LIVE MUSIC in New Bern NC

• North Carolina Symphony New Bern Series:  The NC Symphony, normally based in Raleigh, performs around the state in a traveling concert series. Due to the wonderful reception and venues in New Bern, the Symphony loves playing here and now offers up to four concerts a year here. Most concerts are held at the Riverfront Convention Center and require tickets. Those held on the lawn at the Tryon Palace are free to the public Visit the NC Symphony New Bern Series web page for schedules and tickets. Additional info can be had by contacting the New Bern Riverfront Convention and Visitors Center at (252) 637-9400.

• Craven Concerts: Offers a subscription-only 5 concert series of various musical events from concerts to musicals to operas. All performances are held at 7:30pm in the Grover C. Fields Performing Arts Center, (in the Grover C. Fields Middle School) at 2000 Dr M L King Jr Blvd, New Bern, NC 28560. Fill out and mail the subscription form for tickets as no tickets are sold at the door. Phone: (252) 637-1119. Check the schedule for the 2007-8 season.

• Craven Community College events: New Bern's community college is the venue for the Craven Community Chorus concerts as well as other concerts on occasion. See the entire community cultural calendar for lectures, concerts and films.

• Trent River Coffee Company www.trentrivercoffee.com: This coffee shop often hosts acoustic and folk music performers in the evenings, particularly on the weekends. For schedules, check the Down East Folk Society Concerts web page, stop by their location at 208 Craven St., New Bern, NC, or call them at (252) 514-2030.

• Down East Folk Arts Society: Holds folk and acoustic music concerts at venues throughout eastern North Carolina, including Trent River Coffee Company, Clawson's in Beaufort and others. Check their calendar for upcoming live folk music in eastern North Carolina. Details of the nearest upcoming concerts should be checked out on the Down East Folk Arts Concerts web page. 

• Carolina Chamber Music Festival: Annual fall (usually early September) chamber music festival held in various locations throughout New Bern, NC. Call (252) 626-5419 or visit their web site at www.carolinachambermusic.org.

• Annual New Bern Jazz and Blues Fest: The Jazz Preservation Society of New Bern sponsors the Annual New Bern Jazz and Blues Fest held in the spring (usually in April). Performances are held at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, 203 South Front Street, in downtown New Bern, North Carolina.
  • Tickets may be purchased online on the Jazz Preservation Society of New Bern web site, by calling their toll-free number 866-624-7119, or buying in person at various venues around New Bern, including the Bank of the ARts, the Convention Center, Fuller's Music Store, or Trent River Coffee Company.

• Union Point Park Gazebo concerts: The "First Friday Music in the Park" series- Sponsored by the City of New Bern Parks and Recreation, this music series sponsors live family-friendly outdoors concerts held the first Friday of the month at the gazebo in Union Point Park from May through October. Additional concerts are held on holidays and festivals, including Fourth of July, October Mumfest and during the Christmas Flotilla. The Marine Corps band from Cherry Point usually performs on the 4th of July and the Christmas Flotilla. Check the Parks and Recreation site for events. 

• House of Blues in Myrtle Beach: Several hours drive from New Bern is the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Check their web site for events and concerts.

• Walnut Creek Amphitheatre: This is the major concert venue for NC. Located in Raleigh about 2 hours west of New Bern.  Check the Ticketmaster web site for events and tickets.

LIVE THEATER in New Bern, NC

Once a cultural capital in North Carolina, New Bern still has a thriving local community theater tradition. Many shows at our local theaters have two casts to provide performing time to all the talented actors we have. 

• New Bern Civic Theatre www.newberncivictheatre.org: For show schedules or volunteer opportunities for on stage or behind the scenes personnel, check their web site or visit the Theater and box office, 414 Pollock St., New Bern, NC, or call (252) 633-0567. While the inside has been mostly renovated, they are still fundraising to restore the exterior to its former glory.

• RiverTowne Repertory Players www.rivertownerepertoryplayers.com: the Players have brought to the stage major musicals, comedies, and dramas, as well as a Theatre for the Youth with original music and scripts oriented toward young people. Performances are held at the famous Sudan Shrine Center theater (also one of the state's oldest theaters) at 403 East Front Street (intersection with Broad Street).  Check their schedule online or call: 252-638-3750.  

• Historic Masonic Theatre: One of the oldest theaters in the South, arguably the oldest theater in America in continuous use, the Masonic Theatre often sponsors its own community theater production with the Serendipity Players or brings in outside groups like the Opry Theater. Location: 516 Hancock Street. Serendipity Players Phone: 252.638.9166. Events are usually listed on our New Bern events calendar above or on the Craven Arts Council Community Box Office web page. 

• Carolinian Shakespeare Festival (CFS): Professional Shakespearean theater group which stages performances the first three weekends of August at the New Bern Civic Theatre in downtown New Bern. Auditions usually take place in March each year for the upcoming season, with rehearsals scheduled for the month of July. Contact: New Bern Civic Theatre, 414 Pollock St., New Bern, NC. (800) 346-2770. Visit the CFS web site for information.

CHORAL MUSIC in New Bern, NC

• Craven Community Chorus: The Craven Community Chorus practices weekly from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Tuesdays at Craven Community College's Orringer Auditorium. This large choral group performs around the New Bern area and occasionally out of state. There are no auditions, and membership is open to anyone from 18 to 80 who can carry a tune and enjoys singing. Call (252) 638-7357.

• Fairfield Harbour Chorus: Holding over a dozen performances a year, this chorus requires that members be residents of Fairfield Harbour. Rehearsals are conducted on Monday evenings at 7 PM at the Fairfield Community Center. Rehearsals begin the first Monday after Labor Day and continue until mid-May. Call (252) 638-8470.
   
• Church Choirs: Many of the churches in town have choirs, from informal to the very formal and professional caliber. From Temple Baptist and Brices Creek Bible Church's elaborate holiday productions to the New Song's Friday Christian music concerts, there are many options for the musically-minded church-goer to participate.

FILM and LECTURES in New Bern

• New Bern Cinemas and Movie Showtimes: Check the schedule for current popular films showing at local area Havelock and New Bern movie theaters.  

• Craven Community College events: New Bern's community college sponsors various cultural events series such as a free International Film Festival, a lecture series, and concert series including the Community Chorus and other concerts. See the entire calendar at www.cravencc.edu/community/lectures.cfm.