The Westport Arts Center offers a wide range of programs in the Performing arts that bring to our community many of the finest artists in music and theater, as well as probing conversations and explorations of the arts. You'll hear great chamber music ensembles; or the best of the great American songbook; or an insightful conversation between artists; or perhaps a talented local performer--all designed to bring you face to face with the arts.

Upcoming Performing Arts events:
Sunday, April 25, 2010		Chiara String Quartet
Sunday, May 2, 2010		Jazz-Rock Fusion: The Influence of Horn Bands

Our 2009/2010 chamber music series is grounded in a traditional repertoire, but offers some exciting new elements. Under the artistic leadership of Russell Platt, a composer and a Senior Editor for Classical Music at The New Yorker, chamber music audiences learn from pre-concert talks and in-depth programs that provide engaging arts experiences for listeners at all levels.

Co-presented with arts partner Pequot Library.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their continuing support of our chamber music series: Millette Alexander, the Artur and Heida Hermanns Holde Foundation, Inc., the Estate of Ruth Steinkraus Cohen and Herbert L. Cohen (Friends of Music), the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Abe and Elsa Nad, Joe and Marion Wertheim, and media sponsor, WSHU.

Upcoming Chamber Music events:
Sunday, April 25, 2010		Chiara String Quartet

The 2009-2010 Jazz Series at the Westport Arts Center offers new and exciting directions in this American art form. WAC has engaged renowned jazz musician and Fairfield University music professor Brian Torff as the new artistic director of Jazz. “I wish to take an open-minded view of jazz,” states Torff, “that embraces modern directions along with a respect for the heritage of this great music. By engaging and educating the audience we hope to not only entertain, but to inform our audiences.”

We're excited to introduce a new $10 ticket price for college students interested in learning more about Jazz.

Our last concert of the season will be co-presented with arts partner Pequot Library.

Upcoming Jazz events:
Sunday, May 2, 2010		Jazz-Rock Fusion: The Influence of Horn Bands

There is a wonderful blurring of categories taking place in music today-and nowhere is it more evident than in the area we’ve called “folk.”  At the Westport Arts Center you will occasionally hear music that can still fairly be called folk but you’ll also hear musicians channeling those traditional influences while blending them with pop, jazz, rock, blues, country, classical, and international sounds.  You’ll hear some of your favorites and, we hope, take a chance on less familiar artists.  You might hear them in the funky and charming Seabury Center, or the state-of-the-art Westport Country Playhouse.  Wherever you hear them, whether it’s for the first time or the tenth, you can be sure they are singers and other artists we are excited about and eager to share with you.

Food! Drink! Conversation! Music! Art! That’s what Gallery Sessions are all about.

Most Gallery Sessions are free for WAC members.