Casillas, Juan Berrios, Ryan Christiansen, Paul Carlson, and Craig Hill.

Brenn Hill and Andy Nelson bring the Western way of life to the stage with authenticity and enthusiasm. As one producer put it, “Their unique performance which combines great original western music by Brenn along with moving story telling by Andy in concert with each other is a huge hit. Together they have created a synergistic performance which keeps the audience totally engaged for the duration of the time they are on stage. The combination of deep emotional and moving lyrics along with the humorous and light hearted side of life experiences they share in song and poetry will always be remembered.

Brenn Hill is a singer/songwriter who doesn’t just sing about the West, he reveals its heart to anyone who will take the time to listen. He is not just an observer or narrator of western lore, but one of its strongest interpreters. The cowboy’s trials and tribulations are his raw material. Brenn’s career spans fifteen recordings of mostly self-penned music and over two decades on the road.

Andy Nelson is an energetic and high-spirited cowboy poet and humorist offering history, heritage and hilarity of the cowboy culture through traditional poetry and storytelling. Western Horseman Magazine writes, “One of the most dynamic cowboy entertainers today, Nelson’s vivid descriptions, voice inflections and fluid recitation bring his stories to life in listeners’ imaginations.”

Lifelong friends, and colleagues, Nico Rhodes, and Patrick Courtin, shocked and appalled by the realization that piano just isn’t cool anymore, set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME! Armed with the music of the greatest composers, songwriters and performers of the past 300 years, and the technology of the 21st century – their virtual orchestra D.O.U.G.I. (Digital Orchestral Ultimate Gizmo Intelligence), Nico and Patrick deliver everything from classical piano raptures to bombastic boogie woogie, from romantic piano ballads to 80’s keyboard synth battles in their show Piano Heist! What ensues is a mishmash of theatrical wonder, comedy, audience participation, heartfelt stories, a pinch of history, and a world of musical madness. This performance will include Toccata and Fugue – J.S. Bach, Phantom of the Opera – Webber, Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles, In the Hall of the Mountain King – Edvard Grieg, Imperial March – John Williams, Habanera (Carmen) – Georges Bizet, Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder, Sonata No.16 in C Major – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Für Elise – Ludwig van Beethoven, Hungarian Dance n.6 – Johannes Brahms, Rhapsody in Blue – Georges Gershwin, Hungarian Rhapsody n.2 – Franz Liszt, Sing, Sing, Sing – Beny Goodman, and much more! 

Nico Rhodes is a genre jumping, multilingual musician who collaborates with other artists and artforms to experience and explore music in as many styles as possible. Growing up touring around the globe surrounded by artists and the world of theatre – he is equally comfortable playing jazz, classical, funk or roots music, orchestrating a symphony, writing musicals, and conducting choirs. He begins his day with an espresso and practicing his Japanese, the language he is currently embracing. Nico Rhodes is one of the most in demand young arranger/musical directors in Canada, with 40 stage musicals to his credit. He’s written 400 original compositions, four original musicals and arranged two symphonic pops concerts. He’s been nominated for two Jessie and five Ovation Awards and in 2019 was honoured with Nanaimo’s Emerging Cultural Leader Award. He composes for stage, screen, and media, collaborates with multiple choirs, plays with several jazz trios and tours in a duo with his mother, renowned chanteuse Joelle Rabu. In 2022 Nico produced a series of four multi-artist multi-genre concerts entitled Chapters for The Port Theatre in Nanaimo B.C.

Patrick Courtin is first and foremost a pianist and he is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, music director and teacher. From his first professional show accompanying a choir at the age of 14, Patrick has been a career musician. He is classically trained (Royal Conservatory of Music) and completed grade 10 by the age of 17. He then went on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Jazz Studies at Vancouver Island University. Since graduating, Patrick has directed musical theatre productions, played in recording sessions, created music for film+TV, and toured across Canada, the United States and China. He is comfortably at home in many musical settings, having played in professional ensembles in a variety of genres from jazz and classical, to rock and funk.

Come spend an evening with hilarious comedian Mark Cordes as you examine the ups and downs of dating, relationships, marriage, divorce and all other aspects of this crazy thing we call life…… This is one show that will have you laughing hysterically as Mark educates the crowd on the do’s and don’ts of relationships. This show is a comedic journey from “love at first sight” through “til death do we part” and all the funny stuff in between. 

Hailed as “a one man laugh factory”, Mark’s television credits are vast, including A & E’s Evening at the Improv, Fox’s Comic Strip Live, and his own spotlight on Showtime. His touring one-man show “The Spouse Whisperer” has been entertaining audiences throughout the country.

The U of A School of Dance’s Traveling Dance Ensemble will perform a selection of amazing dance works by faculty and students. Presented in a range of styles that will highlight the range of skills these incredible dancers perfect right here in Arizona as they prepare for bright successful careers!

The School of Dance at the University of Arizona is a thriving program with a large cohort of undergraduate and graduate students. As one of the top programs in the country, students and faculty are focused on realizing excellence and success in all academic and creative endeavors. The school boasts a long roster of nationally successful alumni and continues to push the boundaries of dance education.

Treat your ears to this funky, jazzy, living room style night of entertainment! Connie Brannock returns with her band of merry funksters for a Rockin’ Soul Review featuring Chris Pena (piano), Rafe Centuori (bass), Joshua Brothers (drums), Ed DeLucia (guitar), Tyrone Williams (sax/vocals), and vocalist extraordinaire Aria Radcliffe. Get ready for some funky frolic and fun! Connie Brannock’s Little House of Funk specializes in high energy tunes they often refer to as Sonoran Soul and Deep Fried Blues. The band’s playlist includes popular old school covers and funky originals guaranteed to get toes tapping and hips bumping. Connie calls it “WD-40 for the hips!” 

Connie Brannock is an R&B Force of Nature! She took the Tucson music scene by storm after she retired from the Army National Guard as Command Sergeant Major after serving admirably for 21 years and deploying twice in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Vocalist, songwriter, percussionist, poet, she leads Connie Brannock’s Little House ofFunk and the Connie Brannock Quartet. Ask the robust, happy crowds throughout the Southwest—her live shows are exhilarating! Connie has been a lifelong entertainer, having performed in major markets such as Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Brannock won the Stroh’s Superstar Talent Search and was signed by MCA Records. Connie continues to pay tribute to the legendary artists who shaped her sound on her latest offering: Sly and the Family Stone, Laura Nyro, Carole King, Jeff Lorber and Patrice Rushen.

This is the sequel of Jack’s ever-popular talk “Women on the Arizona Frontier”. He continues the stories and contributions of many Arizona women who came from vastly different ethnicities and backgrounds; and of the politicians, governors, judges, and the last stagecoach robber. Here, he shares the stories of many more women who had spunk, “grit” if you will, and who helped to shape what the west would become. It is the untold, true story of how the West was really won.