Arts Across Campus

At the University of the South, we have multiple dedicated exhibition and performance spaces and series across campus, weaving the arts into life and study across the college. In addition to our designated spaces, our campus overall is regularly ranked as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States.

All of campus is designed to inspire, and all of campus is a stage.

Arts Across Campus Locations
Click on the map below to find the full campus map with venue names.

Upcoming Events & Exhibitions

The Oresteia

Theatre

October 8-11 at 7:30PM
October 12 at 2:00PM
Proctor Hill Theater at the Tennessee Williams Center
The Sewanee Department of Theatre & Dance Presents The Oresteia by Ellen McLaughlin adapted from the trilogy by Aeschylus directed by Assistant Professor Sarah Lacy Hamilton
"What does history demand? What is justice? What do we owe each other? The Greeks ask all the toughest questions. The Oresteia is based on the three plays by Aeschylus—Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides. They are among the oldest plays in the Western canon and are the only surviving trilogy from the ancient Greek theatr

Daniel Reidy Artist Talk

Carlos Gallery

Thursday, Oct 9 at 5:00PM
Carlos Gallery

Dan Reidy’s Recent Work frames large scale oil paintings, sculptures, video and poetry filled with imagery that references stories that become oddly familiar. Visual references ranging from art history to pop culture comingle with objects and images from Reidy’s personal history. He is interested in overlapping narratives and how collision points between them speak to a shared humanity with fascination. Viewers engaging with the work become intellectual offspring of these collision points, for example, when we talk in movie quotes and make allusions to Greek mythology. Francis Bacon, Han Solo and Blanche Dubois become character in his exhibition where their stories are shared out of context, asking the viewer to discover them anew in relation not only to each other, but to the mediums of traditional painting, sculpture and video.

Symphony Concert - Anniversaries: From Rome to Provence

Orchestra Concert

Thursday, October 9, 2025
7:30pm
Guerry Auditorium
Free Admission (and open to the public)

Join the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mario Alejandro Torres, for a special concert, Anniversaries: From Rome to Provence. This program commemorates 500 years since the birth of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and 150 years since the passing of Georges Bizet, tracing a musical journey from sacred Renaissance devotion to Romantic exuberance.

The 2025 Aiken Taylor Award Ceremony and Lecture

Award Ceremony and Lecture

Award Ceremony: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 @ 4:30pm in Convocation Hall
Lecture: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @ 4:30pm in McGriff Alumni House

Every year since 1987, the Sewanee Review has honored a distinguished poet in the maturity of their career with the Aiken Taylor Award in Modern American Poetry. This year, University Vice Chancellor Dr. Robert Pearigen and Review editor Adam Ross will present Rebecca Gayle Howell with the award.

As part of this year’s award celebration, poet Corey Van Landingham will lecture on Howell’s body of work the following afternoon in McGriff Alumni House.

The University Bookstore will be onsite. Both events will have catered receptions.

Baggs McKelvey "Indigo Hallow"

Exhibition

To open the 2025-2026 season, the UAG will present the installation Indigo Hallow by Chattanooga-based artist Baggs McKelvey from August 27 through October 15, 2025.

Dan Reidy Exhibit

Exhibit

August 27-October 10
Come to an exhibition of recent paintings, video, sculpture and poetry by Dan Reidy at the Carlos Gallery

The 2025 Aiken Taylor Award Ceremony and Lecture

Rebecca Gayle Howell

Tuesday, October 21 at 4:30PM
Convocation Hall
Every year since 1987, the Sewanee Review has honored a distinguished poet in the maturity of their career with the Aiken Taylor Award in Modern American Poetry. University Vice Chancellor Dr. Robert Pearigen and Review editor Adam Ross will present Rebecca Gayle Howell with the award on October 21 at 4:30 p.m. in Convocation Hall. As part of this year’s award celebration, poet Corey Van Landingham will lecture on Howell’s body of work the following afternoon in McGriff Alumni House. The University Bookstore will be onsite. Both events will have catered receptions.

Meet the author of Sewanee-centered novel, "Angels at the Gate"

Book Signing

Thursday October 30 at 5 pm

University Bookstore.

Thanks to the generous suport of the Dakin Fund, Dr. Jennifer Michael will be in conversation with Sheri Joseph (C'89) about her new novel, Angels at the Gate.

Nalani Stolz "soft bone, tender body"

Exhibition

From October 28 through December 12, the UAG will present the sculpture of Nalani Stolz in soft bone, tender body.

11th Annual International Karaoke Night

Foreign Languages

Monday, Nov 11 7:00PM-9:00PM
Tiger Bay Pub
Join us for a night of music, fun, food, prizes at the 11th Annual International Karaoke Night. Students should sing in the language that they are learning at Sewanee, and not sing in their native language. Please sign up to get your song on the roster or contact Helen Stapleton hfstaple@sewanee.edu by November 7.

Nalani Stolz Talk

Artist Talk

Come join the conversation with sculptor Nalani Stolz on November 12 at 5 p.m. in Guerry Auditorium.

Christmas in the Caverns

Music Performance

Friday, December 5, 2025
Doors at 6:00 PM CT | Concert at 7:00 PM CT
The Caverns, Pelham, TN
Admission: Free for South Cumberland residents with advance RSVP (starting October 15, limited seating).

This December, the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra is joining with The Caverns and the South Cumberland Community Fund to bring something truly special to our community: Christmas in The Caverns: Symphony & Sing-Off.

This one-of-a-kind holiday concert will take place deep underground in The Caverns’ world-renowned venue, where the orchestra will bring festive music to life in a breathtaking setting. Adding to the magic, the evening will feature a regional Sing-Off competition, giving local singers the extraordinary opportunity to perform live with the Symphony.

Kate Teale "Falls the Shadow"

Exhibition

From January 16 through March 30, the UAG will present the work of New York-based artist Kate Teale, in Falls the Shadow.

Kate Teale Talk

Artist Talk

Please join us! New York-based artist Kate Teale will present Falls the Shadow on Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in Guerry Auditorium. Photo courtesy of Mary Whalen.

View All

Current Exhibitions

University Art Gallery

The University Art Gallery presents artist Baggs McKelvey's installation Indigo Hallow, on view from August 27 through October 15!

Stirling's Coffee House

Scrap Heaps by Sam Prickett
Exhibit: September 25, 2025 - October 18, 2025

At your next visit to Stirling's Coffee House be sure to check out the latest gallery exhibition by artist Sam Prickett (https://samprickett.com). Our gallery features handmade collages by the artist with a lot to look at. It's a fun show!

Details

Carlos Gallery

August 28-October 10
Monday-Friday 8:00Am-5:00PM
The Carlos Gallery, in the Sculpture Studio
An exhibition of recent paintings, video, sculpture and poetry by Dan Reidy.

Keep An Eye On

Art Forum

Art Forum is an organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts and facilitating artistic opportunities at the University of the South. We offer a creative space for students to promote art within a positive community. In doing so, we foster a stronger Sewanee community and appreciation for the arts.

Arts Amplified

At the University of the South, the arts model interdisciplinarity and collaboration. Special events like gallery walks and Arts Amplified events bring distinct disciplines in the arts together for inspiration and learning, and give our students and faculty multiple and diverse opportunities to experiment, collaborate, show their work, hone their skills, and reach audiences - all across campus.

Arts Fellows Scholarship

Students with exceptional promise in performing or studio arts can apply for Fellowship in the Arts. They are awarded to candidates with interests and accomplishments in visual studies, art history, film, dance, theatre, or music. Students selected for these fellowships will have the opportunity to dive more deeply into the life of the arts at Sewanee. Incoming students are invited to apply after they are admitted to Sewanee. These stackable fellowships, valued at $2,000, are renewable for four years. For more information, please email your admission counselor.

Dynamics

Dynamics seeks to bring together the performing arts at Sewanee by mixing student-choreographed dances with vocal and instrumental pieces. Student performers are invited to try on new styles and concepts with the goal of simply being creative.

Guarisco Scholarship

The Guarisco Scholarship is endowed for Seniors who are pursuing a major in the Department of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies, and who have demonstrated extraordinary promise in Art or Art History. The scholarship includes tuition as well as research funds for summer travel or an internship leading up to and during the final year as an undergraduate.

Live Music Sound Nation

Live Music Sound Nation is a contemporary instrumental multi-media ensemble, focusing on the production and performance of modern rock and film score shows. Using a highly collaborative approach, the next generation of talented musicians and artists rehearse music and prepare visual displays for arena-style rock and movie concerts. We use the latest in sound, lighting effects, and design as we perform the compositions of the great musical artists of the modern day.

Performing Arts Series

The Sewanee Performing Arts Series features a wide variety of performances throughout the academic year.

Some of the recent solo and ensemble performers have included:

American Spiritual Ensemble
Grammy nominated PUBLIQuartet
Aaron Diehl
Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal
Vienna Boys Choir
Olivier Latry
American Shakespeare Center
Chanticleer
Rooftop Records

Performances take place throughout the academic year and are made available to students at no cost.

Perpetual Motion

Perpetual Motion (PMo) is a student-led dance organization designed to give students an opportunity to perform and to expose the Sewanee community to a variety of unique styles of dance. Through diversity and inclusion, we strive to recruit dancers of all levels and expose them to a variety of dance genres. To fulfill our mission, we will work with other dance organizations on campus as well as the Dance Program to reach as many students as possible.

Sewanee Praise

Sewanee Praise ministers the Gospel in song to the campus and surrounding communities. The choir’s diverse membership is made up of students, faculty, and community members from various backgrounds and experiences. Its repertory covers spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel, contemporary Christian, and praise and worship. Sewanee Praise performs two concerts—one each semester—as well as other campus events and regional tours.

Sewanee Symphony Orchestra

The Sewanee Symphony Orchestra (SSO) presents a full range of the symphonic repertory and includes a wide variety of musical styles and genres. As a key component of the liberal arts environment, the orchestra not only collaborates with other music ensembles but also often participates in campus-wide interdisciplinary projects. Sewanee's orchestra is a vivid reflection of our community. It is common for students to play alongside their professors, University administrators, and community members.

University Choir

The University Choir plays an important role in Sewanee's musical life, singing at weekly services in All Saints' Chapel, monthly evensongs, and other campus events. A highlight of each year is the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. This service regularly attracts 3,000 visitors to campus and has been featured in Southern Living and Garden and Gun. As an active touring ensemble, the choir has performed extensively throughout the United States and England.

University Jazz Ensemble

The University Jazz Ensemble started as a small ensemble and has grown into a 17-to-19 piece big band that covers the repertory of large ensemble jazz ranging from Duke Ellington and Count Basie to big band arrangements of popular songs by the Beatles and the Jackson 5. The Jazz Ensemble focuses on developing student jazz musicians by providing an opportunity for a challenging ensemble experience while encouraging performers to explore jazz improvisation. The Jazz Ensemble offers two performances on campus each school year, and also plays in local venues as requested.

The William Ralston Listening Library

The William Ralston Listening Library and Archive is located on the second floor of duPont Library at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. The state-of-the-art facility offers an unparalleled teaching and learning resource and was created in memory of beloved Sewanee professor Father William Ralston, C’51. The Library houses his world-class collection of recordings inside what many reviewers and audiophiles consider to be the best publicly available sound playback system in the world. Years in the planning and decades in the dreaming, the Ralston Listening Library exists to bring a stunning, life-changing sonic and aesthetic experience to students and visitors of all ages. In the best spirit of Father Ralston, the Library's mission is entirely philanthropic, designed to spread a love and appreciation for great music and audio to those who would not otherwise have access or knowledge of such things.