American Music is from Everywhere

Welcome to the Jacobs School of Music 2026–27 mainstage season.

As America celebrates the two-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of its foundational document, the Declaration of Independence, Jacobs looks to the long history of music made here—both natively and with roots drawn from the homelands of American immigrants.

This season brings many forms of performance into the MAC—opera, ballet, and jazz, for sure, but also choral pieces, orchestral ensembles, and massive all-encompassing works—including narratives ranging from kings on islands to kids in cities.

We invite you to investigate this season. Mendelssohn, Copeland, Carmichael, and Balanchine are here, alongside some newer voices; Thompson and Whiteside keep the tradition of making beautiful music and dance alive, adding contemporary flair, and Corigliano moves the season along with a bang.

Experience it all with a subscription! Yes, a subscription means discounts and privileges, but it also means scheduled delight as the year unwinds. Enjoy rich American musical history throughout the year; make it part of your own celebration, with us here at Jacobs.

View the 2026–27 mainstage season events Subscribe now

Upcoming Events

The Cook-Off

SEPT 18 | 7:30 PM

SEPT 19 | 5 PM

In this new opera, chefs face off in a televised cooking contest preparing one of America’s favorite comfort foods: macaroni and cheese. But the ensuing tensions are far from comforting as the cutthroat competition reveals deeper truths about food, culture, and history.

Performed at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Learn about The Cook-Off

Fall Ballet

OCT 2, 3 | 7:30 PM

OCT 3 | 2 PM

Venerable faculty member Christian Claessens’ world-premiere creation with our own Jacobs Percussion Department gets things off to a pulsating start before the waltzing rhythms of Glinka and the strains of Beethoven commandeer the soundtrack for this inspiring evening of dance.

And, as if one world premiere was not enough, the newest work from a guest choreographer created with the students of our Ballet Department will be unveiled!

Learn about Fall Ballet

The Tender Land

OCT 17 | 7:30 PM

OCT 18 | 3 PM

Considered one of Copland’s finest scores and his only full-length opera, this piece was inspired by James Agee and Walker Evans’ book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.

Set in the Depression-era Midwest, it tells the story of an isolated girl who, on the eve of high-school graduation, must decide how to live her life.

Learn about The Tender Land

Explore previous seasons

Now is a great time to dive into our archive of on-demand content from previous seasons in order to prepare yourself for in-person experiences this fall.

Relive—or discover—some of your favorite offerings from IU Jacobs School of Music Opera and Ballet Theater as we get ready to greet you live soon!

Explore previous seasons