Events Calendar

Renowned for their seamless blend of virtuosic piano arrangements and unpredictable, laugh-out-loud comedy, Gifford and Kaplan have captivated audiences across Illinois for over a decade. Operating with four hands, two grand pianos, and two highly spontaneous and warped minds, their performances have drawn comparisons to legendary entertainers like Victor Borge and Liberace. No two shows are ever exactly alike, making each concert a completely unique, improvisational event.
"We are incredibly proud to host Mark and Damien in our community," said Jim Devitt, a representative from the Schuyler Performing Arts Council. "Their energy is infectious, and bringing a show centered on the spirit of historic Route 66 to our beautiful local venue is a perfect way to celebrate the arts in rural Illinois."
The show includes music from John Denver, Steppenwolf, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and many more!

Respighi's shimmering Fountains of Rome sets the scene, followed by the immensely popular Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition in Ravel's iconic orchestration. The evening culminates with our resident friend and returning soloist Spencer Myer applying his artistry to Grieg's beloved Piano Concerto.

Respighi- Fountains of Rome
Mussorgsky- Pictures at an Exhibition
Grieg - Piano Concerto in A Minor

The Zach Pietrini Band will bring its full-band blend of indie Americana, roots rock, and Midwestern storytelling to Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on Saturday, October 10.
Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, the all-ages evening will begin with an optional potluck dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Guests who would like to participate in the potluck are invited to bring a dish to share.

Zach Pietrini’s songwriting has been described as the sonic equivalent of a well-worn denim jacket: familiar, honest, and unmistakably Midwestern. Drawing inspiration from artists including Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and David Ramirez, Pietrini writes songs rooted in everyday experience, pairing thoughtful lyrics with a contemporary take on classic American roots music.

Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. A donation of $20 to $30 is suggested. In the event of rain, the concert will move to Bishop Hill Creative Commons.

Nova Singers, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Laura Lane, is thrilled to announce their 2026-27 concert season.  In its 41st season of bringing the finest choral music to audiences in Galesburg and the Quad Cities, Nova continues to push the envelope regarding innovative programming. The season opens on October 10th and 11th with Music of South Africa, featuring guest conductor Dr. Michael Barrett from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.  December’s concert, A Nova Christmas, celebrates the holiday season with favorite carols and other songs of the season.  In April 2027, Nova Singers will present So Breaks the Sun, a concert about hope and light.

Music of South Africa with guest conductor Michael Barrett

This performance is free and open to the public and will be live-streamed on the School of Music's YouTube channel.

PROGRAM

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach/arr. Donald Hunsberger

O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen/arr. H. Robert Reynolds

Australian Fantasia - David Stanhope
I. Sydney Harbor
II. The Road to Gundagai
III. Southern Cross
IV. Advance Australia Fair

The Alcotts from Piano Sonata No. 2 - Charles Ives/trans. Richard Thurston

Ad Futurum - Larry Clark

Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral - Richard Wagner/arr. Lucien Cailliet

One of Shakespeare's most well-known and well-beloved tragedies will open the theatre season at Monmouth College Oct. 9-11, which is also Homecoming weekend on campus.

The college's theatre department will present Macbeth - a tale of ambition, fate, and the price of choosing power over honor - on the Wells Theater stage.

On the eve of opening night, the cast will stage a dress rehearsal that's open to area theatre students and teachers. Another memorable rehearsal has already happened - a version of the play where the cast used their own words - not Shakespeare's - as a way to make sure they really understand their lines.
The play will be part of a jam-packed Homecoming weekend on campus, and Quick said his cast and crew will be busy with some of those assignments, including members of the football team, color guard and dance team.

Two of the cast's more veteran performers will not have such obligations: adult actors John Henderson, who "is both terrifying and hilarious" as The Porter, and Howard Moffet, who last year starred as The Narrator in Our Town. He'll play King Duncan.

Walnut Grove Farm’s Barn Fest is celebrating juried artisan shopping, great local food, live music, home grown produce, the Kids Art Contest and kid fun, with a quilt giveaway on October 3 & 4,10 & 11 from 9 to 5. The farm is located ½ mile north of Knoxville at Carr St. For details go to www.Barn-Fest.com.

Walnut Grove Farm’s Barn Fest is celebrating juried artisan shopping, great local food, live music, home grown produce, the Kids Art Contest and kid fun, with a quilt giveaway on October 3 & 4,10 & 11 from 9 to 5. The farm is located ½ mile north of Knoxville at Carr St. For details go to www.Barn-Fest.com.

Western Illinois University Theatre and Dance has announced its Fall 2026 season, featuring a lineup of classic theatre, contemporary musical theatre, original dance works, and a showcase highlighting the talents of WIU students and faculty. The Fall 2026 season will take place in the new Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts, with performances in the Clow Theatre and Hainline Theatre, in Brown Hall.

TWELFTH NIGHT is a lively romantic comedy about mistaken identity, love, and self-discovery. After being shipwrecked, Viola disguises herself as a man and becomes entangled in a love triangle involving Duke Orsino and Lady Olivia, leading to confusion, humor, and unexpected revelations. Through wit and disguise, the play explores love in all its foolishness and joy.

One of Shakespeare's most well-known and well-beloved tragedies will open the theatre season at Monmouth College Oct. 9-11, which is also Homecoming weekend on campus.

The college's theatre department will present Macbeth - a tale of ambition, fate, and the price of choosing power over honor - on the Wells Theater stage.

On the eve of opening night, the cast will stage a dress rehearsal that's open to area theatre students and teachers. Another memorable rehearsal has already happened - a version of the play where the cast used their own words - not Shakespeare's - as a way to make sure they really understand their lines.
The play will be part of a jam-packed Homecoming weekend on campus, and Quick said his cast and crew will be busy with some of those assignments, including members of the football team, color guard and dance team.

Two of the cast's more veteran performers will not have such obligations: adult actors John Henderson, who "is both terrifying and hilarious" as The Porter, and Howard Moffet, who last year starred as The Narrator in Our Town. He'll play King Duncan.