Here are several events this month that you may enjoy, including eclipse festivals, carillon performances, and honors of jazz superstars.
April is one of the most vibrant months of the year at Duke. It’s not only the flowers that are in bloom; there are a lot of other activities going on across campus.
Here are just a few of the many enjoyable and cost-free events taking place at Duke this month, including listening to the sounds of jazz greats, getting your hands dirty in the garden, and spending a lazy afternoon with the chapel bells.
The Working@Duke editorial staff looks through the Duke Event Calendar and other resources during the academic year to compile a list of five free activities at Duke. See you in May for the next activities.
April 7: Min Xiao-Fen and the Ciompi Quartet
Min Xiao-Fen will be the special guest of Duke’s Ciompi Quartet on the Baldwin Auditorium stage on Sunday, April 7, at 4 p.m. With a background in classical training in China, Min is a well recognized soprano, composer, and musician of the pipa, a popular four-stringed instrument similar to a lute in China.
Three pieces written expressly for string quartets and the pipa will be performed at the livestreamed event.
The Nasher Family Day is April 14
Visitors may utilize art to commemorate Earth Day at the Nasher Museum of Art’s monthly Family Day. The Scrap Exchange provides recyclable materials for guests to create their own artwork. In addition, they may meet artists who use unusual materials to express themselves and engage with real creatures from the Piedmont Wildlife Center, both of which can provide inspiration.The public is welcome to attend the event, which is open from 1 to 3 p.m.
April 14: Honoring Mary Lou Williams, Our First Lady of Jazz
Mary Lou Williams was a celebrated pianist and composer who left an enduring musical legacy. She worked with jazz greats including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington. At Duke, where she served as an artist-in-residence from 1977 until her passing in 1981, she also made her impact. Her legacy lives on in the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture on campus.
The music of Williams will be honored at Duke University Chapel on Sunday, April 14, at 4 p.m. Williams’ music and other pieces that influenced her will be performed by the Duke Chapel Choir, the North Carolina Central Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and a number of special guests as part of Duke’s Centennial celebration.Williams’ last unfinished composition will be performed by the Duke Wind Symphony in a free concert at Baldwin Auditorium one evening early on Saturday, April 13, at 8 p.m.
Duke Campus Farm Community Work Day is April 26.
The Duke Campus Farm is hosting a community labor day on Friday, April 26 from 1-4 p.m. Volunteers may assist the farm’s student staff and gain firsthand experience with sustainable agriculture. While early registration for the event is requested, everyone is welcome.
The Duke Campus Farm will host a Land and Listen event later that Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., giving guests the chance to take in some peaceful time on the one-acre farm in Duke Forest and listen to a brief performance of environmental poetry.
Duke Chapel Carillon Recital on April 28
For a unique chance to witness a symphony featuring the bells of Duke University Chapel, get a blanket and make your way to Abele Quad. The show begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 6 p.m. The J. Samuel Hammond Carillon Recital Series begins on Sunday, April 28. Jonathan Lehrer, a carillonneur from Michigan State University, is heard playing Duke’s 50-bell carillon.