Visual and Performing Arts - NMU Events and Announcements

Visual and Performing Arts

The opening event in the Summer Concerts at Reynolds series features Mark Flaherty, Steve Riley, Steve Grugin, Christopher Schoelen, Gordon Erickson, and Jim Strain.  

This program will feature classic traditional jazz repertoire as recorded by some of the most important early jazz ensembles, including The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, The New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers, and Louis Armstrong’s Hot 5. In between selections, Dr. Mark Flaherty will explain the origins jazz, describe the basic characteristics of this music, and discuss the pioneering artists who shaped this great American art form.

Visual and Performing Arts

Join us for the 5th Annual North Coast Dance Festival, a spectacular celebration of dance!

Professional dancers from across the country will gather alongside the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company for engaging educational experiences and mesmerizing performances. Don't miss this unforgettable event filled with grace, talent, and artistry. We are thrilled to welcome back Giordano Dance Chicago, who will be performing two dynamic concert jazz pieces, Dumb Luck! (musical theatre) and Sabroso (ballroom), and professional ballet dancers, Julia Feldman and Mate Szentes.

MASTERCLASS:

Wednesday, June 24th - 6:30pm

Jazz Master Class with Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago. Registration is now OPEN!

REGISTER HERE!

PERFORMANCES:

Thursday, June 25th - 7:30pm

Friday, June 26th - 7:30pm

***Friday night only - Wildcat Performing Arts Academy Dancers will perform as well.

LOCATION: Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1hr 15mins | No Intermission

TICKETS:

Get your tickets now at the NMU Ticket Office located in the Superior Dome or online at tickets.nmu.edu

FREE TICKETS FOR ALL NMU STUDENTS!

For any ticket-related questions, please call the NMU Ticket Office at 906-227-1032.

For more information about the production, please visit our North Coast Dance Festival webpage.

This event is generously sponsored by the Siril Endowment for the Arts.

Visual and Performing Arts

Join us for the 5th Annual North Coast Dance Festival, a spectacular celebration of dance!

Professional dancers from across the country will gather alongside the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company for engaging educational experiences and mesmerizing performances. Don't miss this unforgettable event filled with grace, talent, and artistry. We are thrilled to welcome back Giordano Dance Chicago, who will be performing two dynamic concert jazz pieces, Dumb Luck! (musical theatre) and Sabroso (ballroom), and professional ballet dancers, Julia Feldman and Mate Szentes.

MASTERCLASS:

Wednesday, June 24th - 6:30pm

Jazz Master Class with Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago. Registration is now OPEN!

Registration Link: REGISTER HERE!

PERFORMANCES:

Thursday, June 25th - 7:30pm

Friday, June 26th - 7:30pm

***Friday night only - Wildcat Performing Arts Academy Dancers will perform as well.

LOCATION: Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1hr 15mins | No Intermission

TICKETS:

Get your tickets now at the NMU Ticket Office located in the Superior Dome or online at tickets.nmu.edu

For any ticket-related questions, please call the NMU Ticket Office at 906-227-1032.

For more information about the production, please visit our North Coast Dance Festival webpage.

Visual and Performing Arts

Annual Children’s Exhibition 
May 4 - May 23, 2026

Reception: May 21, 5-7:00pm 

Each year, the DeVos Art Museum celebrates our area schools that support student art programs. This annual exhibition features artwork by talented elementary students in all media. The exhibition is organized by hardworking art teachers from local schools.

Participating Schools Include: 

• Aspen Ridge Elementary School, AuTrain Onota Public School,

• Birchview Elementary School, Cherry Creek Elementary School,

• Father Marquette Catholic Academy, Gilbert Elementary School,

• Graveraet Elementary School, K.I. Sawyer Elementary School,

• Lakeview Elementary School, North Star Montessori Academy,

• Powell Township School, and Sandy Knoll Elementary School.

With special guest, Project Knot Work.

Visual and Performing Arts

North of the 45th: 19th Annual Juried Exhibition 

June 19 – September 4, 2026

Join us for the jurors’ talks and reception on Saturday, June 20, from 5 pm – 7 pm.

North of the 45th is an annual juried exhibition featuring artists living north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This line, known as the halfway point between the equator and the north pole, is often associated with being “up north.” The Exhibition highlights artists living in the upper Midwest, both in rural and urban areas.

Artists in the exhibition include:

• Abigail Ahlberg – Minneapolis, MN

• Joe Arts – Wisconsin Rapids, WI

• Ezra Asohan – Marquette, MI

• Kurt Babcock – Gwinn, MI

• David Berg – Marquette, MI

• Zachary Betts – Roseville, MN

• Mary Brodbeck – Calumet Township, MI

• Ginnie Cappaert – Egg Harbor, WI

• Rachel Collier – Minneapolis, MN

• Melissa Cooke Benson – Minneapolis, MN

• Cynthia Cote – Calumet, MI

• Nicolas Darcourt – Minnetonka, MN

• Joy DeNicola – Iron River, MI

• Michael Friend – Marquette, MI

• Larry Godfrey – Gladstone, MI

• Lindsy Halleckson, Robbinsdale, MN

• Amanda Hamilton – Minneapolis, MN

• Camille Hamilton – Alden, MI

• Rachel Hausmann-Schall – Mosinee, WI

• John Hubbard – Gwinn, MI

• AJ Jensen – Marquette, MI

• Tamara Kartheiser – Marquette, MI

• Cheyenne La March – Gladstone, MI

• Toni Mendina – Iron Mountain, MI

• Russell Prather – Marquette, MI

• Christian Rieben – Kewaunee, WI

• Cameron Wilcox – Marquette, MI

The 2026 jurors are Shane McAdams and Shane Walsh.

Visual and Performing Arts

North of the 45th: 19th Annual Juried Exhibition 

June 19 – September 4, 2026

Join us for the jurors’ talks and reception on Saturday, June 20, from 5 pm to 7 pm.

North of the 45th is an annual juried exhibition featuring artists living north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This line, known as the halfway point between the equator and the north pole, is often associated with being “up north.” The Exhibition highlights artists living in the upper Midwest, both in rural and urban areas.

Artists in the exhibition include:

• Abigail Ahlberg – Minneapolis, MN

• Joe Arts – Wisconsin Rapids, WI

• Ezra Asohan – Marquette, MI

• Kurt Babcock – Gwinn, MI

• David Berg – Marquette, MI

• Zachary Betts – Roseville, MN

• Mary Brodbeck – Calumet Township, MI

• Ginnie Cappaert – Egg Harbor, WI

• Rachel Collier – Minneapolis, MN

• Melissa Cooke Benson – Minneapolis, MN

• Cynthia Cote – Calumet, MI

• Nicolas Darcourt – Minnetonka, MN

• Joy DeNicola – Iron River, MI

• Michael Friend – Marquette, MI

• Larry Godfrey – Gladstone, MI

• Lindsy Halleckson, Robbinsdale, MN

• Amanda Hamilton – Minneapolis, MN

• Camille Hamilton – Alden, MI

• Rachel Hausmann-Schall – Mosinee, WI

• John Hubbard – Gwinn, MI

• AJ Jensen – Marquette, MI

• Tamara Kartheiser – Marquette, MI

• Cheyenne La March – Gladstone, MI

• Toni Mendina – Iron Mountain, MI

• Russell Prather – Marquette, MI

• Christian Rieben – Kewaunee, WI

• Cameron Wilcox – Marquette, MI

 The 2026 jurors are Shane McAdams and Shane Walsh.

Museum Hours: 
The museum is free and open to the public 

• Monday - Wednesday: 12pm - 5pm 

• Thursday: 12pm - 8pm 

• Friday & Saturday: 12pm - 5pm 

• Sunday: Closed

Visual and Performing Arts

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, in association with the Yarnwinders Fiber Guild of Marquette, are presenting a touring exhibition from the Handweavers Guild of America, Small Expressions. This exhibition will feature up to 40 pieces from handweavers artists across the United States. It will be on display from May 8 – June 27 at the Beaumier Center’s gallery in 223 Harden Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Admission is free and open to the public.  The Center’s summer hours are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

An annual juried exhibition showcasing contemporary small-scale works using fiber techniques in any media. Small in scale but visually compelling, the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) Small Expressions exhibit features work that speaks to the intricacy of expression, the intimacy of design, thoughtful communication, and visual excitement. The artists in this exhibit create a big impact through small pieces. Works juried into Small Expressions do not exceed 15 inches (38 centimeters) in any direction and are of exhibition quality, completed within the last two years, and not previously published. The artists whose works are exhibited skillfully use a variety of textile techniques, incorporating both traditional and nontraditional materials, while paying special attention to the limitations involved in creating small-scale works. Artworks have consisted of diverse fiber techniques such as weaving, interlacing, basket making, bead weaving, embroidery, felting, and mixed media.

The Yarwinders Fiber Guild of Marquette are a loosely woven group of handweavers who meet monthly to promote the art of handweaving and related fiber arts. They have participated in the Midsummer Festival, Upper Peninsula Folklife festival, Finn Fun Fest, the Iron History Museum fall harvest days festival, Alpaca Days in Skandia. Its members participate in regional art festivals and have their items for sale in many area galleries and shops.

Visual and Performing Arts

NMU Piano students will share their favorite pieces as you head into Finals Week.  Catch a piece or two, or stay for the entirety!

Visual and Performing Arts

The NMU Chamber Ensemble, a string sextet, will perform as an opener for the NMU Orchestra, performing selections from two Mozart Quintets (No. 2 and No. 9) as well as a Canzon by Giovanni Gabrieli!

The NMU Orchestra will then feature the composer Jean Sibelius by performing two of his works: Finlandia and Andante Festivo.

This concert will also feature vocal faculty, Keri Lee Pierson, as a soloist in "Goodnight Moon" (music written by Eric Whitacre with lyrics from the famous book of the same title).

The NMU Orchestra will also be performing the last movement of Antonin Dvorak's "New World" Symphony!

This is one not to miss!

Visual and Performing Arts

The NMU Trombone Choir is back!  Join us on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 7:30 pm for an evening of low brass.  We hope to see you at Reynolds Recital Hall!