Conway, Arkansas – The University of Central Arkansas will welcome the Grammy Award-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet later this month for a two-day residency that will give students a chance to learn from the musicians and allow the public to enjoy a free evening concert.
The residency is scheduled for Sept. 22-23 on the UCA campus. Along with the public performance, the visit will include a presentation about building a career in music and a woodwind master class for students.
The group’s visit will begin Tuesday, Sept. 22, with a student presentation at 1:40 p.m. titled “Entrepreneurship and Building a Brand in the Music World.” The event will take place in the Concert Hall at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
The presentation will focus on the business side of the music industry. Students will have an opportunity to hear from professional musicians about entrepreneurship, developing a personal brand and building a career in a competitive field.
The following morning, Wednesday, Sept. 23, members of the Akropolis Reed Quintet will lead a woodwind studios master class. The session is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the same Concert Hall and will give students a chance to work more closely with the visiting performers.
The residency will conclude Wednesday evening with a free public concert at 7:30 p.m. The performance will also be held in the Concert Hall at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
University officials say the residency will provide a valuable experience for music students, particularly because the ensemble’s recordings have already been used in student preparation for performances.
“We are so excited that the Grammy-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet will perform at UCA,” Dr. Kelly Johnson, associate professor in the Department of Music, said. “Just last year, students were studying Akropolis’s recordings while preparing for performances, and this year they will get to work with them and hear them in person!”
Founded in 2009, the Akropolis Reed Quintet has developed an international reputation through its performances and educational work. The ensemble won a Grammy Award in 2025 and performs more than 120 concerts and educational events around the world each year.
The group’s appearance at UCA is part of the university’s Artists in Residence Program. The program brings nationally and internationally recognized artists to campus for performances, workshops and community events, many of which are offered free of charge.
The program is designed to connect students and members of the wider community with working artists. Through concerts and educational sessions, participants can experience professional performances while also learning more about the creative and practical aspects of the arts.
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For UCA music students, the upcoming residency will offer both classroom instruction and direct contact with an accomplished touring ensemble. The public concert will provide an opportunity for people from the university and surrounding community to hear the group perform without having to purchase a ticket.
The Akropolis Reed Quintet’s visit is expected to bring together performance, education and career advice over the two-day event. Students will be able to learn from the musicians during the presentation and master class, while the public will have the chance to attend the closing concert.
More information about the residency and UCA’s Artists in Residence Program is available at uca.edu/cahss/artists-in-residence/.
