UNCSA Presents: March performance highlights

The UNCSA 2025–26 performance season, “UNCSA Presents,” continues this March with a dynamic lineup of concerts and special events from the School of Music. Highlights include Vesna Duo: Poptimism, a thrilling performance of piano and percussion celebrating the release of the duo's album on UNCSA Media; the UNCSA Spring Chamber Music Festival, bringing students, faculty and guest artists together for two magical evenings; the return of the Black Sacred Music Symposium and Concert, a multiday celebration that brings together communities from across the region to study and perform Black sacred music; the UNCSA Improvised Music and Jazz Festival, which returns to downtown Winston-Salem for a second year; and Undergraduate Opera Scenes, showcasing emerging vocal talent in staged excerpts from the operatic repertoire.

Tickets to most events are $25 for adults and $20 for non-UNCSA students with a valid ID, but some events are free. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 336-721-1945.

Vesna Duo: Poptimism– March 1

Vesna Duo celebrates the launch of its second album, “Poptimism” on UNCSA Media with a high-energy performance for piano and percussion. Featuring UNCSA faculty member Ksenija Komljenović alongside Liana Pailodze Harron, the duo takes audiences on a genre-warping tour of inventive arrangements drawn from chart-topping pop, R&B, rock and grunge.

Grounded in classical training, Vesna Duo reimagines favorite songs through reinterpretations shaped for piano and percussion. Created as a mixtape of songs that have lived in their headphones for decades, "Poptimism" features reinterpretations of music by Rihanna, Beyoncé, Sting, Hozier, Soundgarden and Dean Lewis. Arranged by Miloš Branisavljević, the selections are structured for piano and percussion and use a range of techniques and timbres, including blanketed vibraphone, prepared piano and extended textures. The program shifts between smaller, intimate moments and larger, ensemble-driven passages, offering audiences a new perspective on familiar songs.

UNCSA Media is made possible with funding and programmatic support by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.

Performances will take place Sunday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.

UNCSA Spring Chamber Music Festival – March 17-21

The fifth season of the annual UNCSA Chamber Music Festival continues with its spring edition, bringing students, faculty and guest artists together for two evenings of collaborative performance. The festival highlights the depth and versatility of chamber music while fostering artistic exchange across generations of musicians.

Featured guest artist is renowned German violist Matthias Buchholz, celebrated for his expansive international career as a soloist and chamber musician and praised by Seen and Heard International for his "richly expressive solo." A native of Hamburg, Buchholz has performed worldwide with leading ensembles and has held faculty appointments at major European conservatories. Guest artists for the festival also include Larry Weng, piano, and cellists Richard Aaron and Megan Yip, who join UNCSA students and faculty for the March 17 and March 21 concerts. Aaron will also lead multiple classes for UNCSA cello students.

The March 17 program will feature Béla Bartók’s "Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion," followed by Franz Schubert’s "Trout" Quintet. The March 21 concert will include Ludwig van Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat major, Op. 1, No. 1; Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet in C minor; and Johannes Brahms’ String Sextet in B-flat major.

Performances will take place Tuesday, March 17, and Saturday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.

Black Sacred Music Symposium and Concert – March 22

The Black Sacred Music Symposium returns to Winston-Salem in a culminating concert presented by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts and UNCSA. The concert is part of the multiday Black Sacred Music Symposium XIX, a regional celebration centered on this year’s theme, fellowship, that brings together communities from across the region to study and perform Black sacred music through workshops, discussions and rehearsals.

Under the direction of Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, the public performance features symposium participants alongside local and national guest artists. The program includes "Amazing Grace," "Come Sunday" from "Black, Brown, and Beige" by Duke Ellington, "Stand Up" by Joshuah Campbell and Cynthia Erivo, and "Lift Every Voice and Sing," along with congregational singing and a legacy tribute. A reception will follow.

The concert will take place Sunday, March 22, at 3 p.m. in Freedman Theatre in Performance Place on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem. Tickets are $20.

UNCSA Improvised Music and Jazz Festival – March 27-28

The UNCSA Improvised Music and Jazz Festival returns to downtown Winston-Salem for its second year, promising an expanded weekend of music and community celebration. The two-day festival features regional high school and middle school bands, UNCSA student musicians, master classes with acclaimed artists, jam sessions and immersive jazz experiences throughout the day. Events will take place at Camel City Barbecue, with additional programming hosted at Ovation Sound Studios.

Free daytime events begin at 1 p.m. each day, with tickets required only for the 7:30 p.m. headlining concerts. Each evening culminates in a paid performance featuring internationally recognized guest artists in a dynamic showcase of innovation and artistry. Festival performances will take place across multiple stages throughout the Camel City Barbecue building and a dedicated master class room. Food will be available for purchase on site throughout the day.

This year’s featured guest artists include saxophonist and alumnus Eddie Barbash, guitarist Mike Baggettaand Grammy-nominated violinist and fiddle innovator Casey Driessen. Representing a vibrant cross section of contemporary improvised music, the artists blend jazz, Americana, experimental and global influences. The festival is organized by Steve Alford, chair of the Jazz and Contemporary Music Department at the UNCSASchool of Music.

Undergraduate Opera Scenes – March 29

Undergraduate opera students will present a recital of one-act operas and staged scenes in an intimate performance setting, showcasing emerging vocal artists. The program offers audiences a short-form opera experience as students demonstrate vocal technique, interpretation and stagecraft.

Directed by Steven LaCosse, the production emphasizes storytelling, character development and ensemble collaboration, hallmarks of the UNCSA opera program. The performance is accompanied by pianist Lauren Winkelman, whose artistry supports the singers in bringing these scenes to life.

The concert will take place Sunday, March 29, at 2 p.m. in Agnes de Mille Theatre on the UNCSA campus, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.

Tickets and information about additional “UNCSA Presents” performances can be found at uncsa.edu/performances.

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