History
Since 1962, the S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series has presented world-class attractions for the citizens of eastern North Carolina. Arts Smart and Family Fare were added in 1990. Our history is as follows:
1962-1963
Alexander Brailowsky, pianist
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
Greg Colson, pianist
Three in Concert, percussionists
1963-1964
Norman Luboff Choir
Lionel Hampton and Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony
Triangle Syphony Orchestra
Dame Judith Anderson, actress
1964-1965
Teresa Stratas, soprano
Paganini Quartet
Ferrante and Teicher, pianists
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
Paris Chamber Orchestra
1965-1966
Jorge Bolet, pianist
New York Woodwind Quintet
Houston Symphony Orchestra
1966-1967
New York Brass Quintet
Orchestra Michaelangelo de Firenze
Sabicas, guitarist
Westminster Choir
National Symphony Orchestra
1967-1968
Warsaw Woodwind Quintet
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Chamber Symphony of Philadephia
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
Alma Trio
National Ballet
1968-1969
Roger Wagner Chorale
Robert Merrill, baritone
Andres Segovia, guitarist
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Van Cliburn, pianist
1969-1970
Osipov Balalaika Orchestra, with Stars of the Bolshoi Opera
Vienna Choir Boys
Arthur Rubinstein, pianist
Stockholm Philharmonic
Henryk Szeryng, violinist
Abbey Singers
1970-1971
Anna Moffo, soprano
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Bach Aria Group
Ivan Davis, pianist
Jose Greco Flamenco Dance Company
Goldovsky Grand Opera Theatre: Don Giovanni
1971-1972
Sierra Leone National Dance Company
World’s Greatest Jazz Band
Jerome Hines, bass
London Symphony
Grant Johannesen, pianist
Isaac Stern, violinist
1972-1973
Cleveland Orchestra
Gary Graffman, piano and Leonard Rose, cello
Beverly Wolff, soprano
I Solisti di Zagreb Chamber Orchestra
First Moog Quartet
1973-1974
Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company
Philippe Entremont, pianist
Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra
The Paul Hill Chorale
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Marcel Marceau
1974-1975
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
PDQ Bach
Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra of Paris
Garrick Ohlsson, pianist
Christopher Parkening, guitarist
Royal Uppsala Chorus of Sweden
1975-1976
Lorimer and Zukerman, guitar and flute
Tashi Ensemble
New York Brass Quintet
Jan de Gaetani, vocalist
Kyung Wha Chung, violinist
Murray Perahia, pianist
Paul Winter Consort
Rhondo Dance Theatre
NC Dance Theatre
1976-1977
Abbey Simon, pianist
Waverly Consort
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
John and Richard Contiguglia, pianists
Guarneri String Quartet
1977-1978
Ruth Lardeo, pianist
Shinichi Suzuki Talent Education Tour
Canadian Brass Quintet
Beaux Arts Trio
Norman Luboff Choir
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute and Robert V. LaCroix, piano
1978-1979
Jorge Bolet, pianist
Piedmont Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Parkening, guitarist
Eugene Fodor, violinist
TASHI Ensemble
1979-1980
Woody Herman and his Big Band
Claude Frank, pianist
Music For A Whle Renaissance Ensemble
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Victor Borge
1980-1981
Empire Brass Quintet
Juilliard String Quartet
Carlos Montoya, guitarist
Pressler/Bressler, pianist/tenor
Charles Rosen, pianist
1981-1982
Norman Luboff Choir
Shura Cherkassky, pianist
Manhattan Woodwind Quintet
Michael Lorimer, guitarist
1982-1983
Peter Serkin, pianist
Elly Ameling, soprano
Soviet Emigre Chamber Orchestra
Balcolm and Morris
Julius Baker, flutist
Tokyo String Quartet
Gregg Smith Singers
1983-1984
Anton Kuerti, pianist
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Romeros, guitarists
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Lynn Harrell, cellist
1984-1985
Tokyo String Quartet
Janina Fialkowska, pianist
Vienna Choir Boys
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Marvis Martin, soprano
1985-1986
Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia
Jean-Philippe Collard, pianist
Bach Aria Group
Viktoria Mullova, violinist
1986-1987
Suzuki Talent Education Tour
Burl Ives
The North Carolina and ECU Symphonies (reopening Wright Auditorium)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Alicia de Larrocha, pianist
1987-1988
Tonkuenstler Orchestra of Vienna
The King’s Singers
The North Carolina and ECU Symphonies with cellist Lynn Harrell
Eugene Istomin, pianist
Woody Herman/Richard Stoltzman
Empire Brass
1988-1989
The Ohio Ballet
Wynton Marsalis
The Atlanta Symphony
PHILADANCO
North Carolina Shakespeare Festival: Love’s Labour’s Lost
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: Pirates of Penzance
Polish National Radio Orchestra
Cabaret
North Carolina and ECU Symphonies with pianist Karen Shaw
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violinist
Evita
1989-1990
Beaux Arts Trio
North Carolina Shakespeare Festival: Twelfth Night
World Opera Theatre: Carmen
North Carolina Dance Theatre and the ECU Symphony Orchestra
Cannes Chamber Orchestra with Ransom Wilson
Dream Girls
Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Jose Cocarelli, pianist
Shalom ‘90
Swingle Singers
Kismet
Itzhak Perlman, violinist
1990-1991
PDQ Bach
Carol Channing
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
A Christmas Carol
MOMIX
New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players: The Mikado
Into the Woods
Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Alexei Sultanov, piano
North Carolina and ECU Symphonies with Horacio Guitteriez
Oakland Ballet
South Pacific
For young audiences:
Quintessence Woodwinds: Peter & The Wolf
WallStreet DanceWorks
Tarradiddle Players: Charlotte’s Web
The Mikado
Asolo Players: Pinocchio
1991-1992
Glasnost Ballet
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Andre-Michel Schub, pianist
World Opera Theatre: La Traviata
United States Marine Corps Band
ISO & The Bobs
Boys Choir of Harlem
Philharmonia Hungarica with Yeh. Menuhin
Barnum
Roger Williams with the ECU Symphony Orchestra
Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, cellist
For young audiences:
Tom Chapin, folk singer
Lazer Vaudeville
Grey Seal Puppets
Dr. Tom and Seus
Tucson Arizona Boys Choir
1992-1993
Kingston Trio
Emanuel Ax, piano and Yo Yo Ma, cello
Ray Charles
Hanover Band of London
Buddy Holly Story
Waverly Consort
Dmitri Ratser, pianist
National Orchestra of Spain
Smoke on the Mountain
Martha Graham Dance Ensemble
The King’s Singers
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
For young audiences:
John McCutcheon
The Fiddle Puppets
The Pandean Players
The Wizard of Oz
The 101 Dalmatians
1993-1994
The Limeliters
Canadian Brass
Lar Lubovitch Dancers
Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Simone Pedroni, piano
Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra
Canterbury Tales
A Christmas Carol
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Chanticleer
Louisville Orchestra
Sarasota Ballet
Sunday in the Park With George
Tony Bennett
For young audiences:
Imagine If…
Legend of Chinese Acrobats
The Secret Garden
Josh White, Jr.
Steel Bandits
Carolina Connection
1994-1995
The Capitol Steps
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
American String Quartet with Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Valery Kuleshov, piano
My Fair Lady
Teatro de Danza Española
Washington Ballet
Forever Plaid
Russian National Orchestra
Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
North Carolina and ECU Symphonies with violinist Cory Cerovcek
Jerry Hadley, tenor
Alfred Brendel, pianist
For young audiences:
Aladdin
Fred Garbo
Red Grammer
Jack Adams/Incredible Merlin Magic Show
Curious George
Merlin
1995-1996
The Four Freshmen
Tap Dance Kid
Summit Brass
Misha Dichter, pianist
The Swingle Singers
World Opera Theatre: The Marriage of Figaro
Veryovka Ukrainian National Dance Company
Midori, violinist
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Bolshoi Ballet Ensemble
New Vic Theatre: Hunchback of Notre Dame
For young audiences:
David Parker
Pippi Longstocking
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Other Stories
Tom Sawyer
Treasure Island
1996-1997
1964…The Tribute
North Carolina Dance Theatre
London Chamber Orchestra
Always…Patsy Cline
World Opera Theatre: Barber of Seville
Maynard Ferguson & His Big Bop Noveau Band
Anonymous 4
Vienna Choir Boys
Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra
Flying Karamazov Brothers
Taylor 2 Dancers
Julian Bream, guitarist/lutenist
For young audiences:
Velveteen Rabbit
Magic of Lyn
Black Journey
Dinosaur Mountain
Heidi
1997-1998
Count Basie Orchestra
Papa Doo Run Run
Quartetto Gelato
World Opera Theatre: Carmen
Ballet Hispanico
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra with pianist Emanuel Ax
Georgian St. Dance Company
Berlin Symphony
Grease
Van Cliburn Silver Medalist
For young audiences:
Michael Cooper
Has Brinker
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
The Jungle Book, a ballet
Laura Ingalls Wilder
1998-1999
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Van Cleburne Gold Medalist Jon Nakamatsu, piano
Yesterday – A Tribute to the Beatles
Idols of the King
St. Petersburg St. Symphony
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
Alvin Ailey Dance Ensemble
Russian National Ballet: Swan Lake
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players: HMS Pinafore
Doc Watson & Dave Grisman
For young audiences:
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
The Ugly Duckling
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Adventures of Corduroy
House at Pooh Corner
1999-2000
International Sejong Soloists featuring flutist Eugenia Zukerman
Harry Belafonte
World Opera Theatre: Don Giovanni
Don Cossacks of Rostov
FLOOK!
Hoagy Carmichael Centennial Celebration
Minnesota Orchestra with violinist Pinchas Zukerman
Andre-Michel Schub
Carolina Ballet Theatre
For young audiences:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Alice in Wonderland
Caddie Woodlawn
Charlotte’s Web
Huck, Tom and the Mighty Mississippi
2000-2001
Even Stephen’s Tribute to Elton John
Black Watch
Riders in the Sky
Marcus Roberts Trio
Tafelmusik
Scholars of London
Bolshoi Symph. Orchestra
Porgy and Bess
Brazilian Guitar Quartet
Garth Fagan Dance
Loonis McGlohon Trio
For young audiences:
Ramona Quimby
Aesop’s Fables
Robin Hood
Anne of Green Gables
Freedom Train
2001-2002
Terrence Blanchard
Eroica Trio
Mark O’Connor and Metamorphosen
Judy Collins
BBC Orchestra
Warabi-za
“Strike up the Band”
Ballet: Spartacus
Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch, piano
For young audiences:
Mozart, Monsters & Matisse
MatheMagic
Reading Rainbow
Pied Piper
Big Adventures of Stuart Little
2002-2003
Parsons Dance Company
Paul Winter Consort
Three Mo’ Tenors
La Boheme
Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Olga Kern, piano
Hungarian National Philharmonic
American Repertory Dance
Baltimore Consort
Dianne Reeves
For young audiences:
The Song of Mulan
Little Red Riding Hood
Toying with Science
Ugly Duckling
2003-2004
National Theatre of the Deaf: Oh! Figaro
Shanghai Symphony
Gil Shaham, violinist
Opera: Rigoletto
Sean Curran Dance Company
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Ballet: Cinderella
Bolcom & Morris
For young audiences:
Dinosaurs
David Parker
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Wrights of Passage
2004-2005
Beaux Arts Trio
Take 6
Virsky Ukrainian Dance Company
Turtle Island String Quartet
Opera Verdi Europa: Aida
Prague Symphony Orchestra
Love Letters, starring Eva Marie Saint
National Symphony Orchestra
Janice Martin, violinist
St. Petersburg State Ballet Theatre
For young audiences:
ECU Storybook Theatre: Tales from Around the World
The Arabian Nights
Dance Asia
Ramona Quimby
National Symphony Orchestra
2005-2006
Dallas Brass
Opera Verdi Europa: Macbeth
Munich Symphony
Pilobolous II
Van Cliburn
Unforgettable: The Nat King Cole Story
Black Watch
Russian National Ballet
B. J. Ward in Stand Up Opera
For young audiences:
Amber Brown is not a Crayon
The Rainbow Fish
ECU Storybook Theatre: My Hero, Reaching for the Stars!
Toying with Science
2006-2007
Van Cliburn Medalist Alexander Kobrin, piano
Tierney Sutton Band
New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players: The Pirates of Penzance
LA Theatreworks: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Violinist Hilary Hahn
NC Symphony Orchestra
Koresh Dance Company
Moscow Festival Ballet: Don Quixote
Emerson String Quartet
For young audiences:
Dinosaur Desperados
Alice, by Whoopi Goldberg
ECU Storybook Theatre: James and the Giant Peach
Mum Puppettheatre: Adventures of a Boy and His Dog on the High Seas
ECU Storybook Theatre: Runaway Bear
2007-2008
Jose Limon Dance Company
Olga Kern, piano
Aquila Theatre Company: Julius Caesar
Aquila Theatre Company: Catch-22
Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash
Empire Brass Quintet
Montery Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour
State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico
St. Petersburg Ballet Co: Romeo and Juliet
Garrison Keillor “Lake Wobegone Days”
For young audiences:
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Teddy Roosevelt and the Legend of Ursa Major
Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid
ECU Storybook Theatre: All Aboard America
2008-2009
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
Philadanco
Marvin Hamlisch
King’s Singers
Van Cliburn Medalist Chu-Fang Huang, piano
Nathan Gunn, baritone and John Wustman, piano
Russian National Ballet: Giselle
For young audiences:
Philadanco
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Jungle Book
Three Fat Frogs
Gizmo Guys
ECU Storybook Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2009-2010
Rhythm and Passion
Reduced Shakespeare Company: Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare, Abridged
Van Cliburn Medalist Yeol Eum Son, piano
Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Moscow State Ballet: Don Quixote
Imani Winds
Chanticleer
Suzanne Vega
Mike Super
For young audiences:
Chasing George Washington
ECU Storybook Theatre: All Aboard America
ECU Storybook Theatre: Charlotte’s Web
Nobody’s Perfect
Under Southern Skies
2010-2011
Takacs Quartet
John Pizzarelli
Lily Tomlin
Emile Pandolfi
Opole, the National Philharmonic of Poland
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Doug Varone and Dancers
Midori
Russian National Ballet: Romeo and Juliet
Matisyahu
Tiempo Libre
Spam Allstars
For young audiences:
CSI Live
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Zorro
Knuffle Bunny
ECU Storybook Theatre: Seussical
Beauty and the Beast
cARTwheels: North Carolina Dance Theatre
2011-2012
Ballet Memphis
Chris Botti
Natalie Cole
David Dorfman Dance
Green Grass Cloggers
JACK Quartet
Donald Lawrence
New York Voices
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
United States Marine Band
Ben Vereen
For young audiences:
ArcAttack
LocoMotion
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
ECU Storybook Theatre: Secret Garden
ECU Storybook Theatre: Stinky Cheese Man
2012-2013
Bill Cosby
Urban Bush Women
Panorama Jazz Band
Connecting Crossroads: Daniel Bernard Roumaine and Laurelyn Dossett
Raleigh Ringers
New Century Chamber Orchestra
Nordic Voices
River North Dance Chicago
Frank Vignola Trio
Bobby McFerrin
Igudesman and Joo: Big Nightmare Music with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra
For young audiences:
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Hobbit
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
Martha Speaks
River North Dance Chicago: Street Beat
Kid Power: Operation Lunch Line
If You Give A Mouse a Cookie
ECU Storybook Theatre: Fantastic Mr. Fox
2013-2014
Doc Severinsen and His Big Band
Joshua Bell
Walnut Street Theatre: Driving Miss Daisy
Official Blues Brothers Revue
Capitol Steps
Van Cliburn Medalist Di Wu with the ECU Symphony Orchestra
For young audiences:
Tomas Kubinek: Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible
ECU Storybook Theatre: Christmas Carol
Gizmo Guys
ECU Storybook Theatre: Schoolhouse Rock Live!
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
2014-2015
Canadian Brass
Red Priest
Mark O’Connor
Mummenschanz
Koresh Dance
John Lithgow
Van Cliburn Medalist Nina Kotova with the ECU Symphony Orchestra
Roomful of Teeth
For young audiences:
Koresh Dance Informance
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Little Prince
The Lightning Thief
ECU Storybook Theatre: Treasure Island
Curious George
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
Down East Talent Search
2015-2016
National Circus and Acrobats of the People’s Repubilc of China
Van Cliburn Medalist Haochen Zhang, piano
Danu
Simply Sinatra
Rising Stars of the Met
BodyTraffic
Dave Barry
US Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus
Down East Talent Search
Black Violin
For young audiences:
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Velveteen Rabbit
Frosty
Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Giver
2016-2017
United States Marine Band
Branford Marsalis with Kurt Elling
Parsons Dance Company
The Other Mozart
Hot Sardines: Holiday Stomp
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Russian National Ballet Theatre: Tchaikovsky Gala
The Nile Project
For young audiences:
Nile Project Informance
Down East Talent Search
ECU Storybook Theatre: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Skippyjon Jones
Alice in Wonderland
Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Story Books
ECU Storybook Theatre: Rudyard Kippling’s Just So Stories
2017-2018
Catherine Russell and John Pizzarelli: Billie and Blue Eyes
Vienna Boys Choir: Bella Italia
Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance
Dorrance Dance
Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra
Golden Dragon Acrobats
Broadway Backstage
For young audiences:
Dragons Love Tacos and Other Stories
ECU Storybook Theatre: Wind in the Willows
Go, Dog. Go!
Flight School
Pinkalicious
Junie B Jones
ECU Storybook Theatre: Really Rosie!