Opening Nights at Florida State University will start public ticket sales for its 2025-2026 season, themed “Opening Minds,” on Thursday, Aug. 7. The season features artists, thinkers and performers.
“With our ‘Opening Minds’ theme, we’re inviting the community to experience performances that challenge expectations and inspire dialogue,” said Kevin Maynard, executive director of Opening Nights. “Every show in this season has been selected with a purpose, and we are excited to share it with you.”
From iconic names like Jeff Goldblum and James Patterson to innovative ensembles and rising stars, this season promises unforgettable experiences that will engage, inspire and connect audiences across Tallahassee.
To purchase tickets, visit my.openingnights.fsu.edu/ or call (850) 644-7670.
The full lineup of artists for this season includes:
Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Jeff Goldblum launched the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra 30 years ago. Since then, he and his band have delighted audiences throughout the United States and all over the world by playing contemporary arrangements of classic jazz and American Songbook standards.
James Patterson & Patrick Leddin
2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Our world is constantly evolving, and the ability to embrace the disruption that arises from change can be the key to unlocking new opportunities and achieving personal growth. That’s the premise behind “Disrupt Everything,” a new book by acclaimed authors James Patterson and Patrick Leddin. All attendees will receive a signed copy of the new book.
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience: Featuring the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience is a soul-stirring odyssey through the heart of the Mississippi Delta, where blues music was born. Guided by the legendary voice of Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, this immersive musical performance fuses the raw, aching power of authentic Delta blues with the grandeur of a symphony orchestra, creating a soundscape that is both deeply rooted and expansive.
Kendell Marvel
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Opperman Music Hall
Kendell Marvel is a Grammy-winning songwriter and powerhouse vocalist whose gritty blend of outlaw country and Southern rock has made him a standout in Nashville and beyond. Born in southern Illinois, Marvel began performing in bars at age 10 and penned his first major hit, Gary Allan’s “Right Where I Need to Be,” on his first day in Nashville.
Andrew Duhon
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens
Andrew Duhon is a songwriter from New Orleans whose ability to craft a 3-minute novel has earned him comparisons to John Prine and Jim Croce, while the powerful soul of his voice evokes a youthful Van Morrison. He has released four recordings, including his 2014 release, “The Moorings,” which was nominated for a Grammy award for “Best Engineered Album.”
Hubby Jenkins
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens
Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he delved into his Southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through country blues, ragtime, fiddle and banjo and traditional jazz.
New Jazz Underground
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Bricks and Brass
The American trio New Jazz Underground has been described as “an innovative and ultra-creative collective striving to establish themselves as a defining voice for the genre of jazz and beyond.” Their music signals a merging of traditional sensibilities in jazz, such as the blues, swing and improvisation, with the modern influence of hip-hop, pop, and Afro-Latino music.
OkCello
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at The Moon
Okorie “OkCello” Johnson is an American cellist-songwriter whose artistry integrates cello performance, live-sound-looping, improvisation and storytelling — all culminating in original compositions that collide classical with jazz, EDM, reggae and funk.
Bassel & the Supernaturals
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Opperman Music Hall
Syrian Heart. Midwest Soul. Bassel & The Supernaturals tells the story of Bassel Almadani’s experience as a first-generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk-inspired rhythms and captivating lyrics regarding love, loss, otherness and the war in Syria.
Del Suggs Almost Christmas
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Opperman Music Hall
Del Suggs is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from the beaches of North Florida. He has appeared in concert at colleges, universities, and festivals across the United States and the Caribbean. Del has appeared at over 700 colleges and universities across the U.S. He’s also performed at such prestigious venues as the World Music Festival in Shirahama, Japan; Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas; Spirit Square in North Carolina; Lyric Theatre in Florida; and the Sarasota Opera House in Florida.
Nicole Zuraitis
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Opperman Music Hall
Nicole Zuraitis is a two-time Grammy-winning and four-time Grammy-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” Zuraitis is a trailblazing artist who is redefining vocal jazz, earning her praise from publications such as Jazz Police and Broadway World and a place as one of the top artists to watch in jazz and beyond.
Andrew Collins Trio
7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens
Seven-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner and five-time Juno Awards nominee mando-maestro Andrew Collins is joined by fellow string-meisters Mike Mezzatesta and James McEleney to showcase a popular collision of folk, new acoustic roots, chambergrass and jazz, not to mention a dizzying number and energetic interplay of instruments on stage. This dynamic genre-hopping show is propelled even further by Collin’s captivating lead vocals and McEleney’s soaring harmonies.
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Fred Turner Auditorium
“Meet Me at the Fair!” is a two-hour spectacular musical celebration of the world’s fairs, including the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Musical “exhibits” rotate, but works by Offenbach, Joplin, Moses-Tobani and Sousa are the core attraction, performed by Rick Benjamin and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the official orchestra and conductor of the U.S. Pavilion at the 1992 World’s Fair.
Imani Winds and Boston Brass
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Opperman Music Hall
Boston Brass and the 2024 Grammy-winning Imani Winds are excited to announce the creation of a new consortium. Their Florida State debut will feature the world premiere of a new work for the ensembles by the iconic, multi-Grammy Award-winning musician and composer Arturo Sandoval.
PRISM
2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Packed with performances ranging from small ensembles to the world-renowned FSU Marching Chiefs, PRISM is a yearly favorite. The program showcases the immense talent boasted by Florida State University’s College of Music students and faculty.
Lover: The Unofficial Eras Tour
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at The Moon
Charity Eden, lead singer of Lover, attended the Eras Tour on March 31, 2023, and had a floor seat, front row, 10 feet away from Taylor Swift, and was wonderstruck by the performance. But as the tour continued, ticket prices went higher and higher, making it almost impossible for the majority of fans to be able to attend, let alone to sit as close as the front row. So, Charity felt completely inspired to create an opportunity for more people to be able to experience the Eras Tour and so began the era of Lover.
VOCES8
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
The British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring extensively, the group performs repertoire from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary commissions and arrangements. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensemble’s performance ethos. VOCES8 is the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group.
Sphinx Virtuosi
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Sphinx Virtuosi is a dynamic, self-conducted chamber orchestra and the flagship performing ensemble of the Sphinx Organization, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to transforming the arts. Comprising 18 of the nation’s most accomplished professional string players, Sphinx Virtuosi is redefining classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming and cultural leadership.
President’s Salon Concert TBD
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the FSU President’s House
Information to be announced.
Shovels & Rope
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Shovels & Rope are an American folk duo from Charleston, South Carolina, composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst.
Songs of the Bulbul
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
“Songs of the Bulbul” is a new dance work by Aakash Odedra, with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan. Drawing inspiration from an ancient Sufi myth, the work tells the story of a bulbul trapped in captivity. Bound by its constraints, the bird’s despair deepens as its final moments approach. Yet, it sings more sweetly as its end draws near, delivering one last heartbreaking song before its soul departs. This tale of sacrifice and beauty explores freedom found only in the ultimate release.
Goitse
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens
The popular and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse was forged in the creative crucible of Limerick’s Irish World Academy. Named Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year”, Chicago Irish American News’ “Group of the Year”, as well as winning the prestigious “Freiburger International Leiter 2016” award in Germany, Goitse have become a leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles.
A Band Called Honalee
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens
A Band Called Honalee is a modern-day folk trio inspired by the music and legacy of Peter, Paul and Mary. Musically accomplished, interactive and energetic, their shows allow audiences to experience this timeless music live onstage once again.
Chain of Parks Featured Artist Noah Verrier
6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Jim Moran Building
Noah Verrier is a former art professor and full-time working artist. He holds a BFA and MFA, specializing in oil painting. Verrier’s work has been exhibited around the world and has been collected by thousands, including celebrities and noteworthy collectors like William Tomicki, the former vice president of Tiffany & Co.; and the current executive vice president of Sotheby’s, Mari Claudia Jimenez.
