The Performing Arts at Lawrence enriches the educational experience of our music students and inspires the whole community by bringing in world-class performers from around the globe.

Each season offers a wide array of performances—from string quartets to modern dance, new music ensembles that push the boundaries to the ancient tradition of Tuvan throat singing, and from big band to solo piano. Explore the Performing Arts at Lawrence and find something that will inspire you!

Heron Valley profile portrait

Performing Arts Series


Join us for an unforgettable journey through the musical performing arts as our Performing Arts Series showcases exceptional jazz, classical, brass, string, and world music performances. Our series features music from Founders, Fatoumata Diawara, Boston Brass, Alicia Olatuja Quintet, Magos Herrera Quartet, and many others.

Performing group Eighth Blackbird in concert. Six musicians arrayed with their instruments.

New Music Series


The New Music Series gives Lawrence a place to highlight musicians who are actively creating and crafting what it means when you say "21st-century music."  This series has featured artists like Alarm Will Sound, Yarn Wire, Roomful of Teeth, and Bang on a Can Allstars.

Dancer performing underwater, surface of water at the bottom of the frame so dancer seems to be upright while being upside down underwater

Dance Series


In the Dance Series, you'll see performers of widely varied backgrounds perform both choreographed and improvised works in both traditional and non-traditional settings. This series has featured Lower Left, Set Go, and BREATHE: a multidisciplinary water opera.

Erik Nordstrom as Count Almaviva and Max Muter as Figaro stand while chorus kneels down watching them, during a dress rehearsal for The Marriage of Figaro.

Opera


Our renowned and award-winning opera program performs one mainstage production each year and a series of opera scenes throughout the academic year.