Community Calendar

Acclaimed as an “outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament” (The New York Times), the Verona Quartet has emerged as one of the preeminent string quartets of its generation. The group’s singular commitment to the art of the string quartet earned them both the 2020 Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association’s 2025 Educator Award. The Quartet serves on the faculty of the Oberlin College and Conservatory as the Quartet-in-Residence as well as Artistic Directors at Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance.

Sunday, April 12, 3PM
Tickets: Adults $35 | Students FREE
Presser Hall, Randolph College
2500 Rivermont Ave
Lynchburg, VA 24503

Tickets available at www.lynchburgtickets.com/verona-quartet, or at the door.
For more information call: 434.515.1837 or email fortechambermusic@gmail.com

Experience the rich heritage of baroque cello music with artists from the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra on lute, harpsichord, and cello.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society, Unity of Charlottesville and WTJU welcome cellist/composer Janel Leppin and her group Ensemble Volcanic Ash for a 7:30 pm concert on April 24th at Unity.

Janel was last seen in Charlottesville with her husband, guitarist Anthony Pirog and the group Skullcap, at a very well received concert at Belmont Arts. Now at the peak of her powers as both a bandleader and a solo performer, she’s released two new projects of staggering beauty as well as vast personal and political insight. Pluto in Aquarius features her longstanding avant-jazz chamber unit, Ensemble Volcanic Ash, with a lineup of her most trusted collaborators including Pirog, bassist Luke Stewart, saxophonist Brian Settles and drummer Larry Ferguson. Slowly Melting is a riveting solo program that puts Leppin’s fuzz-saturated cello at the fore. She also contributes her accompaniment, crafting expansive soundscapes through guitar, bass, piano and synthesizer.

Janel will open the concert in Charlottesville with a solo set playing material from Slowly Melting, followed by a set from the whole Ensemble.
Pluto in Aquarius, like all of Leppin’s music, is a deeply personal work, and it’s also intensely political. Leppin wrote about half of the music in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, and the remaining half after the inauguration that followed. “So you’ll hear a lot of hopefulness here,” Leppin says, “as well as, of course, a lot of tension.”

Formed in 2025 out of a makeshift practice space in Harrisonburg, VA, Vessira began with four college students and a shared dream. Fueled by faith, the Bible, and more than a few Krispy Kremes, the band channels their beliefs into alt rock rooted in honesty and emotion. With themes of struggle, hope, and uncertainty, Vessira seeks to unite listeners from all walks of life. No matter who’s on the other side of the track, the message remains the same: you are never alone. God bless—and rock on.

Ever wondered what it’s like to experience 40 countries in a single day?
At the 65th International Street Fair, you can do exactly that!

Explore global customs and traditions brought to life by Virginia Tech’s international and cultural student organizations. Stroll through vibrant booths filled with demonstrations, cultural displays, music, and Hokies dressed in stunning traditional attire. Enjoy hands‑on activities, traditional games, arts, crafts, and unique items created by students.

The fair kicks off with the Global Cultural Parade, showcasing celebrated cultures from around the world. Then stick around for dynamic performances—dancers, singers, and talented instrumentalists lighting up the stage in front of Torgersen Bridge.

Come hungry! We’ll have 16 food trucks serving international and cultural cuisines from across Virginia. Bring the whole family and stop by the Global Kids Zone, sponsored by Falin Life Sciences, for a free craft to make and take home.

This free event is dedicated to support veterans, veterans’ spouses, families and support personnel. It is open to the public, as well.

Veterans Affairs will be on site for Veterans, Spouses, Nutrition, Health. Other features includes Chaplain services, meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga, Suicide Prevention Training, Cornhole Tournament, Reiki, Live Music, Food Truck and more.

KRU (Kreative Room Unfiltered) is a fresh, community-driven open mic experience hosted in the Music Hall at the Academy Center of the Arts, designed to spotlight raw talent, authentic expression, and creative freedom while cultivating a space where artists and audiences can connect without barriers or expectations. This weekly Thursday night event brings together both emerging and established performers across disciplines—including music, spoken word, comedy, and other forms of live creative expression, offering a welcoming yet high-quality environment supported by professional sound and intentional production that elevates every performance. With a focus on unfiltered artistry, individuality, and genuine connection, KRU encourages performers to take creative risks, share their voices honestly, and contribute to a living, evolving creative dialogue, while audiences are invited not just to observe, but to engage with and become part of the experience. Free to attend, KRU serves as both a platform and a gathering place—one that celebrates originality, builds community, and adds a vibrant, inclusive energy to Lynchburg’s arts scene, offering something bold, distinctive, and unlike any other open mic in the area.

Come to the annual village fair celebrating this vibrant community in the Blue Ridge foothills. There will be activities for all ages – the famously-challenging 10k race; an eclectic Country Parade; cake walks; a Maypole dance; samurai sword demonstration; the Albemarle Morris Men; face-painting and free books for kids; bake sales; a plant exchange; the ever-popular Talking Batesville History Tent and more!

Music by the Henley Middle School Marching Band, Bluzonia, Monsters Under the Bed, Michael Boggs and the Batesville Natives, and the Albemarle Pipes and Drums – all FREE!

Roanoke, Va.’s new, premier venue, The Exchange Music Hall, located at 201 S. Jefferson Street, plays host to The WAILERS - ’50 Years of Positive Vibrations’ on Saturday, May 2, 2026, as the band celebrates 50 years of Rastaman Vibration, one of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ most influential albums. Presented by Vibe Check Productions & Across-the-Way Productions, this special stop on The Wailers’ ‘50 Years of Positive Vibrations’ world tour highlights select cuts from Rastaman Vibration alongside the timeless classics that continue to unite audiences across generations.

• Father Sun — OPENER: https://fathersunband.com

Exchange with us:
• Doors: 5:30 p.m.
• Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026