News Archive

杏吧原创 Arts Center announces its 2026-27 season and brings actor Giancarlo Esposito as Weekend of the Arts Headliner

Published August 17, 2026

The 杏吧原创 Arts Center welcomes celebrated film, television, and stage actor Giancarlo Esposito to its Callahan Theater stage on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. as the kickoff performance of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Weekend of the Arts听(Oct. 16-18) and the first in 杏吧原创鈥檚 2026-27 Headliner Series. He will tell stories of his journey as a biracial artist navigating the entertainment industry. Esposito, who won the 2012 Critics鈥� Choice Award and earned a 2012 Emmy nomination, is best known by television audiences for his iconic portrayal of drug kingpin Gustavo 鈥淕us鈥� Fring in AMC鈥檚 award-winning series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.听 He鈥檚 also known for his roles as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian and Stan Edgar in The Boys. He has appeared in Spike Lee films like Do the Right听Thing and Malcolm X. He has also听appeared in Netflix鈥檚 hit series听The Gentlemen听and听the 2026 comedy Kill Me. Esposito has continued to captivate audiences in his recent projects, including Marvel鈥檚 Captain America: Brave New World, the Russo Brothers鈥� The Electric State, and Netflix鈥檚 The Residence. As a speaker, Giancarlo Esposito brings the same passion and precision that define his acting career. He candidly shares his journey from his early days on Broadway to becoming one of Hollywood鈥檚 most respected talents. Additional tickets are available for a smaller meet-and-greet session with him before he speaks.

The 杏吧原创 Arts Center Headliner Series continues with one of Rochester's most popular New Year's Eve traditions, the Capitol Fools on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 2 and 6 p.m. Former cast members and a co-writer of the Capitol Steps return as the new Capitol Fools to perform their musical parody where no politician is safe, and every absurdity gets its moment in the spotlight. The Capitol Fools blaze new steps up a stairway of satire, while still performing all the beloved bits: breakneck costume changes, over-the-top impressions, all-new song spoofs as they skewer the day鈥檚 news with wisecracking wordplay, wit, and whimsy.

Garth Fagan Dance rounds out the Arts Center鈥檚 Headliner Series with a multi-day series of performances,May 6-8 at 7:30 p.m. and May 9 at 2 p.m. 杏吧原创 was thrilled to present the premiere event of GFD's 55th Anniversary Season in 2026 and looks forward to celebrating their next season on the 杏吧原创 Arts Center Callahan stage.

Tickets for each headliner event are on sale now at 听听

SHARED STAGES

Concerts at Beston Hall
杏吧原创鈥檚 Glazer Music Performance Center welcomes five world-class concerts for the fall 2026 Concerts at Beston Hall 鈥� a collaboration between Point of the Bluff Vineyards and 杏吧原创. The series kicks off Sept. 13 with Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band, carrying on its New Orleans brass band tradition. On October 2, 40 Fingers, a quartet of guitar players from Italy conquering social media with millions of views, comes to Beston Hall. Powerhouse performer and award-winning blues artist Vanessa Collier is Oct. 17, and Juno Award-winning nouveau flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook brings his Forever Live Tour to 杏吧原创 on Nov. 22. Rounding out the fall lineup is one of indie music's most compelling artists, S. Carey, on Dec. 9. Tickets for each of the shows are available at .听

RPO Sunday Matinee Series
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Andreas Delfs bring their Sunday Matinee Series to 杏吧原创鈥檚 Glazer Music Performance Center with four concerts in Beston Hall 鈥� two this fall and two in the spring. Andreas & Haydn is Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., and Andreas & Mozart is Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. In 2027, the RPO returns with Andreas & Schubert on Sunday, March 21, at 2 p.m, and Andreas & Beethoven on Sunday, May 23, at 2 p.m. .听

Chamber Music Rochester
Explore the 50th anniversary season of Chamber Music Rochester. From timeless classics to modern composers, CMR鈥檚 performances highlight the best of small ensemble artistry. All of their concerts are in Glazer Music Performance Center鈥檚 Beston Hall at 杏吧原创. The Marvelous Mr. Mendelssohn听is Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m.; Eddie Barbash from The Late Show Band, the Sequel, is Nov. 15, at 3 p.m.; Early Romanticism of Bart贸k is Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. The ABCs: Assad, Brahms, and Cabell is Sunday, April 25, at 3 p.m., and Beethoven and Mozart鈥檚 Viola Fever is Sunday, June 6, at 3 p.m. A pre-concert talk is at 2:30 p.m. for all performances. .

杏吧原创鈥檚 Weekend of the Arts
Celebrate the arts at 杏吧原创 with an exciting array of artistic presentations on Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 18! The weekend begins with headliner Giancarlo Esposito on Oct. 16, the Theatre & Dance New Student Spotlight on Oct. 17, Concerts at Beston Hall with Vanessa Collier on Oct. 17, and Chamber Music Rochester鈥檚 The Marvelous Mr. Mendelssohn on Oct. 18.听 There are art gallery exhibits: Fault Lines by Jude Lewis and Stefan Zoller and Quiet Gestures by Tong Zhang. The growing list of events is at .

SCHOOL OF MUSIC | Fall 2026

Free and open to the public unless noted

fivebyfive: 杏吧原创 School of Music Artists in Residence |听Ensemble Concert
Friday, Oct. 2 | 7:30 p.m.
Wilmot Recital Hall

Faculty Recital Series |听The Grand Leipzig Audition: Who Got the Job?
Sunday, Oct. 4听|听3 p.m.
Wilmot Recital Hall听

Wind Symphony Concert
Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Thursday, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Faculty Recital Series
Keyboard Epigraphes: Musical Poetry in Motion
Sunday, Nov. 1 | 3 p.m.听

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Thursday, Nov. 5 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall听

Night Flyers Concert
Wednesday, Nov. 11 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Chamber Singers Concert
Thursday, Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m.
Linehan Chapel (Golisano Academic Center)

Treble Choir Concert
Sunday, Nov. 15 | 3 p.m.
Linehan Chapel (Golisano Academic Center)

Chorale Concert
Monday, Nov. 16 | 7:30 p.m.
Linehan Chapel (Golisano Academic Center)

Wind Symphony, Brass Choir and Saxophone Ensemble Concert
Tuesday, Nov. 17 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Percussion Ensemble
Friday, Nov. 20 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Composition Studio Recital I
Saturday, Nov. 21 | 3 p.m.
Beston Hall听

Composition Studio Recital II
Saturday, Nov. 22 | 3 p.m.
Beston Hall听

Jazz Ensemble Concert
Monday, Nov. 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Rose Marie and John Beston Annual Holiday Gala
Sunday, Dec. 6 | 3 p.m.
Beston Hall |听Tickets: RESERVED $10-$20 available at

SCHOOL OF MUSIC | Spring 2027听

Free and open to the public unless noted

Faculty Recital Series
Contrasts
Sunday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m.

Wind Symphony and Music Educators Concert
Friday, Feb. 12 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Honor Band and Wilmot Wind Quintet Concert
Saturday, Feb. 13 | 2:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Thursday, Feb 25 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Chamber Singers | Treble Choir Combined Concert
Friday, March 5 | 7:30 p.m.
Linehan Chapel

Women in Music Festival
Sunday, March 7 | 3 p.m.
Beston Hall

Faculty Recital Series |听Entangled Strings
Sunday March 28 | 3 p.m.
Wilmot Recital Hall

Faculty Recital Series | American Voices and Beyond
Sunday, April 4 | 3 p.m.
Wilmot Recital Hall

杏吧原创 Opera Workshop
Friday, April 9 | 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 10 | 2 p.m.
Beston Hall |听Ticketed event: no details available yet. Keep an eye on 听

Jazz Ensemble Concert
Thursday, April 15 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Chamber Singers | Treble Choir Combined Concert
Saturday, April 17 | 4 p.m.
Linehan Chapel

Symphony Orchestra Concert
Sunday, April 18 | 3 p.m.
Linehan Chapel (Golisano Academic Center)

Chorale Concert
Monday, April 19 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Wind Symphony, Brass and Saxophone ensembles
Tuesday, April 20 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Night Flyers Concert
Wednesday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Percussion Ensemble
Friday, April 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Beston Hall

Composition Studio Recital I
Saturday, April 24 | 3 p.m.
Beston Hall

Composition Studio Recital II
Sunday, April 25 | 3 p.m.
Wilmot Recital Hall

For more information, SOM concerts and events

THEATRE AND DANCE | Fall 2026听

Free and open to the public unless noted

杏吧原创 Alumni Dance Showcase
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 8 p.m.
Linehan Chapel

Our Town
Oct. 8-9 | 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 | 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Arts Center Callahan Theater | Tickets are on sale now:听boxoffice.naz.edu

New Student Spotlight
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 2 p.m.
Callahan Theater

Urinetown
Nov. 19-20 | 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Callahan Theater | Tickets are on sale now:听听

Choreographer's Showcase
Friday, Dec. 11
Callahan Theater

THEATRE AND DANCE | Spring 2027

Free and open to the public unless noted

MAD WEEKEND (Movement and Dance)
Zehnder Dance Company
Friday, Jan. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Ticket听info will be available later this fall at boxoffice.naz.edu.听

MAD听 Weekend (Movement and Dance)
Artist Showcase
Sunday, Jan. 24 | 4 p.m.
Callahan Theater | Tickets on sale TBA听

You on the Moors Now
Feb. 18-19 | 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 | 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Callahan Theater | Tickets on sale now:听听

Damn Yankees
April 1-2 | 7:30 p.m.
April 3 | 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Callahan Theater | Tickets on sale now:听听

Spring Dance Concert
April 23-24 | 7:30 p.m.
Callahan Theater | Tickets on sale now:听

For more information:

ART & DESIGN | Fall 2026听

Free and open to the public unless noted

2026 Faculty Art Show
Aug. 27-Sept. 27
Arts Center Gallery
Reception: Sept. 18 | 5-7 p.m.
Arts Center Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday.

Fear and Fable: Work by Kelly Hanning, Madeline Corsaro, Maiya Kettlehone, and Talia Ryan
Aug. 27-Sept. 27
Colacino Gallery
Reception: Sept. 18 | 5-7 p.m.
Colacino Gallery hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Fault Lines: Jude Lewis and Stefan Zoller
Oct. 9-Nov. 22
Arts Center Gallery
Reception: Oct. 9 | 5-7 p.m.
Arts Center Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday.

Quiet Gestures by Tong Zhang
Oct. 9-Nov. 22
Colacino Gallery
Reception: Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m.
Colacino Gallery hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

听

ART & DESIGN | Spring 2027

Free and open to the public unless noted

Shared Spaces
Jan. 29-March 7
Arts Center Gallery
Reception: Jan. 29 | 5-7 p.m.
Arts Center Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday.

Reflections by Shelly Kuzniarek
Jan. 29-March 7
Colacino Gallery
Reception: Jan. 29 | 5-7 p.m.
Colacino Gallery hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

2027 Student Art Show
April 2-April 22
Arts Center Gallery
Reception: April 16 | 5-7 p.m.
Arts Center Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday.

Art Education Graduate Show
April 2-April 22
Colacino Gallery
Reception: April 16 | 5-7 p.m.
Colacino Gallery hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

2027 BFA Thesis Show
April 30-May 7
Arts Center Gallery
Reception: April 30 | 5-7 p.m.听
Arts Center Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m., and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed Monday.

For more information:听

Contact

Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)

杏吧原创 is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a 杏吧原创 education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, 杏吧原创 graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.