Convocation Calendar - Centre Term & Spring 2026
(information is subject to change - visit
this site frequently for the most up-to-date information)
Students who attend 12 Convocations in one academic year will have one hour of “A” figured into their grade point average and noted on their transcript, thereby boosting their GPA. Students who do not attend 12 Convocations will remain unaffected.
For more information on the Convocation policy, please refer to
CentreNet (Academic Affairs > Convocations) or the Convocation Manager, Katie Murphy (katie.murphy@centre.edu).
For reminders about upcoming events, check the Convocations Page on CentreNet or follow on Instagram (@centreconvocations).
Nathan Metzler Performance
Friday, January 16, 2026 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre
Winner of the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Competition and major prizewinner at the Sibelius and Singapore International Violin Competitions, this Juilliard graduate has performed worldwide–from major orchestras in Europe and the United States to intimate chamber settings and festivals. The evening’s program spans over a century of violin music, from elegant Romanticism to contemporary soundscapes. Poulenc’s dramatic 1943 Sonata opens the evening, followed by earthmaker, a unique 2020 composition by inti figgis-vizueta, and Szymanowski’s dreamy, impressionistic Mythes (1915). The charming and narrative Petite Suite de Concert and selections from Fauré’s expressive and refined second violin Sonata round out the program.
Martin Luther King Jr Award Ceremony
Monday, January 19, 2026 | 12:00pm – Newlin Hall
The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Centre College is a collaborative and community-centered event that honors the life, leadership, and enduring influence of Dr. King. This year’s program brings together the Centre campus, the City of Danville, Boyle County schools, faith communities, and local organizations for a unified day of reflection, learning, and inspiration. The celebration will feature keynote speaker Leon T. Williams, whose powerful storytelling and message of hope challenge audiences to confront injustice, pursue reconciliation, and imagine a world rooted in equity and humanity. Framed by the theme Mission Possible 2, this event invites all participants to consider what is possible when we engage across communities, center courage, and commit to collective action. The day includes an opening gathering in Newlin Hall, interactive engagements, collaborative learning sessions, and shared moments of dialogue designed to deepen understanding and inspire personal and communal transformation. This event is free and open to the public, ensuring broad access for all members of the Centre, Danville, and Boyle County communities.
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Macbitches
February 12 - 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm - Weisiger Theatre
February 15, 2026 | 2:00pm – Weisiger Theatre
Written by Sophie McIntosh, directed by Ollie Gibson.
$10 General Admission, $5 Seniors, FREE to Centre Affiliates.
“What’s done cannot be undone” When a freshman acting major is unexpectedly cast as Lady Macbeth, a few upperclassmen invite her over to celebrate. As the Fireball and Svedka flow, the girls interrogate their own sense of ambition as well as the power structures that have shaped their education. Content notifications: some mild language
Everything You Have Is Yours Film Screening and Discussion
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 1:00pm – Vahlkamp Theatre
In Everything You Have Is Yours, NYC-based choreographer Hadar Ahuvia interrogates the roots of the Israeli folk dances she grew up dancing with her mother in the U.S. Confronting romanticized stories about her grandparents, settlers in 1930s Palestine, Ahuvia embarks on a personal journey to reckon with the founding mythologies and transgressions of Zionism. Through her work, a web of artistic portraits emerges— Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian dancers living in New York City grapple with the questions of what we inherit and what we embody to carry forward. The film is 90 minutes followed by Q&A with featured artist Hadar Ahuvia who is also Centre’s 2025-2026 rabbinic intern.
Black Art Showcase
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 7:30pm – Norton Center Lobby & Weisiger Theatre
Celebrate Centre's Black and POC artists in this showcase - including performances from poets, singers, instrumentalists, dancers, and a gallery exhibition in the Norton lobby. Centre has a wide array of talented artists that almost never get the spotlight. We are here, and we are so excited to show you what you've been missing.
An Evening with Ira Glass & Jad Abumrad
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
AN EVENING WITH THE CREATORS OF THIS AMERICAN LIFE AND RADIOLAB It’s a public radio dream event when two of the most iconic national public radio hosts, Ira Glass (This American Life) and Jad Abumrad (Radiolab), come together to take you on a journey of insight, investigation and humanity in a way that only they can. Join these public radio luminaries for a live onstage event – layered with cinematic video, audio clips, original music composition and their unique voices – as they take us on a journey through their careers in audio journalism and podcasting!
Imagine Infinite Energy: The Ethics of Fossil-Fuel and Renewable Energy
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 7:00pm – Vahlkamp Theatre
Although energy is abundant in nature only a very small amount of it is harnessed to power human societies. The availability of this energy has had enormous impact on culture and politics. But if we imagine accessing the infinite energy provided by the sun or clean fusion power, it becomes clear that a just transition from fossil-fuel to renewable energy cannot focus on availability and access alone. Lithium mining for batteries, land grabs for solar and wind fields, transition justice for coal communities, and the growth of data centers are all serious ethical challenges to overcome. How can an energy democracy framework help secure a just transition? This event is part of a multi-day visit co-sponsored by Centre College and the University of Kentucky's Tracy Farmer Center for Sustainability & The Environment. Dr. Godoy is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Illinois State University. He specializes in environmental, moral, and social-political philosophy. He has recently published on energy democracy, dinosaur films, urban park design, trophy hunting dentists. His collaborative, transdisciplinary research has been cited by the IPCC. Other venues for his work include Ethics Policy & Environment, Environmental Ethics, The Journal of Cleaner Production, and The New York Times.
Mawkas Andean Music Concert
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre
Mawkas Saraguro: Traditional Andean Musicians Join us for a campus convocation concert featuring Mawkas Saraguro, a renowned Indigenous family ensemble from the Saraguro region of the Ecuadorian Andes. Through music and dance, Mawkas preserves and celebrates the living cultural traditions of the Saraguro people. Their performances include ancestral Andean ritual songs alongside original compositions inspired by daily life, the natural environment, collective memory, and spiritual practices in Saraguro. Deeply rooted in community traditions, the ensemble weaves ceremonial elements and cultural knowledge into every performance. Beyond the stage, Mawkas is committed to cultural education, teaching traditional music and dance to children and youth to ensure intergenerational continuity. The group has performed internationally connecting global audiences with the sounds and stories of the Andes. This concert offers the campus community a rare opportunity to experience Indigenous Andean music as both an artistic and cultural expression, presented by musicians who are also educators and cultural ambassadors.
Louisville Orchestra String Quartet Performance w/ Q&A
Friday, February 27, 2026 | 11:30am – Weisiger Theatre
Join us for a special convocation with the Louisville Orchestra on Friday, February 27th at 11:30 a.m. in Weisiger Theatre. A string quartet from the orchestra will present a dynamic program that combines live performance with conversation, sharing insights from their experiences on tour, followed by time for audience Q&A. Later that evening, the full Louisville Orchestra will perform a free community concert at 7:30 p.m. as part of their “In Harmony” – Commonwealth Tour series—an exceptional opportunity to experience this acclaimed ensemble in two unique settings.
Louisville Orchestra – In Harmony – The Commonwealth Tour
Friday, February 27, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
Great Stories Season Guide Louisville Orchestra February 27, 2026 | 7:30 pm | Newlin Hall | FREE JOIN US FOR A FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT FEATURING THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA General admission tickets will be available soon. IN HARMONY - THE COMMONWEALTH TOUR Join the Louisville Orchestra as their 2026 In Harmony – The Commonwealth Tour returns to the Norton Center! Along with the evening concert, the orchestra will host impactful community events throughout Danville, from school visits to workshops, creating meaningful connections through music. Music Director: Teddy Abrams Special Guest: To Be Announced
Sacred Fiction: Memory and Lived Religion in Contemporary Jewish American Women’s Literature
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 11:30pm – Evans-Lively Room of Old Carnegie
This talk surveys contemporary Jewish American women’s fiction and explores a pattern wherein ritualized and ostensibly secular reading and writing practices function as lived religion. Inherited diaries, recovered manuscripts, video games, and magical, time-travel-activating texts pull characters into a sacred network with ancestors and long-ago writers. Novels extend Jewish kinship networks (personal, collective, literary, and historical) and invite readers into a shared memory project. I attend to this pattern, in part, to critically respond to continuity movements that tether Jewish survival to the female reproductive body; building on feminist critiques, I demonstrate how contemporary novelists envision alternatives through non-gestational continuities and connections rooted in feminist citation, textual inheritance, and transtemporal friendship. Sarah Schwartzman Ramsey is a doctoral candidate in English, with a graduate certificate in Jewish Studies, at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Spanish Night with Pablo Sainz-Villegas & Friends
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
Internationally renowned Spanish guitarist Pablo Sainz-Villegas invites audiences on a musical journey through Spain to explore its vibrant and diverse culture. Along with his trio of fellow musicians (percussion, bass, guitar II), Pablo will perform iconic, evocative and romantic pieces from his homeland in a program of the fieriest pieces ever written for guitar. Intertwined will be stories and shared feelings and emotions inspired by Spain, its culture and its one-of-a-kind music. Undoubtedly the most virtuoso guitarist of his generation, Pablo Sainz-Villegas has been acclaimed by the international press as the successor to Andrés Segovia and an ambassador of Spanish culture in the world. His most notable milestones include the Princess of Asturias Awards Concert and his participation in the Metropolitan Opera Gala last May at the Palace of Versailles. His numerous performances at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, which captivated more than 85,000 attendees, as well as concerts held in distinguished venues such as Grant Park in Chicago, the iconic Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, and the illustrious Hollywood Bowl, accompanied by the LA Philharmonic, have made him one of this generation’s most remarkable and prolific performers.
Why Teaching and Understanding Evolution Still Matters
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 7:00pm – Young Hall Auditorium 113
Evolution remains a controversial topic. 2025 is the 100th anniversary of the 'Scopes Monkey Trial' (the basis of the play and movie "Inherit The Wind"). That case was the most famous challenge to the teaching of evolution in public schools in the United States. Our country has advanced since 1925: we are in the 'age of genomics,' where the DNA of many species is rapidly being sequenced, revealing the secrets of how life evolves at the molecular level; gene-editing tools like CRISPR are being used to cure people of sickle cell anemia and other diseases with gene therapy. However, the United States remains woefully behind many other countries in the public's understanding of evolution. In this lecture, Phi Beta Kappa lecturer Dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty will use tools and anecdotes from his book Explaining Life Through Evolution that covers the evolution of the study of evolution from Aristotle to Darwin and his own research on the Tree of Life to explain why understanding evolution still matters. Dr. Chakrabarty is a science communicator and Curator of Fishes at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences.
Storytelling in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Monday, March 9, 2026 | 7:00pm – Young Hall Auditorium 113
In a 20+ year career spanning journalism, documentary filmmaking, and entrepreneurship, Centre College alumnus and University of Alaska Atwood Chair of Journalism Brad Hillwig (’01) has seen storytelling rapidly transform from analog to digital and now the age of artificial intelligence. As AI reshapes how we create and consume media, Hillwig explores what remains timelessly human and essential about the craft of storytelling. Through examples from his own award-winning work and the broader media landscape, he examines the delicate balance between technology and human creativity while asking: What is the role of the storyteller in the age of AI? This talk invites audiences to consider how we might coexist with and harness new technologies to serve our most uniquely human quality–the need to create, live, share and interpret our world through the power of story.
“RISING” Documentary Viewing
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 7:00pm – Vahlkamp Theatre
RISING, a documentary from Team Kentucky, tells the story of the strength and resilience of Eastern Kentuckians as they undertake the most ambitious rebuilding effort in the nation following the historic flooding that took place in the summer of 2022. From devastation to hope, this story chronicles how an idea became a reality as state, federal, and local partners work to build survivors new homes on abandoned coal mine sites – out of the floodplains and protected from future floods. RISING shows the world what is possible and proves that, by working together, we can rise above any challenge. A discussion about the film and natural disaster recovery efforts will take place following the screening. The discussion will be facilitated by Rev. Jason Crosby, Centre College Chaplain.
Breaking Through: My Journey to Becoming the First Female NFL Official
Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 3:00pm – Weisiger Theatre
Sarah Thomas will provide the keynote address for this year's WLC - Celebrating 100 Years of Women at Centre. Sarah Thomas is a woman of many firsts—she was the first female official to ever work a major college football game, the first woman to officiate a bowl game, and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium. In 2021 she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl. Now she’s sharing essential leadership lessons from her journey to the top of a male-dominated industry and vital insights on shattering the glass ceiling in the world of professional sports that can be applied to any field or industry. As an example of what’s possible if you believe, Sarah shows audience members how to break through in their own careers, from staying focused under pressure and creating change to managing work-life balance and being the best at what you do.
Musicians Showcase – Spring 2026
Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 3:00pm – Newlin Hall
The Centre College Music Program presents a variety of student musicians, ensembles, and singers as they come together to showcase their wide range of talents.
An evening with Zimbabwean-American science fiction writer Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7:00pm – Vahlkamp Theatre
Yvette Lisa Ndlovu will read some of her award-winning science fiction and respond to questions about her writing. Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean American science fiction writer whose debut short story collection Drinking from Graveyard Wells (University Press of Kentucky) won the Cornell University 2023 Philip Freund Prize for Creative Writing, and was shortlisted for the Ursula Le Guin Prize for Fiction, the Shirley Jackson Award and the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Collection. Her novel manuscript-in-progress was selected by George R.R. Martin for the Worldbuilder Scholarship. Her work has been anthologized in the World Fantasy Award-winning Anthology Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2021 and the NAACP-award nominated Africa Risen (Tor).
The Economics of Government
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 7:30pm – Young Hall Auditorium 113
In this convocation, Dr. Vitor C. Melo—Associate Economist at the RAND Corporation and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Chicago—explores how government regulations are shaped by incentives, competing stakeholder pressures, and real-world tradeoffs. Students will learn how to think clearly about who tends to benefit from regulations, who bears the costs, and why certain rules persist. The talk concludes with a timely application to Airbnb regulation, connecting policy debates to market outcomes and community impacts.
Houston Ballet II
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
Houston Ballet II is the second company of Houston Ballet, the fifth-largest ballet company in the United States. Comprised of a stellar array of young dancers from around the world, this company performs a diverse range of works and tours both internationally and nationally. Called “the creme de la creme” by Playbill and “the next generation of ballet superstars” by Broadway Magazine, Houston Ballet II soars onto the Newlin Hall stage with a stunning lineup of classical and contemporary works that highlight the versatility and technical prowess of the dancers. The program features acts from Twilight, staged by Claudio Muñoz; Fingerprints, choreographed by the acclaimed Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch; and the beloved classic The Sleeping Beauty. This grand finale features Aurora’s wedding celebration, showcasing Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score and virtuosic performances from the dancers.
Centre Symphony Orchestra – Spring 2026
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
The Centre Symphony Orchestra is a staple of the Centre experience, and a truly impressive performance to behold. It's comprised of Centre students, along with a sprinkling of professional guest artists, and conducted by our very own Dr. Robert Seebacher.
Human Capital for Humans
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 7:30pm – Young Hall Auditorium 113
Is love the ultimate macroeconomic force shaping modern life and the economy? Dr. Pablo Peña believes so. Join us for a discussion with Dr. Peña, economist and author of Human Capital for Humans. Centre College economics professors will interview Dr. Peña to explore his inspiration for writing the book, his passion for human capital theory, and why he believes its lessons are essential for addressing societal issues related to aging, education, health, fertility, and more. Dr. Peña may convince you that ultimately, the economics of love is what makes the world go round.
Witch
Thursday, April 16 – Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre
Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 2:00pm - Weisiger Theatre
Written by Jen Silverman, directed by Dr. Kane Anderson.
$10 General Admission, $5 Seniors, FREE to Centre Affiliates.
A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target having been labeled a "witch" and cast out by the town but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her - and then returns again - unexpected passions flare alliances are formed and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama this sharp subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.
John C. Young Scholars Symposium
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 9:00am – Vahlkamp Theatre
2025-26 John C. Young Scholars Symposium Srija Badireddi, Cysteine Oxidation of Vimentin (Dr. Andrew Hitron, Chemistry) Keely Faulkner, Queering Greek Mythology (Dr. Jeffrey Shenton, Anthropology & Dr. Danielle La Londe, Classics) Simon Forsting, The Connectome Expanded (Dr. KatieAnn Skogsberg, Neuroscience) Mehak Mittal, Study of SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutics (Dr. Jennifer Muzyka, Chemistry) Carter Smith, Sacred Harp (Dr. Tara Strauch, History) William Watson, ICE Detention Policy in Boone County, KY (Dr. Kristen Kolenz, International Studies) Shae Wilson, Poetic Ethnography of Danville, KY (Dr. Philip White, English & Dr. Jeffrey Shenton, Anthropology)
There will be two sessions, with presentations spread between the two-time blocks. One convocation credit per session.
Centre Choirs Concert – Spring 2026
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
This performance features Centre Singers, an auditioned group of highly refined singers, and College Choir, a diverse, large, and talented group of students, staff, faculty, and community members. Both groups will sing a variety of songs, both classical and contemporary. This concert will be conducted by Johann J. Van Niekerk, the Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Ensembles and Voice.
James W. Barton RICE Symposium Convocation
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 7:30pm – Vahlkamp Theatre
Welcome to the 19th annual Research, Internships, and Creative Endeavors (RICE) celebration week! Tonight, we will celebrate Undergraduate Research with a panel of Centre alum who have been significantly impacted by their research experience. Some discovered a new passion, some ventured towards a previously unfamiliar career, some found success and personal fulfillment that would not have been discovered otherwise. Whatever their background, these alumni all had their life positively altered because of their experience in faculty-mentored research here at Centre College. We hope that you can find some inspiration in these stories and perhaps find your own motivation to seek out an undergraduate research experience before graduation if you have not done so already. This convocation will also offer space for Q&A
CentreJazz Ensemble - Spring 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7:30pm - Weisiger Theatre
CentreJazz is an improvisation-centered ensemble, performing jazz standards, blues, funk, soul, contemporary jazz, modal jazz, improvisational rock and more!
The World’s Chokepoint: Global Stakes in the Greater Horn of Africa
Monday, April 27, 2026 | 7:00pm – Young Hall Auditorium 113
The Greater Horn of Africa guards the entrance to the Red Sea, a maritime corridor that carries nearly 15% of the world’s trade. However, internal fractures in nations like Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia are now merging with the strategic ambitions of the U.S., China, and regional Gulf powers. International engagement with the Horn is shifting from humanitarian aid to hard security, as foreign rivals race to secure naval bases and commercial ports along the coast. This talk will unpack how geopolitical maneuvers collide with regional realities, including climate shocks and mass migration. By connecting local instability to global consequences, the talk will reveal why the Greater Horn has become the new frontline of international competition.
Kentucky Traditional Ensemble – Spring 2026
Monday, April 27, 2026 | 7:00pm – Combs Warehouse
This acoustic band, comprised of Centre student musicians, explores the ballad-singing and string-band traditions of the Appalachians, the bluegrass tradition of Central Kentucky, and more recent music inspired by these traditions.
Centre Contemporary Ensemble – Spring 2026
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 7:00pm – Combs Warehouse
The Centre Contemporary Ensembles performs music from 1950 to the present with connections to the traditions stemming from Kentucky and the American South, ranging from country, to blues, to soul, to pop and beyond.
Finding Commonalities in America
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 7:30pm – Norton Center Lobby & Newlin Hall
The "Be the People: Portraits of Contemporary America" photography exhibition looks at the turbulent last five years in America - be it natural disasters like the KY floods or man-made events like social and political movements throughout the country. This program provides an opportunity for a select panel of experts, including KY Secretary of State Michael Adams, and its audience to reflect on the artist's works in relation to our personal shared values and beliefs as Americans, despite divisive partisan platforms. This is a program that furthers Centre College's commitment to being a safe space for all people to share their thoughts and beliefs while respectfully hearing those of others. With such a polarized country, students will see how civic and civil discourse can occur through finding foundational commonalities despite differing opinions.
African Drum Ensemble – Spring 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre
Led by Professor Justin Balcor, the African Drum Ensemble concentrates on the percussive music of Ghana and West African countries. The ensemble uses authentic instruments to explore several styles of music that include, but are not limited to, music intended for dance and ritual.
Honors Convocation
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall
Join us for Centre College’s annual student achievement celebration! Honors Convocation will feature two senior speakers nominated by the faculty and voted upon by the senior class. Students will earn two credits for attending this convocation.
Spring Dance Concert
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre
The annual Spring Dance Concert is an exciting and entertaining evening of dance, performed by students enrolled in dance classes through Centre's Drama Program. The concert presents a variety of choreographic works by regional dance artists as well as students.
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