Lyceum Returns with Full Schedule

One of Truman’s oldest traditions, the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series provides a unique opportunity to broaden the cultural experience for the University and Kirksville communities by bringing well-known speakers, dance troupes, musicians and other performers from all parts of the world to campus. In-person lyceum events were suspended in spring 2020 due to the pandemic and are now returning with a full schedule of performances.

The season will kick off with The Keeshea Pratt Band, Sept. 16. Pratt is an award-winning singer that performs all genres of music. She has appeared at several festivals such as Chicago Blues Festival and Crescent City Blues Festival in New Orleans.

The St. Louis Ballet will perform, Oct. 19. Consisting of 24 internationally acclaimed dancers, they are recognized as the only professional resident ballet company in the St. Louis region.

Alumna Susana Mendoza will take the stage as the fall Holman Family Speaker, Nov. 14. Mendoza (’94) was the first Hispanic independently elected to statewide office in Illinois when she was elected as comptroller in 2016.  

Truman’s own University Steel Band will perform Dec. 3 with their holiday steel concert. Directed by Michael Bump, professor of music, Truman Steel performs the traditional steel pan music of Trinidad and Tobago.

Northeast Missouri’s own Rhonda Vincent will headline the next performance, Jan. 27. Vincent and her band, The Rage, are the most awarded band in bluegrass history. She is an eight-time Grammy nominee and was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2020.

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra will take the stage, Feb. 24. They are a 16-piece jazz orchestra that has won 11 “Best Big Band” awards in the DownBeat magazine Readers and Critics Polls.

All of these performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Baldwin Auditorium.

The lyceum is also introducing “Films and Finger Foods” in the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. The first movie will be the 1968 horror classic “Night of the Living Dead,” Oct. 29. The second movie will be screened May 6 and has yet to be determined. Hors d’oeuvres will be served in Magruder Hall prior to the show. A special guest speaker will provide background information and insight on the film. Seating is limited.   

All events will take place at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free but tickets are required and can be reserved at the Sue Ross Arts Center in downtown Kirksville, the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205 and the SAB window in the Student Union Building. For additional information, visit lyceum.truman.edu, call 660.785.4133 or email lyceumseries@truman.edu.