Visual & Performing Arts

Visuals are decorative and audio is absent.

Create. Explore. Interpret. Innovate.

Welcome future students, friends of the Arts, and the larger La Crosse community! Experience the award-winning exhibits, performances, and shows that thrive in the departments of Art, Music, & Theatre & Dance.

MapVisit us: Truman T. Lowe Center for the Arts, 333 North 16th Street.

Upcoming events

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Sept. 12 Meditations on Trees and Stones The Art of Jennifer Williams

7 to 8:30 p.m. Wed, Oct. 8 Stories from the Violins of Hope Part of Violins of Hope - Wisconsin

Multiple dates (7 upcoming) Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really.

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Oct. 11 Jonathan Borja: Flute With Dr. Lindsay Garritson, Piano

4 to 5:30 p.m. Sat, Oct. 18 Symphony Orchestra featuring H.S. Honor Orchestra

7:30 to 9 p.m. Tue, Oct. 21 Jazz Composers Showcase ft. UWL Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Orchestra

5 to 7 p.m. Thu, Oct. 23 Art Open House Fun & Surprises Around Every Corner!

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, Oct. 24 All Choir Concert ft. Treble Chorus, Choral Union, and Concert Choir

1 to 3 p.m. Sat, Oct. 25 High School & Alumni Band Day UWL vs. Oshkosh

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, Oct. 28 Jazz Combos Concert

Starts 1 p.m. Sun, Nov. 2 Home Field Revue Screaming Eagles Marching Band

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, Nov. 6 La Crosse New Music Festival Concert #1: (un)settled

Multiple dates (7 upcoming) tick, tick...BOOM!

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, Nov. 7 La Crosse New Music Festival Concert #2: (un)familiar

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Nov. 8 La Crosse New Music Festival Concert #3: (meta)physical

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 8 La Crosse New Music Festival Concert #4: region(less)

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Nov. 21 Senior Art Major Exhibition Opening Reception: November 21, 5-6:30 p.m.

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, Nov. 22 Dramatic Delights Music Scenes from the Stage

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, Nov. 25 Jazz Combos Concert

Multiple dates (5 upcoming) Ken Ludwig's The Games Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays

7:30 to 9 p.m. Fri, Dec. 5 Jazz Concert ft. UWL Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Orchestra

4 to 5:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 6 Wind Ensemble featuring H.S. Honor Band

2 to 3 p.m. Sun, Dec. 7 Concert Band

4 to 5 p.m. Sun, Dec. 7 Symphony Orchestra

7:30 to 9 p.m. Wed, Dec. 10 Concert Choir & Treble Chorus Holiday Concert

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, Feb. 6, 2026 66th Annual All Student Juried Art Exhibition Reception: February 6, 5 p.m.

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 Jazz Faculty Recital

2 to 3 p.m. Sun, Feb. 15, 2026 2026 Honors Recital

4 to 5 p.m. Sat, Feb. 21, 2026 Wind Ensemble

Multiple dates (7 upcoming) Machinal

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, Feb. 27, 2026 38th Annual Big Band Cabaret & Dance Party

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, March 3, 2026 Jazz Combos Concert

7:30 to 9 p.m. Fri, March 6, 2026 Concert Choir & Treble Chorus

2 to 3 p.m. Sun, March 8, 2026 Symphony Orchestra

4 to 5 p.m. Sun, March 8, 2026 Symphonic Band

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wed, March 11, 2026 Music Faculty Recital

Starts 5 p.m. Thu, March 26, 2026 Travis Head: Busy Boys, Better Boys Opening Reception: March 26, 5-6:30 p.m.

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, March 28, 2026 Chamber Music Concert

Multiple dates (5 upcoming) My Days with Peter Rabbit (and His Friends)

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, April 11, 2026 New Composition Recital

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thu, April 23, 2026 Jazz Combos Concert & Jam Session ArtsFest Signature Event

Starts 5 p.m. Fri, April 24, 2026 Senior Art Major Exhibition Opening Reception: April 24, 5-6:30 p.m.

Multiple dates (7 upcoming) A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

2 to 3 p.m. Sat, April 25, 2026 Symphonic Band ArtsFest Signature Event

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sat, April 25, 2026 Wind Ensemble ArtsFest Signature Event

7:30 to 9 p.m. Wed, April 29, 2026 Treble Chorus

7:30 to 9 p.m. Sat, May 2, 2026 Jazz Concert ft. UWL Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Orchestra

4 to 5 p.m. Sun, May 3, 2026 Symphony Orchestra

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tue, May 5, 2026 Dramatic Delights Music Scenes from the Stage

7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri, May 8, 2026 Choral Union & Concert Choir

A letter from our director

Dear Friends,

The 2025-2026 season is underway at UWL’s School of Visual & Performing Arts! If you would like to receive our 2025-2026 season flier, please send your mailing address to vpa@uwlax.edu – or sign up for our VPA digital newsletter by clicking here.

This fall, UWL partners with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), alongside UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, and a host of community organizations across the state as part of the Violins of Hope – Wisconsin initiative. Join us for three special events: a screening of The Braid’s production of Stories from the Violins of Hope on October 8; a performance of David Avshalomov’s “Elegy” by the Symphony Orchestra October 18; and an day trip to the full exhibition in Milwaukee on November 23. Email VPA@uwlax.edu for additional details.

Professor Jennifer Williams solo exhibition, Meditations on Trees and Stones is currently on display at the UWL Art Gallery – always free and open to the public! Pop by to see this great show through November 9^th.

The Music Department presents a special afternoon of flute music featuring Dr. Jonathan Borja, Associate Professor of Music, in recital. The performance will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 4 p.m. in Annett Recital Hall at the Truman T. Lowe Center for the Arts. Dr. Borja, a distinguished performer and educator at UW-La Crosse, collaborates with pianist Dr. Lindsay Garritson for an engaging program that highlights both established and contemporary works for flute and piano.

The Department of Theatre & Dance are already deep in rehearsals preparing for the first two productions of the season - Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really. by Kate Hamill (mature content & lots of blood), as well as Jonathan Larson's musical tick...tick...Boom! Online ticket sales begin October 1^st - click "tickets" on this page to make reservations.

Cheers!

Director of VPACheers!
Pete Rydberg