May 30: Cirque Musica and the Florence Symphony Orchestra at the Francis Marion's Performing Arts Center

The Florence Symphony is thrilled to announce that CIRQUE MUSICA is coming to Florence on Saturday. May 30th, at 7:30pm. This show will be the only area appearance of CIRQUE MUSICA.

CIRQUE MUSICA is a concert and visual experience for the entire family, blending the spell-binding grace and dare-devil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with the sensory majesty of the greatest music of all time. It is the perfect opportunity for the entire family to experience great music from classical, POPS and popular repertoire, while enjoying an edge of your seat circus experience.

CIRQUE MUSICA features top circus performers from around the world performing in this over-the-top spectacular.

CIRQUE MUSICA will feature a LIVE symphony orchestra on stage: the inclusion of a live orchestra will help bring to life this wonderful music like never before and will introduce audiences to a whole new entertainment experience.

CIRQUE MUSICA is produced by Stephen Cook and TCG Entertainment out of Dallas Texas. TCG is an industry leader in the production of touring shows for families. According to Mr. Cook, “TCG Entertainment is thrilled to bring the CIRQUE MUSICA to audiences across North America. This innovative show is truly one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other touring production. We are excited to bring this show to families across North America.”

Don’t miss CIRQUE MUSICA in Florence at the FMU Performing Arts Center, Saturday, May 30th at 7:30pm for 1 show only.

http://www.florencesymphony.com/cirque

August 20: Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

Almost three decades after winning a Grammy for Best New Artist and launching one of contemporary music’s most diverse careers, Bruce Hornsby still makes joyful noise as he discovers clever and expansive ways to chronicle dynamic musical snapshots of his often generously collaborative journey. 

In recent years, he has pushed his artistic limits, working with bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, The
Bruce Hornsby Trio, and jazz legend Charlie Haden. Hornsby has also scored a number of projects for filmmaker Spike Lee including the documentary Kobe Doin’ Work (2009), Red Hook Summer (2012), and the upcoming Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.Hornsby has contributed to all-star collections that pay tributes to Fats Domino, The Band and in 2014, Jackson Browne.  A music graduate of University of Miami, Hornsby also has partnered with its Frost School of Music to establish the Creative American Music Program, a curriculum designed to develop the creative skills of talented young artist/songwriters by immersing them in the many traditions that form the foundations of modern American songwriting.

Over the years, Hornsby has played on over a hundred records, including albums by Bob Dylan, Don Henley, the Grateful Dead, Bob Seger, Crosby Stills and Nash, Stevie Nicks, Cowboy Junkies, Squeeze, Chaka Khan, Liquid Jesus, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Whitley, Shawn Colvin, Bela Fleck, Clint Black, Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Randy Scruggs, and Willie Nelson.  Hornsby contributed end-title songs for the Spike Lee films Clockers and Bamboozled.

Tickets are $62/$52

(843) 661-1720

www.fmupac.org

July 30: Christopher Cross at Francis Marion's Performing Arts Center

Christopher Cross is a music icon. In 2011, the Oscar and five-time Grammy winning artist was back with an amazingly crafted new album, Doctor Faith. It’s his first album of new and original material in over 12 years.  Cross' 1980 self-titled debut album rocketed to the #2 spot. Breaking out as the biggest new star of that year, he virtually defined adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, "Sailing."

If the charts weren’t evidence enough, at the 1981 Grammy Awards Christopher walked off with an unprecedented and record-setting five Grammys, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Sailing."  The self-titled debut album, featuring lead single "Ride Like the Wind," and the massively successful second single "Sailing" made Cross a superstar. In the wake of two more Top 20 hits, "Never Be the Same" and "Say You'll Be Mine,” he soon scored a second #1, as well as an Academy Award, with "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen for the smash Dudley Moore film Arthur.

Christopher's much-anticipated second album Another Page was released in 1983 and produced the hits "All Right," "No Time for Talk," and a Top Ten entry for "Think of Laura.

He charted 8 songs into the Billboard Top-40 charts between 1980 and 1983.

Four years, two albums, eight hit singles, several world tours, five Grammy's, and one Oscar marked Christopher's meteoric rise to the top.

At this writing, Christopher has released nine albums (not counting hits packages), a body of work

revealing a steady, focused dedication to that oh-so-rare commodity of the latter-day popster – artistic growth.  Christopher has remained a unique artist, replete with that confounding blend of sensitivity, determination and conviction of his own artistry.

Tickets are $57/$47/$37

(843) 661-1720

www.fmupac.org

June 11: Kansas at Francis Marion's Performing Arts Center

KANSAS has spent than four decades as a part of the soundtrack of the lives of multiple generations of music lovers. The band’s first public statement appeared on their self-titled album in 1974. "From the beginning, we considered ourselves and our music different and we hope we will always remain so." Little did this legendary rock group realize that back in the early ‘70's, what seemed to be “different," was actually ahead of its time.

The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), and a million-selling gold single, ‘Dust in the Wind.’ KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the ‘70's and ‘80's and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ was the #2 most played track on classic rock radio in 1995 and went to #1 in 1997.

843) 661-1720

www.fmupac.org

Tickets are $57/$47/$37

March 16th: Arts International Vendor Application due

Arts International is seeking artisans. Those interested in an application should contact Kathy Johnson

Phone 843-661-1225  or Kjohnson@fmarion.edu

Application deadline is March 16th.