The Nrityagram dance ensemble performed at the Weis Center on October 13th at 7:30 pm. Accompanied by live musicians the ensemble performed pieces from their newest piece ‘Samhara’, which brings together brilliant Indian dance traditions with shared ancient roots. Nrityagram is more than just one of India’s “premiere classical dance ensembles”; it is also India’s first modern Gurukul for Indian classical dances and an intentional community in the form of a dance village. In the words of the village founder Protima Gauri: “[Nrityagram] is a community of dancers in a forsaken place amidst nature. A place where nothing exists, except dance. A place […]

Internationally acclaimed Galician bagpipe master and classical pianist Cristina Pato performed with her quartet on Thursday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center. Her band includes Julien Labro on accordion and bandoneon, Edward Perez on double bass and Eric Doob on drums. Cristina Pato enjoys a professional career devoted to cultural exchange and creating new paths for her unique instrument. Ms. Pato is an active member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and serves as educational advisor for the Silkroad Project. Her latest album Latina (2015) has received critical acclaim, including a four and a half star review […]

Dina El Wedidi comes from a self described traditional Egyptian background, attending university in Cairo were she composed her own music. Since 2011, El Wedidi and her band have toured extensively throughout the world, introducing the unique sound of Cairo to the global music scene. Dina El Wedidi and her 5-piece band, including Bass guitarist Mounir Maher, Percussionist Azima Barhoma, Accordionist Wael el-Sayed, Drummer Mohammed Raafat and Sound Engineer Mafdy Thabet performed at Bucknell University on September 27th at 7:30 pm. Sponsored by the U.S.-sponsored Center Stage program, El Wedidi is touring America from coast to coast; Lewisburg is the […]

The guitar drawls. The beat of drums reverberates through the floor and up your feet. Audience members laugh and cheer as Red Molly takes the stage. Known for their gorgeous harmonies and infectious songwriting, Red Molly (Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Molly Venter) graced Lewisburg downtown with their presence on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Theatre. This ‘Americana trio’ beautifully weaves together the threads of American music. In their caramel voice and superb three-part harmonies they explore every sound from folk to bluegrass, lamenting ballads to honky-tonks. Laurie, Abbie, and Molly each have wonderfully distinct voices, both in […]

Mohamed Abozekry and his instrumental ensemble Karkadé introduced Lewisburg to the sounds of classical Arabic music, Sufi music of northern Egypt, and secular poetry on Friday,  September 14 in the Weis Center Atrium. Abozekry is a world-renowned Egyptian oud virtuoso. Karkadé is Abozekry’s second ensemble. It is a compositional effort to return to his roots, presenting a more traditional Egyptian style of music infused with a sense of modernity. He released Karkadé’s album in September 2016. Karkadé mixes styles and traditions to describe “a path to an Arab world at peace with its history and turned towards the future.” On Friday night, the Weis […]

In the Atrium of the Weis Center, it’s a full house. The audience watches the sun set through the glass-panel walls as Willie Kelly and David Powers take their position on the stage at the base of the spiraling staircase. After a brief introduction by Kathryn Maguet the musicians lift their instruments and, without wasting another breath, begin to play, transporting the audience back into the history of Ireland. David Power of Ireland and Willie Kelly, a native of New Jersey, brought an uniquely Irish experience the Central Pennsylvania with their free performance on Thursday night, September 6th, at 7:30 […]

Egyptologist Dr. Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney, at first glance, seems like the female Indiana Jones. She studies a civilization so ancient it’s steeped in myth, travels the world, and speaks in forums at distinguished universities. But her work isn’t all about studying stories inscribed in coffins or translating hieroglyphics. In her National Geographic Live presentation “When Women Ruled the World,” sponsored by the Weis Center, Cooney asks a critical question: What can we learn from the women who once ruled Egypt as kings? Dr. Cooney is a professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA. Specializing in craft production, coffin studies, […]

Our 30th Anniversary Season is nearing its close and Saturday, April 14 marked the final in-house performance with Grammy Award-winning musical collective the Silkroad Ensemble. Silkroad redefines classical music through the presentation and celebration of artists from different nationalities and musical traditions. The group is comprised of  over three dozen musicians representing countries like Korea, Kazakhstan, China, and the United States. On Saturday we were introduced to ten ensemble members who performed with instruments unique to their cultures including the Spanish bagpipe, the pipa, the violin, the piano, and the gong. Listing all of these instruments as a part of one […]

The Weis Center is no stranger to hosting talented vocal performance groups. Artists representing diverse cultures and vocal styles have graced our stage over the years and while Thursday’s March 1 Lorelei Ensemble performance may fall in the “vocal group” category, the transcendent vocal magic created by the ladies of Lorelei belongs in a category of its own. Lorelei consists of nine all-professional female vocalists whose individual talents and experiences help to define the groups’ sound. Established in 2007 in Boston, Lorelei performs under the direction of artistic director and founder Beth Willer and has commissioned and premiered an impressive […]

Music fans young and old were in for a treat Saturday evening Feb. 3 when globalFEST On The Road made its stop in Lewisburg. globalFEST is a nonprofit musical venture that puts on an annual New York City festival highlighting acclaimed artists of various genres from around the world. Formally titled globalFEST On the Road: The Golden Age of Latin Music, this winter 2018 leg is a curated touring program based off of that very festival and showcases artists Orkesta Mendoza and Las Cafeteras, coheadliners that evening, as well as Mariachi Flor De Toaloache, who rocked the Weis Center this past […]