Arts in Bloom

From an early age, Michael Cleveland heard old-time and bluegrass music at local jams and festivals near his hometown of Henryville, Indiana. His grandparents hosted regular bluegrass gatherings at the American Legion, and at age four, he began playing the fiddle. He attended the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville, where he learned the Suzuki method of violin. Cleveland had always dreamed of leading his own band and in 2006, he formed Flamekeeper, seven-time recipients of the IBMA’s “Instrumental Group of the Year” award, including Josh Richards, Nathan Livers, Jasiah Shrode, and Chris Douglas. In addition to touring with his band, Cleveland has performed with a legendary list of bluegrass greats: Bela Fleck, Tommy Emmanuel, Billy Strings, Vince Gill, and more. Widely considered the bluegrass fiddler of his generation, Cleveland has been recognized 12 times as the IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year and in 2018 was inducted into the National Fiddlers Hall of Fame. In 2019, he won a GRAMMY for his album Tall Fiddler and in 2022, he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. See Michael Cleveland on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at 7:30pm. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall.

Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, the company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Sylvia Waters was selected by Mr Ailey to be its founding Artistic Director, serving in that role for the Company's first 38 seasons and helping Ailey II to flourish into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. See Ailey II on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at 7:30pm. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall

Formed in 2017, Melt is a New York City-based band steadily building a loyal fanbase with their captivating sound and electrifying live performances. Described by The Washington Post as a band whose every studio album "begs the listener to imagine its live rendition," Melt has gained a reputation for delivering unforgettable experiences on stage. NPR praises their seamless collaboration, stating that each member of the band "expresses themselves like one groovy super organism." See Melt on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at 7:30pm. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall

Imagine some of the world's most talented 4-legged performers in an uproariously funny, comedy dog spectacular that is leaving audiences everywhere howling for more! The all star lineup includes a 2 time World Champion Frisbee dog, a hilarious six pound Pomeranian Pikachu mix, and a host of previously discarded dogs that will dance, prance, flip, and skip their way right in to your heart. Deemed "A must see!" by The Washington Post, Mutts Gone Nuts is sure to win Best in Show! See Mutts Gone Nuts on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 at 7:30pm. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall

Ensemble Mik Nawooj (EMN)'s Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience is part concert, dance party, and club night featuring original music that samples from classical and hip-hop, all presented in an underground setting like the New York scene that birthed hip-hop. Their music uniquely challenges the MCs and classical musicians pushing the boundaries of both hip-hop and concert music, creating something completely new. The program includes seminal works of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, deconstructed and reimagined with funky rhythms and rapid-fire rhymes. See Ensemble Mik Nawooj's Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 7:30pm. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall

Pianist Aaron Diehl has quietly re-defined the lines between jazz and classical, and built a global career around his nuanced, understated approach to music-making. Praise for his "melodic precision, harmonic erudition, and elegant restraint" (The New York Times), and his "traditional jazz sound with a sophisticated contemporary spin" (The Guardian), Diehl has performed with musical giants such as Wanton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Savant, Tyshawn Sorey, and Philip Glass, and has been a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. See the Aaron Diehl Jazz Trio on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 7:30pm. Carver Hall, K.S. Gross Auditorium

Called a "trio of Modern Marx Brothers" by the Boston Herald and "intellectual vaudeville" by the New York Times, The RSC is a touring American comedy troupe that performs fast-paced, seemingly improvisational condensations of huge topics. They hold the record for he longest running comedies on the history of London's West End as three of its shows ran in repertory at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus for almost ten years. Known as the "Bad Boys of Abridgment," the RSC has performed at the White House, Lincoln Center, Off-Broadway, the Kennedy Center, and Montreal's famed Just For Laughs Festival. See The Reduced Shakespeare Company: All the great Books Abridged on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:30pm. Carver Hall, K.S. Gross Auditorium