Internationally acclaimed pianist Emmet Cohen brings a rare combination of virtuosity, spontaneity, and musical storytelling to the Bailey School of Music stage. Widely recognized as one of the leading voices of his generation, Cohen has earned international praise for performances that honor the deep traditions of jazz while infusing them with contemporary energy and boundless improvisational spirit. Known for his celebrated Live From Emmet’s Place sessions and collaborations with legendary jazz artists across the globe, Cohen approaches performance as a living conversation; one rooted in connection, risk-taking and the shared experience between musicians and audience. His artistry moves effortlessly between technical brilliance and expressive intimacy, revealing jazz as both an evolving art form and a profoundly human one. As part of the Bailey School of Music’s professional guest artist series, Cohen’s residency extends beyond the concert hall through direct engagement with students in masterclasses, workshops, and collaborative learning experiences. These interactions place emerging musicians in conversation with world-class artists actively shaping the future of the field, reinforcing the school’s commitment to experiential learning and artistic mentorship at the highest level. Through performances and artist residencies like this one, the Bailey School of Music continues to create meaningful bridges between professional artistry and student scholarship, ensuring that learning happens not only in rehearsal rooms and classrooms, but through firsthand encounters with artists redefining contemporary music today.

The KSU Symphony Orchestra continues celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of United States of America with a performance featuring works by two major composers associated with the Tanglewood Music Center: Copland and Bernstein. BSOM faculty artist Leonardo Lopes is the featured soloist in a double bass concerto by one of the founders of Tanglewood – and Bernstein’s primary conducting teacher – Serge Koussevitzky. Since its founding in 2004, the KSU Symphony Orchestra has grown into a vibrant musical community where emerging artists engage the great orchestral traditions while shaping the future of symphonic performance. Bringing together musicians from across disciplines and backgrounds, the ensemble approaches each performance with technical excellence, expressive depth and a spirit of discovery. This season’s programs journey across landscapes both historical and geographical — from celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary like this one, to a preview of the orchestra’s international tour repertory as they prepare to travel through Prague, Vienna and Budapest this spring. Along the way, you will encounter masterworks of the orchestral canon alongside bold contemporary compositions and performances featuring distinguished Bailey School of Music faculty artists and award-winning student soloists. Whether interpreting timeless repertoire or premiering new creative voices, the KSU Symphony Orchestra creates performances that are expansive, emotionally resonant and deeply connected to the world around them. This season reflects music’s enduring ability to travel across cultures and generations, carrying traditions and shared human experience wherever it is heard.

The KSU University Choirs begin the season with their first performance of the year, featuring the Chamber Singers, Chorale, Men’s Ensemble, and Treble Choir. This concert brings together a range of choral voices and styles, offering an engaging evening that reflects the collaborative and expressive nature of choral singing at Kennesaw State University. The KSU Chamber Singers will present a program featuring Dieterich Buxtehude's Ad manus from his 17th century masterpiece, Membra Jesu Nostri together with Caroline Shaw's To the Hands which was commissioned as a response to Buxtehude's setting. These two pieces will serve as the focal point of a program highlighting our role and responsibility as global artists.

The Jazz Combos take the stage for a second night this week in a concert that spotlights creativity, collaboration, and the spontaneity of small‑ensemble jazz. With an emphasis on individual voices and group interplay, this performance offers a closer look at jazz in its most conversational form.

The Jazz Combos take the stage for a second night this week in a concert that spotlights creativity, collaboration, and the spontaneity of small‑ensemble jazz. With an emphasis on individual voices and group interplay, this performance offers a closer look at jazz in its most conversational form.

Featuring the Guitar Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Piano, this concert brings multiple facets of KSU’s jazz performance program together on one stage. The evening emphasizes creativity, interaction, and individual voice across instrumental and vocal traditions.

The KSU Wind Ensemble presents ROARING THUNDER featuring electric guitar soloist, Sean Thrower For nearly three decades, the KSU Wind Ensemble has redefined what a contemporary wind ensemble can be, combining technical virtuosity with adventurous programming and an unwavering commitment to new music. Recognized nationally for artistic excellence and innovation, the ensemble has become one of the leading musical voices in the region, championing works by many of today’s most influential composers while continually expanding the possibilities of the wind repertoire. This season’s concerts move from shimmering sonic landscapes to electrifying collaborations, featuring guest composers Ryan Lindveit and Steven Bryant alongside dynamic performances with acclaimed electric guitarist Sean Thrower and the North Georgia Youth Wind Symphony. Across each program, audiences will encounter music that is bold, cinematic, rhythmically charged and emotionally expansive. Whether performing newly commissioned works or reimagining contemporary classics, the KSU Wind Ensemble approaches every performance with intensity, artistry and expressive depth. The result is an immersive concert experience where precision and power give way to something larger: music that resonates with energy, imagination and unmistakable momentum.

“America at 250, Vol. 3” The KSU Symphony Orchestra continues celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of United States of America with a performance of works by American composers. BSOM faculty artist Samantha Frischling is the featured soloist in Inter Alia, a song cycle for soprano and orchestra written by new BSOM composition faculty, David Kirkland Garner. Since its founding in 2004, the KSU Symphony Orchestra has grown into a vibrant musical community where emerging artists engage the great orchestral traditions while shaping the future of symphonic performance. Bringing together musicians from across disciplines and backgrounds, the ensemble approaches each performance with technical excellence, expressive depth and a spirit of discovery. This season’s programs journey across landscapes both historical and geographical — from celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary like this one, to a preview of the orchestra’s international tour repertory as they prepare to travel through Prague, Vienna and Budapest this spring. Along the way, you will encounter masterworks of the orchestral canon alongside bold contemporary compositions and performances featuring distinguished Bailey School of Music faculty artists and award-winning student soloists. Whether interpreting timeless repertoire or premiering new creative voices, the KSU Symphony Orchestra creates performances that are expansive, emotionally resonant and deeply connected to the world around them. This season reflects music’s enduring ability to travel across cultures and generations, carrying traditions and shared human experience wherever it is heard.