THILE MANDOLIN & VOCALS
2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival coheadliner Chris Thile is an acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant.” He is a multifaceted musical talent, described by The Guardian as “that rare being: an allround musician,” and hailed by NPR as a “genre-defying musical genius.” Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless
Ranaan
luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau.
For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times).
Meyer, Double Bass
Nick Kendall, Violin
Charles Yang, Violin
GRAMMY and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three (TF3) co-headlines the 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival, defying conventions with their genre-bending excellence. Their captivating sound merges eras, styles, and traditions across Western music genres, including classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles. Comprised of Charles Yang, Nicolas Kendall, and Ranaan Meyer, TF3’s remarkable blend of instruments and voices resonates with listeners globally. They have worked closely with esteemed artists such as Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize winners
William Bolcom and Jennifer Higdon. Their most recent commission, Contact, composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts, premiered with the San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Their album, Letters for the Future, conducted by Xian Zhang, reached the Billboard top 10 and won a Grammy. With charismatic performances on renowned stages, TF3’s versatility shines through collaborations with artists like Ben Folds and Arlo Guthrie. Their achievements, including an Emmy and collaborations with acclaimed artists, showcase TF3’s unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.
PHOTO CREDIT: LAUREN DESBERG
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery Taproom & Kitchen
46 N Mills River Road
Mills River
Free General Admission
Step into summer with us as we herald the return of the Asheville Amadeus Festival! We’re launching this year’s festival at Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s lively Mills River taproom, where we’re unveiling our festival-exclusive brew — Fables & Folklore Hazy IPA. This enchanting creation weaves together bright pineapple and orange notes in a tropical profile that’s as enticing as a tale passed down through generations — perfect easy drinking for an earlysummer festival. Come toast the start of eleven glorious days of Amadeus festivities with a pour of our specially crafted beer, delicious fare from Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s kitchen, and live music!
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
Wednesday, April 30
– Saturday, May 10, 2025
Multiple Performances
NC Stage Company 15 Stage Lane Downtown Asheville
Adult: $24 - $48
Student: $10
Experience Rajiv Joseph’s critically acclaimed play “King James” at NC Stage Company in Downtown Asheville — a powerful exploration of friendship, hope, and basketball. When “King” LeBron James arrives in Cleveland as a rookie sensation, two unlikely friends, Shawn and Matt, find their lives transformed by their shared passion for the game. As James leads the Cavaliers from struggling franchise to NBA champions, their friendship faces its own victories and defeats. Hailed by TheaterMania as “one of the funniest and most moving plays about friendship in years,” this clever comedy weaves together the parallel journeys of a sports icon and two ordinary fans.
Recommended for ages 12+; please visit NCStage.org for more details.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
West Asheville Library
Friday, May 2, 2025
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Black Mountain Library
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Pack Memorial Library
Free General Admission
Peter & the Wolf Gang: A Music & Movement Story with Ms. Monique & Ms. Joy!
Join us at your local library for a lively, interactive musical adventure inspired by Peter and the Wolf! Led by Kindermusik instructors Ms. Monique and Ms. Joy, this playful retelling of Prokofiev’s classic story — with a whimsical touch of Mozart — will have little ones and their grown-ups singing, dancing, and making music together. With bells, shakers, drums, scarves, bubbles, and more, children will become part of the story through movement and sound, bringing each character to life in a fresh and imaginative way!
Visit AshevilleConservatory.com for more details.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Asheville Conservatory of the Arts
50 Westgate Parkway West Asheville
Adult: $10
Ages 5-17: $5
Ages 0-4: Free
Peter & the Wolf: A Musical Story by
Sergei Prokofiev
Experience Prokofiev’s delightful Peter and the Wolf, brought to life by talented musicians from the Asheville Symphony and Asheville Conservatory, with narration by Monique Gaddy. Follow along as our hero outsmarts a hungry wolf with the help of his woodland friends in this timeless tale that has enchanted audiences since its debut in 1936. While this musical story is perfectly suited for kids five and up, this delightful program will have the whole family spellbound.
Visit AshevilleConservatory.com for more details.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company
131 Sweeten Creek Road
Biltmore Village
Free
Think of it as a pre-concert talk meets a lively conversation among friends. Join all three members of the GRAMMY-winning string trio Time for Three (TF3) plus Asheville Symphony Music Director Darko Butorac for an inside look at Masterworks 7: Tall Tales. They’ll explore the storytelling power of music, including a deep dive on Kevin Puts’ Contact — a work written specifically for TF3. This event features the debut of the first-ever Amadeus Festival nonalcoholic beverage, sparkling blueberry and raspberry lemonade, crafted in collaboration with Devil’s Foot. Enjoy it on its own or as a featured cocktail while you soak in an afternoon of music, conversation, and creativity.
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
PHOTO CREDIT: SHERVIN LAINEZ
Thursday, May 1, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Avenue
Downtown Asheville
Adult: $45
Ages 0-18: $15
Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three (TF3) stands at the busy intersection of Americana, singer-songwriter, and classical music. TF3’s Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals) will showcase an eclectic mix of original songs, popular covers, and some of the most iconic music ever written, all from The Orange Peel’s iconic stage in Downtown Asheville. “With their staggering technique and freewheeling genrecrossing, it’s hard not to be swept up in the force of their contagious energy” (NPR)
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
PHOTO CREDIT: LAUREN DESBERG
Friday, May 2, 2025
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts 18 Biltmore Avenue
Downtown Asheville
Adult: $65
Ages 0-15: $22
How far can your imagination take you? This renowned dance company, known for its works of haunting beauty and emotional force, dares to find out in one of many pieces planned for its Asheville program at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. The company’s founder, Haitian-born former Pilobolus dancer Gaspard Louis, has earned international acclaim for his versatile and inventive choreography, drawing inspiration from — among many other sources — the idea of believing in magic, the search for self-acceptance and the spiritual practices of his home country.
Visit WorthamArts.org for more details.
Friday, May 2, 2025
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Asheville Community Theatre
35 E Walnut Street Downtown Asheville
Adult: $36.50
Ages 3-17: $18
In Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, fairy tale characters collide as they pursue their deepest wishes, creating one of Broadway’s most iconic stories. A Baker and his wife must break a Witch’s curse to have a child. Cinderella yearns to attend the royal festival. Jack desperately seeks to help his cow to produce milk. Alongside Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and other beloved fairy tale characters, everyone ventures into the mysterious woods to fulfill their dreams. But when their wishes come true, they discover that “happily ever after” comes with unforeseen and devastating consequences.
Visit AshevilleTheatre.org for more details.
Friday, May 2, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Lipinsky Auditorium
300 Library Lane
UNC Asheville
Adult: $20
Ages 0-6: Free
The Blue Ridge Orchestra (BRO) celebrates a quarter-century of musical excellence with Music Director Dr. Emily Mariko Eng leading their triumphant 25th Season Finale. This performance features Leonard Bernstein’s vibrant Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony No. 6, and works by acclaimed Asheville composer Richard Shulman, bringing together the innovative sounds of a jazz ensemble with the rich tapestry of a full orchestra.
Visit BlueRidgeOrchestra.org for more details.
Friday, May 2, 2025
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church of Asheville 27 Church Street
Downtown Asheville
Adult: $48
Ages 0-25: Free
The Asheville Chamber Music Series celebrates the mastery of Mozart with the New York City-based Isidore String Quartet. Much like the famous composer himself, the ensemble considers the string quartet as its “playground to impact the world we live in and inspire others through the art of collaboration and play.” Since its inception, the Isidore String Quartet has worked tirelessly to revisit, rediscover and reinvigorate the classical repertory. In this program they will explore Mozart’s bold and innovative “Dissonance” String Quartet alongside works by Czech composers Erwin Schulhoff and Antonín Dvořák.
Visit AshevilleChamberMusic.org for more details.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Asheville Conservatory of the Arts
50 Westgate Parkway West Asheville
Adult: $10
Ages 5-17: $5
Ages 0-4: Free
Please join the Asheville Conservatory of the Arts in celebrating young artists of WNC (aged 10-18) and the magic of storytelling through music! They will present the stories behind a variety of timeless pieces before performing them — exploring themes ranging from love (Beethoven’s Für Elise) to space exploration (Zimmer’s Interstellar) and much more! These wonderful young artists will delight and inspire by sharing their expressive, creative interpretations. There will be a reception following this event to celebrate performances and to thank patrons for honoring the artistic pursuits of our talented musicians across the WNC community.
Visit AshevilleConservatory.com for more details.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Asheville 5 Oak Street Downtown Asheville
Adult: $25 - $80
Ages 0-18: $15 - $60
Join the Asheville Symphony and Music Director Darko Butorac for the Masterworks season finale featuring works by Weber, Puts, Wagner, and Strauss that paint vivid images of enchanted forests, fairy tale villages, the timeless battle between good and evil. Explore German legends with tales of swan knights, magic bullets, and tricksters. Then, delve into the otherworldly Contact by Kevin Puts; inspired by the idea of interstellar communication, this ethereal concerto for trio was collaboratively written with and for festival co-headliners Time For Three, a GRAMMY- and Emmy-winning ensemble that defies convention and boundaries by showcasing excellence across different genres.
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
PHOTO CREDIT: SHERVIN LAINEZ
Sunday, May 4, 2025
6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Events by Cúrate
La Bodega
32 S Lexington Avenue
Downtown Asheville
$150
Transport yourself to Spain for an evening of culinary storytelling with Chef Katie Button! Experience the vibrant flavors of Spanish cuisine through a parade of pintxos and small plates, each thoughtfully paired with wines and craft beverages. Chef Button will share how food weaves together culture, memory, and community. Mingle, feast, and discover how each carefully crafted bite tells a story — connecting us to centuries of culinary tradition and to each other in this celebration of shared dining.
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
Monday, May 5, 2025
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Asheville High School Auditorium
419 McDowell Street Near Biltmore Village
Adult: $10
Ages 0-17: Free
The Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Overture, Divertimento, Sinfonia, Concert, Youth Philharmonic, and Percussion Ensembles take the stage and will perform a boundarybreaking program including selections from Hamilton, songs by Guns N’ Roses, and much more. Festival co-headliner Time for Three (TF3) will join forces with four of the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra ensembles, a oncein-a-lifetime experience for WNC’s talented young musicians.
Visit AshevilleSymphony.org/ASYO for more details.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Asheville
5 Oak Street
Downtown Asheville
Adult: $29
Ages 0-18: $16
The Asheville Symphony Chorus (ASC) presents a spring program that tells the story of royal celebrations — weddings, coronations, and anniversaries. Joined by Asheville Youth Choirs, ASC will present an evening of pieces written for kings and queens. Featuring works by composers Sir William McKie, William Mathias, Will Todd, and others, the concert’s twin crowning glories will be W. A. Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Visit AshevilleSymphonyChorus.com for more details.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Downtown Asheville & Asheville Charcuterie
Meeting Point:
Wall Street Garage Entrance 100 Otis Street
Downtown Asheville
$65
Take a walking tour of Asheville with the Asheville Symphony Guild! Sue and George Luther of Walk With Me Tours will guide an intimate group for a mile-long tour of Downtown Asheville focusing on its unique architecture and the prominent people who contributed to the growth of a small town to become the jewel of Western North Carolina. The tour will conclude at Asheville Charcuterie with a private party complete with delicious bites, wine, beer, and music.
Visit AshevilleSymphonyGuild.org for more details.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Parker Concert Hall
141 Milner Circle
Brevard Music Center
Adult: $45.50 - $55.50
Student: $30.50
Ages 0-17: $20.50
Embark on a journey into the world of Johann Sebastian Bach through music and storytelling. Nicholas Tzavaras, Brevard Music Center’s Senior Director of Artistic Planning, is joined by violinist and Brevard Music Center President Jason Posnock, Asheville Symphony Principal Piccolo Dilshad Posnock, and concert flutist Sophia Anastasia in a program of favorite works from this beloved composer. Featuring solo and chamber music masterpieces including the Cello Suite in G major and Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, this intimate evening pairs timeless compositions with engaging narratives and insights from one of Brevard’s newest artistic leaders.
Visit BrevardMusic.org for more details.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Avenue Downtown Asheville
$45 DAY NINE
The Asheville Symphony’s innovative and wildly popular ALT ASO series returns to The Orange Peel with a unique cross-genre program bringing together orchestral favorites and jazzy cabaret standards. Featuring the award-winning jazz singer Anaïs Reno, this program reimagines cozy French standards with full symphonic backing, all specially curated by Anaïs Reno and Music Director Darko Butorac to bring Parisian charm to Downtown Asheville and create an unforgettable evening of musical storytelling. Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
Friday, May 9, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Land of Sky United Church of Christ 15 Overbrook Place East Asheville
$15 or pay what you can
Stories form the backbone of the human experience, highlighting our connections, even when they seem hidden. Join the Asheville Storytelling Circle for an unforgettable evening filled with diverse tales and personal narratives illuminating togetherness and community themes. These powerful stories will remind us that, despite our differences, we all sail the same waters. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and celebrate our shared journey!
Visit AshevilleStorytellingCircle.org for more details.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Asheville Art Museum
2 S Pack Square Downtown Asheville
Adult: $15
Ages 0-18: Free
Come to the Asheville Art Museum for an engaging concert and puppet performance by Susana and Timmy Abell. This one-hour show will feature Timmy’s award-winning original songs played with an array of traditional instruments, Susana’s timeless and charming puppet fable, and an appearance by their Spanish-speaking pet sloth! Amidst all the fun and laughter, children and adults alike will be inspired to explore the many different ways that we can share our stories. After the show, visit the Asheville Art Museum’s art studio for a puppet making activity and explore the galleries with a kid-friendly, self-guided tour.
Visit AshevilleArt.org for more details.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
87 Haywood Street Downtown Asheville
$25 - $100
An Evening with Chris Thile closes out the 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival in Downtown Asheville with a performance featuring Festival co-headliner Chris Thile, backed by your Asheville Symphony for a truly genre-bending program. You’ll hear Thile’s new work: the playfully ambitious biographical composition ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra plus the third movement of Barber’s Violin Concerto, Bach’s Double Violin Concerto — both of which Thile will play on mandolin — and more.
Festival co-headliner Chris Thile is an acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant.” Over
the last year, Thile has been touring with Nickel Creek in support of the critically acclaimed 2023 release Celebrants, and captivating audiences with his playfully ambitious biographical composition, ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra. Additionally, he has been focused on the production of a new musical variety show, “The Energy Curfew Music Hour.”
Created with Claire Coffee and featuring Punch Brothers, season one is available on Audible and all podcasting platforms. Most recently, Chris debuted a new one-man show “The Manhattan Variations” in NYC’s Little Island about finding oneself in a little cocktail bar on the Lower East Side. Read more about Chris on page 3. Visit AshevilleSymphony.org for more details.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery
46 N Mills River Road in Mills River
Asheville Art Museum
2 S Pack Square in Downtown Asheville
Asheville Community Theatre
35 E Walnut Street in Downtown Asheville
Asheville Conservatory of the Arts
50 Westgate Parkway in West Asheville
Asheville High School
419 McDowell Street near Biltmore Village
Black Mountain Library
105 N Dougherty Street in Black Mountain
Central United Methodist Church
27 Church Street in Downtown Asheville
Events by Cúrate — La Bodega
32 S Lexington Ave in Downtown Asheville
First Baptist Church of Asheville
5 Oak Street in Downtown Asheville
Land of Sky United Church of Christ
15 Overbrook Place in East Asheville
Lipinsky Auditorium
300 Library Lane at UNC Asheville
The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company
131 Sweeten Creek Road in Biltmore Village
NC Stage Company
15 Stage Lane in Downtown Asheville
The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Pack Memorial Library
67 Haywood Street in Downtown Asheville
Parker Concert Hall
141 Milner Circle at Brevard Music Center
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
87 Haywood Street in Downtown Asheville
Wall Street Garage Entrance
100 Otis Street in Downtown Asheville
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Rd. in West Asheville
Wortham Center for the
Performing Arts
18 Biltmore Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Parking
Visit AshevilleAmadeus.org for more information and links to purchase tickets for all Asheville Amadeus Festival events. See each event description for the participating Festival partner’s web address to purchase online.
For Asheville Symphony events: 828.254.7046
tickets@ashevillesymphony.org
27 College Place Suite 100 Asheville, NC 28801
The Asheville Amadeus Festival brings our community together across genres, traditions, and venues to learn, reflect and celebrate through the power of the arts.
With ticket sales making up less than 35% of the operating costs for each Festival, we rely on your generosity to sustain this extraordinary Asheville celebration.
GET IN TOUCH
Call 828.820.2520 or reach out to development@ashevillesymphony.org for more details on supporting the Asheville Amadeus Festival.
1756 Society
Experience the best the 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival has to offer by joining the 1756 Society. 1756 Society members are core Festival supporters with exclusive access to behind-the-scenes opportunities and special interactions with Festival artists. Get in touch to learn more.
ARTIST REPRESENTATION
Chris Thile is represented exclusively by Red Light Management and Wasserman Music
Exclusive representation of Time for Three — Management: Park Avenue Artists, Booking: Opus 3 Artists
