Individual event tickets may be purchased here for less than the price at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge at most events. Likewise, most Arts and Life events require no ticket for those holding a valid Harding I.D. Tickets are required for everyone attending "The Sounds of Christmas" concert in the Benson Auditorium. Valentine's Dinner tickets are sold separately and include free admission to the concert.
Harding Music is most grateful for Centennial Bank's generous sponsorship of the Arts and Life Performance Series.
September 18, 2026
Fall Beats: New Orleans Jazz
7:00 p.m. at Heritage Park (across from Midnight Oil)
Pre-show: 6:30 p.m.
Food trucks: 6:00 p.m.
Collaboration with Beats & Eats
Free Admission
Dr. Doreen Ketchens, called the "Female Louis Armstrong," has successfully created her own style that blends her classical training with the soul of jazz. She has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Sunday Morning, and she has performed from the streets of New Orleans to the Kennedy Center. She has performed for four U.S. Presidents and has shared the stage with many of the most prominent jazz artists of our time. Dr. Ketchens is returning from a tour in Switzerland to perform for our Searcy audience.
November 12, 2026
Kate Boyd
7:00 p.m. in the Anthony and Wright Administration Auditorium
Kate Boyd, piano
"A strong lyrical bent with a feeling for nuance..." -Gramophone
"Her playing commands attention and respect." -The Irish Times
An active soloist and chamber musician, American pianist Kate Boyd has performed solo recitals at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Schubert's birth house in Vienna, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the Musikhalle in Hamburg, in addition to many other places throughout the U.S., Europe, and Canada. She currently serves on the faculty at Butler University. Dr. Boyd will present a lecture-recital on Das Jahr, "The Seasons," a 12-movement cycle by the esteemed composer Fanny Mendelssohn.
December 4, 2026
The Sounds of Christmas
7:30 p.m. in the George S. Benson Auditorium
Laura Osnes, Broadway actor
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
H.U. Grand Chorus
Members of the H.U. Symphony Orchestra
Riding a wave of success from "The Sounds of Christmas" concerts over the past two years, Arts & Life is pleased to partner again with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Harding University's Grand Chorus and Orchestra members for our third-annual gala Christmas event featuring two-time Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes.
From her rise to stardom at age 21 in Grease on Broadway, Laura Osnes went on to lead Broadway roles as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, Bonnie Parker in Bonnie & Clyde (Tony Award nomination), Cinderella in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Tony Award nomination), and Julia Trojan in Bandstand. Her screen credits include five Hallmark Channel original movies and many other television roles and appearances. She has appeared on Live from Lincoln Center (PBS), A Capitol Fourth (PBS), and The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS). Alongside Broadway cast recordings and two solo albums, Laura has released original music including her debut collection of songs, “On The Other Side.”
All seats in the Benson Auditorium are ticketed, and prices vary depending on seat location.
Information on spring performances, including the Valentine's concert featuring a return performance of "Rosa Incaica" from Argentina, will be added soon.
Information for 