CES at Frostburg State University Announces 2025-26 Season
Aug 15, 2025 10:00 AM
The Cultural Events Series at Frostburg State University will present its 2025-26 season with professional arts events in genres of folk music, funk and soul, bluegrass, New Orleans jazz, traditional West African and Celtic music and dance and classical orchestral music.
The season will begin with a free outdoor performance of neo-funk and soul music from Josyln & The Sweet Compression at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Aug. 28, on the FSU Upper Quad. Led by Joslyn Hampton, whose powerful voice and commanding stage presence have garnered comparisons to Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin, this ace band of musicians has become a headlining favorite at clubs and festivals across the country. The performance is presented in partnership with the Allegany Arts Council as part of the Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series.
Multiple Grammy Award-winning bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien and vocalist and mandolin player Jan Fabricius will be presented as the Appalachian Festival Capstone Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 20, at the Frostburg Palace Theatre, 31 E. Main St. Since 2015, the husband-and-wife team have performed together nationally and internationally, both as a duo and as part of the Tim O’Brien Band. Their heartfelt music reveals the power of their deep collaboration, and they light up the stage with the warmth of acoustic roots that is both original and traditional. The concert is presented in partnership with FSU Folklore and Folklife Programming.
On Fri., Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m., the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own” Brass and Woodwind Quintets will present a free concert of patriotic selections and standard showpieces in FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Since 1922, the “Pershing’s Own” musical institution has maintained a tradition of excellence as the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army. The Brass Quintet, founded in 1972, and the Woodwind Quintet, founded in 1996, are frequently called upon in support of high-level military and civilian events at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and beyond.
Tuba Skinny will present a rambunctious performance of New Orleans jazz, blues and ragtime at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 5, at the Frostburg Palace Theatre. The ensemble’s joyful music encompasses influences of Depression-era blues, jug band, spirituals, string band music, ragtime and New Orleans R&B. This engagement is made possible through the Jazz Touring Network program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Celebrate the holidays with Seán Heely’s Celtic Christmas on Tues., Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall. Heely, a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and Gaelic singer, will join an ensemble of acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical holiday journey through Scotland and Ireland that lifts the spirit and warms the heart. Delight in the stirring sounds of the fiddle, Highland pipes, harp, percussion, bouzouki, bass, guitar piano, harmonium and a fleet-footed percussive dancer. This performance is presented by Rhythm of the Arts.
The beloved Maryland Symphony Orchestra returns to the Pealer Recital Hall on Fri., Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Under the baton of MSO Music Director Elizabeth Schulze, the orchestra will celebrate the Valentine’s Day holiday with a stirring performance that explores – through music – the profound connections between history, culture and the human experience. The program includes Antonin Dvořák’s “Wind Serenade,” Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Sinfonietta No. 1,” Lewis W. Ballard’s “Incident at Wounded Knee” and Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major. This performance is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and the FSU Foundation.
Les Ballets Africains: The National Dance Company of the Republic of Guinea, brings a colorful spectacle of West African dance, music and acrobatics to the Pealer Recital Hall stage at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 25. Formed in Paris in 1952 by distinguished Guinean choreographer Keita Fodéba, the 35-member troupe embodies the authenticity of African dance, incorporating traditional instruments, intense polyrhythms and colorful costumes. Their performances are a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend boundaries and unite people across the globe, resulting in a legacy of artistic excellence, cultural pride and a steadfast commitment to bridge the gap between nations through the universal language of dance.
The masterful roots musicians of Yarn come to the Palace Theatre on Sat., April 18, for an 8 p.m. performance of vibrant Americana and alt-country. Formed in 2007 in Brooklyn, New York, the band has since become known for its high-energy live performances, rich harmonies and tight musicianship. The band seamlessly integrates elements of country, folk and rock, resulting in a warm, resonant sound that has earned high praise from fans and critics alike and led to performances alongside luminaries like Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart and Alison Krauss. Throughout it all, they have drawn audiences into their vibrant musical web, delivering memorable songs that reverberate and linger in listeners’ hearts and souls.
Ticket pricing and fee information can be found at tickets.frostburg.edu. Discounts are available for youth, military and FSU employees; all tickets are free for FSU students. The University Box Office, located in FSU’s Lane University Center, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit CES’ webpage at ces.frostburg.edu or contact the box office at 1-866-849-9237 or 301-687-3137.
CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.