Our campus hosts a variety of community events including film screenings, author talks, guest lectures, and music performances that are open to the public.
An Evening of Four Tops: Motown and Jazz
Thursday, Sept. 17, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Experience Motown hits infused with soulful jazz! Whether you’re familiar with classic hits or you’ve memorized the lyrics to every deep track, you won’t want to miss Warren Oree and The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble’s performance at Penn State Great Valley. In this special program, Oree will lead audiences on a journey celebrating the enduring legacy of The Four Tops—one of Motown’s most iconic vocal groups.
Presented by the Philadelphia-based Lifeline Music Coalition, this concert highlights the unmistakable harmonies, rhythms, and emotional storytelling that defined The Four Tops’ sound. Through a fresh jazz lens, the ensemble will reimagine beloved hits and explore how the group’s signature style is deeply rooted in jazz traditions of expression, groove, and improvisation. The performance will feature a dynamic lineup of instrumentalists and vocalists alongside The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.
“This is not a ‘cover’ band trying to play the music exactly the same as the recordings,” explains Oree. “Our goal is to show the harmony that existed — and still exists — between two styles of music that were considered distinctly different. Together these two styles create a sound that propels and moves the listener to a place where memories stimulate and refresh.”
This performance continues Lifeline Music Coalition’s tradition of presenting engaging and innovative programs. Since 2003, their concerts, festivals, and workshops have drawn enthusiastic audiences by creating unique musical experiences that both honor and reinterpret classic sounds.
Still Creating: UArts Live Performance Showcase
Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
University of the Arts: Rest in Peace, by Daniel Rice
"Still Creating: UArts Live Performance Showcase" is a curated event highlighting former UArts students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the performing arts. This performance will honor the legacy of UArts, uniting artists in resilience and celebrating a creative community that continues to thrive.
The Still Creating initiative—both the exhibition and this performance showcase—emerges from a shared belief that art can preserve memory, honor resilience, and reconnect people across time and place. This showcase extends that mission beyond the Henry Art Gallery walls, offering a space for UArts performers to share their voices, stories, and creative practices. This collective remembrance and celebration honors a legacy that continues to inspire.
Paws of Honor: A Veterans Day Event
Wednesday, November 4, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Penn State Great Valley and Valley Forge Park Alliance commemorate Veterans Day with a special event honoring human and K9 veterans who have served our country. We are honored to host:
- Timothy Fleming, a USMC Special Ops veteran who is now executive director of Paws of Honor, a nonprofit that provides critical support for retired military and first responder K9s, many of whom suffer from service-related injuries and trauma. These dogs protected lives without hesitation, strengthened national security, and kept our communities safe. They deserve dignity, care, and comfort in retirement.
- Ben Ridings, curator of the Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May and author of the compelling historical book "War Dogs in WWII."
The event is pay-what-you-wish, with donations benefiting Paws of Honor and the Valley Forge Park Alliance.
