Events & Programs
View all upcoming live concerts, literature/poetry readings,
exhibition openings, and more below.
Email Programs Coordinator to propose an event at the Hearst Center.
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Red House Studios: Located next door to the Hearst Center, this facility offers studio space to artists. We announce open lease opportunities on this site and our social media. Thanks to the UNI Art Department for their continued partnership in awarding a recent graduate a sponsored space at the Red House.
Upcoming
All events listed below are free, unless otherwise noted requiring pre registration via Civic Rec.
DECEMBER
THE MESA DUO CONCERT
Tuesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m.
UNI professors and acclaimed artists Nash Ryder and Sean Botkin formed the Mesa Duo in early 2024. Their purpose is to present the lesser-known works for violin and piano and share fresh interpretations of the classics with listeners.
Join us for our annual holiday concert at the Hearst Center featuring The Iowa Chamber Music Collective in collaboration with The Music Hill String Orchestra. Enjoy holiday tunes featuring compositions such as Stabat Mater by Italian composer G. Pergolesi, and Collage sur B.A.C.H. by Estonian composer A. Part. Performers include: Elizabeth Nelson, soprano; Calista Rowe, soprano.
ANNUAL HEARST HOLIDAY CONCERT
Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m.
JANUARY
RED HERRING THEATRE PRESENTS: THE COTTAGE
Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Written by Sandy Rustin; Directed by Elizabeth McRae; Sponsored by Jones Law Firm, Mike and Rita Waggoner, and the Friends of the Hearst.
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Synopsis: The true meaning of fate, identity, and marriage are called into question as a surprising, hilarious web of secrets unravels in this ridiculous - potentially murderous - uncharacteristically feminist, 1923 British tale of sex, betrayal, and oh yes, love. It's a perfect showcase for endless laughs, hilarious twists, daring physical comedy, and a happy ending for lovers everywhere.
THE HEARST FILM SCENE
Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m.
The Hearst Film Scene is for cinephiles, film buffs, and anyone interested in movies. As part of this program we will be screening films, hosting conversations and featuring art that incorporates moving pictures.
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Wasteland Documentary: Located just outside Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, is the world's largest garbage landfill. Modern artist Vik Muniz works with the so-called catadores, the men and women who pick through the refuse, to create art out of recycled materials. Muniz selects six of the garbage pickers to pose as subjects in a series of photographs mimicking famous paintings. In his desire to assist the catadores and change their lives, Muniz finds himself changed as well.​
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic starts at 7:00 p.m. & featured author talk begins at 7:30 p.m.
Visit FTRS website for links to attend virtually. MAE LATTA HALL Join us for a community open mic followed by a discussion with a featured author. The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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January 30: Gail Lynn| Gail is the author of Bell Bottom Blues: A Memoir (BookBaby).
FEBRUARY
VALENTINE'S DAY CONCERT BY CEDAR VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC
Thursday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a free concert by Cedar Valley Chamber Music for Valentine's Day. Bring your loved one to an “Intimate Evening of Chamber Music.” The trio of UNI faculty artists Amanda McCandless, clarinet; Erik Rohde, violin; and Sean Botkin, piano will perform a diverse program of works by Vanhal, Menotti, and Arutunian.
This concert is presented by the Hearst Center for the Arts with artists from Cedar Valley Chamber Music. Cedar Valley Chamber Music was founded in 2006 by Artistic Director Hunter Capoccioni with the aim to bring high-quality chamber music to his home community with the support of faculty members at the University of Northern Iowa and professional musicians from the Cedar Valley community. Free beverages and snacks are available. There is limited capacity for this concert, please call 319.273.8641 to reserve your seating.​
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
February 14: Luke Sanders directs Guitar Students
MUSIC LAB CONCERT
Saturday, February 22 at 1:30 p.m.
For over three decades Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony’s Lollipops concert have been inspiring the Cedar Valley’s youngest audiences. With a new emphasis on interactivity and creativity we are proud to introduce for the second year a fresh incarnation of these community concerts: Music Lab!
Music Lab continues as an annual series of free concerts for kids featuring small ensembles from all genres of music. This year feature is a Brass Quintet. The entire free Music Lab series is partially supported by individual donors, Wells Fargo, The Cedar Falls Community Foundation's Kathryn Ray Fund for the Cedar Falls Public Library, Steve and Terri Jackson Family Fund, Max and Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation, and RJ McElroy Trust.
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic starts at 7:00 p.m. & featured author talk begins at 7:30 p.m.
Visit FTRS website for links to attend virtually. MAE LATTA HALL Join us for a community open mic followed by a discussion with a featured author. The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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February 27: Laura Farmer| Laura is the author of the short story collection Direct Connection (Bridge Eight Press) and the novel Catch and Release (North Dakota University Press).
MARCH
SEAN KIEFER JAZZ QUARTET
Thursday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m.
The quartet is Sean Kiefer, trumpet/composer; Oisin Leopold, piano; Vincent Valadez, bass; and Jackson Schou, drums. Selections for the performance will include works from Kenny Wheeler, Ambrose Akinmusire, Chick Corea, and original compositions/arrangements.
Sean Kiefer is an award-winning jazz trumpeter and composer/arranger currently studying jazz at the University of Northern Iowa, under Dr. Michael Conrad and Chris Merz. As a trumpeter, he performed at the local, state, and national levels, including a residency at the Telluride Jazz Festival in August of 2024. As a composer/arranger, he has had his works praised by organizations including Downbeat Magazine, ASMAC (American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers), and ISJAC (International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers).
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
March 14: Hannah Porter Occena directs Flute Students
IOWA CHAMBER MUSIC COLLECTIVE CONCERT
Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m.
The Iowa Chamber Music Collective returns this season with a free live concert in Mae Latta Hall. Based in the Cedar Valley, this diverse group of musicians founded ICMC in 2022 as a non-profit organization dedicated to making classical music more accessible for communities in Iowa. Musicians: Daniel Kaplunas, violin; John Chiles, viola; Liudmila Lebedeva, cello; Camille Balleza, piano; Ranee Yang, clarinet; Dan Reynolds, piano.
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic starts at 7:00 p.m. & featured author talk begins at 7:30 p.m.
Visit FTRS website for links to attend virtually. MAE LATTA HALL Join us for a community open mic followed by a discussion with a featured author. The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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March 27: Kristi Hemmer| Kristi is the author of the memoir Quit Being So Good: Stories of an Unapologetic Woman (Wise Ink Creative Publishing) *This event is co-sponsored by the UNI Women’s & Gender Studies program as part of Women’s History Month.
APRIL
MIDDAY MELODIES
Second Fridays at noon
Enjoy classics performed by the UNI School of Music Department students and faculty.
April 11: Anthony Williams directs Trombone Students
HYBRID! FINAL THURSDAY READING SERIES
Open mic starts at 7:00 p.m. & featured author talk begins at 7:30 p.m.
Visit FTRS website for links to attend virtually. MAE LATTA HALL Join us for a community open mic followed by a discussion with a featured author. The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages and Literatures. This event takes place on the final Thursday of each month.
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April 24: Bao Phi| Bao is the author of the poetry collection Sông I Sing (Coffee House Press) and the children’s book A Different Pond (Capstone Young Readers), a Caldecott Honor book.