About the Series

The Secrest Artists Series has a long and distinguished history of presenting to the campus community at Wake Forest and to the community of Winston-Salem and beyond, performing artists of national and international reputation. Considered as education and entertainment of the highest caliber, such celebrated performers as Itzhak Perlman, Christopher Parkening, Ravi Shankar, Denyce Graves, Doc Severinsen and his Big Band, and the National Symphony Orchestra with Leonard Slatkin, have appeared on the Secrest Series. Each event is accompanied by a Secrest Signature pre-performance talk and/or residency activities by the artist with WFU students.

Endowed in 1987 by Marion Secrest, a local performing arts patron, in honor of her deceased husband, Willis Secrest, the future of the series is assured. The mission of the Secrest Series is to present the best of the established artists in the performing arts and the most promising of the new, without admission charge, to the students, faculty, and staff of Wake Forest University. This fact alone distinguishes it from other college and universities. It is assumed that attendance at these first class artistic events is part of the cultural education and enhancement of students at Wake Forest University. Tickets are available to the public at modest prices. Performances take place in Brendle Hall, in the Scale Fine Arts Center, or in Wait Chapel. Parking is available near each venue.