Guest artist Hannah Roberts presents a free concert — "Celtic Legends: Unveiling the Forgotten Legacy of Helen Hopekirk."

Performers include: JAMES KIM, cello EMELY PHELPS, pianoALAN WOO, pianoLEVON AMBARTSUMIAN, violinSHAKHIDA AZIMKHODJAEVA, violaThis evening of classical music begins with Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in B-Flat Major with James Kim and Emely Phelps. Then, enjoy the Brahms Horn Trio op. 40 arranged for violin, viola, and piano with Levon Ambartsumian, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, and Alan Woo.

Sullivan Fortner, piano Kristiina Poska, conductor Often called “the great American opera,” Porgy and Bess has shaped American culture since 1935, inspiring artists from Maya Angelou to Miles Davis and Janis Joplin to Sublime. With George Gershwin’s unmistakable gift for melody, its music—alongside the iconic Rhapsody in Blue—blends jazz and classical styles to capture the vibrant spirit of two iconic American cities with deep musical heritage, Charleston and New York. Before intermission, the orchestra surges into Carl Nielsen’s powerful Fourth Symphony, “The Inextinguishable.” The program marks the orchestra’s debut performances with Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska and jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner. NIELSEN: Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable” GERSHWIN: Catfish Row: Suite from Porgy and Bess GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue Part of American Panorama: Voices of a Nation at 250. Join the audience for a free pre-performance talk by Patrick Castillo in Ramsey Concert Hall prior to the performance from 6:45-7:15 p.m. Castillo is a writer, composer, and former Vice President of Artistic Planning of the New York Philharmonic.

A trio of acclaimed musicians unite for a very special collaborative performance. Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn is known for her expressive musicality and wide-ranging repertoire. She is joined by German baritone Matthias Goerne, widely regarded as one of today’s leading interpreters of German art song, and pianist Gloria Chien, who is praised for technical brilliance and artistry. Together, these internationally celebrated artists bring a dynamic program to the stage, including a new work by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, co-commissioned by the UGA Performing Arts Center.* Part of American Panorama: Voices of a Nation at 250. *Co-commissioned by La Jolla Music Society, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Spivey Hall, University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center. Join the audience for a free pre-performance talk by Patrick Castillo in Ramsey Concert Hall prior to the performance from 2:15-2:45 p.m. Castillo is a writer, composer, and former Vice President of Artistic Planning of the New York Philharmonic.

Guest artist Evan Mitchell presents a free recital.

Experience opera at its most intimate. Stripped of massive sets, opera reveals its core: stories of the human condition. This piano-led evening showcases a dynamic mix of our brightest rising talents and seasoned voices, combining raw vocal power with intense dramatic realism.

Experience opera at its most intimate. Stripped of massive sets, opera reveals its core: stories of the human condition. This piano-led evening showcases a dynamic mix of our brightest rising talents and seasoned voices, combining raw vocal power with intense dramatic realism.

French pianist Hélène Grimaud is a fiercely expressive and deeply committed artist, renowned for her poetic intensity and commanding technical control. In recognition of her extraordinary impact on classical music, the French government named her a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Her highly anticipated UGA Presents recital debut promises to showcase Grimaud’s “wide range of dynamics and articulation” (EarRelevant ) on two monumental sonatas: Beethoven’s transcendent Sonata No. 32 and Schubert’s radiant, dreamlike Sonata No. 21.

UGA piano faculty Emely Phelps presents a free recital.

Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov is renowned for his breathtaking virtuosity, poetic sensitivity, and extraordinary range. A commanding soloist, concerto powerhouse, chamber musician, and composer, he appears regularly on the world’s most prestigious stages with leading orchestras, earning widespread acclaim as one of today’s most compelling interpreters of the piano repertoire. In his UGA Presents debut, he performs a dynamic program featuring works by Handel, Stravinsky, Schubert, and Caribbean and South American composers.

Faculty artist Emely Phelps and guest artist Oksana Ezhokina present a free recital.

Beloved by performers, audiences, and composers alike, the piano quartet stands as one of chamber music’s most richly expressive forms. This program showcases landmark works from the Romantic era: Schumann’s pioneering contribution to the genre, Brahms’s passionate and expansive reimagining of its possibilities, and a rare early gem by Gustav Mahler—his only chamber work, a striking single-movement piece that reveals remarkable depth and intensity. Anchoring the concert are CMS’s longest-serving artistic directors, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, making a rare joint appearance on this tour.

This exciting and eclectic evening of contemporary music begins with Eric Ewazen’s Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano with Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, Brandon Craswell, and Damon Denton. Following the trio, Dave D’Angelo and faculty colleagues will present an energetic jazz set not to be missed.

Guest artist Paul Barnes presents a free recital.

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is one of the world’s greatest chamber orchestras, renowned for its fresh, brilliant interpretations. Through unrivalled live performances and a vast recording output, the Academy has gained an enviable international reputation for its distinctive, polished, and refined sound. Conrad Tao is a pianist and composer celebrated for his boundary-defying artistry as well as his powerful performances of traditional repertoire. Described by New York magazine as “the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music,” and praised by The New York Times for his “probing intellect and open-hearted vision,” Tao appears regularly as a soloist with leading orchestras and at major venues across the world. Part of American Panorama: Voices of a Nation at 250. STRAVINSKY: Concerto in E-flat Major, “Dumbarton Oaks” JS BACH (arr Stravinsky): Selection of Preludes and Fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier JS BACH: Piano Concerto No. 4 in A Major, BWV 1055 CONRAD TAO: New Work COPLAND: Appalachian Spring Suite

Pianist Yuja Wang is celebrated worldwide for her electrifying artistry, emotional depth, and magnetic stage presence. Having collaborated with many of the world’s most esteemed conductors and orchestras, she is revered not only for her breathtaking virtuosity but also for the spontaneity and vitality that define her performances. As she once told The New York Times, “I firmly believe every program should have its own life and be a representation of how I feel at the moment.”

One of the most unique pieces in the wind band repertoire, featuring powerful brass moments, amplified piano, and percussionists who are responsible for more than 40 instruments. This monumental work is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

This double bill brings together two of Britain’s most compelling concert artists, both making their UGA Presents debuts. Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, among the most sought-after musicians of his generation, pairs remarkable artistry with a passion for expanding access to classical music. Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor—hailed by the Financial Times as “the real deal”—has earned international acclaim for his refined musicianship as both a soloist and chamber music collaborator. United by talent and a shared commitment to a rich and wide-ranging repertoire, this superb duo combines virtuosity, insight, and a palpable joy in every performance. BEETHOVEN: 7 Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen,” WoO 46 NADIA BOULANGER: Three Pieces for Cello and Piano BEETHOVEN: Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2 RACHMANINOFF: Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 19