The endowed Frederica G. Esbenshade fund was established in 1980 by Harry H. Esbenshade, Sr. and Harry H. Esbenshade Jr., husband and son, respectively, of the late Mrs. Esbenshade of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The fund provides annual income for the purpose of entertaining with lectures, music, and a variety of other astonishing performances.
In recent years, the Esbenshade Series has welcomed talented singers and songwriters like Amythyst Kiah, Leo Kottke, Steep Canyon Rangers, Bela Fleck, Ranky Tanky and Keb' Mo', as well as other acts like Parsons Dance, the Russian National Ballet and Shaolin Warriors.
2023–24
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers - September 14, 2023
Sarah Vowell- October 11, 2023
BODYTRAFFIC - February 21, 2024
Barbara Nissman - March 14, 2024
Kellin Hanas - April 5, 2024
2022–23
Bob Thompson Quartet - September 16, 2022
Dirty Dozen Brass Band - November 20, 2022
Fran Lebowitz - February 20, 2023
Alisa Amador - March 21, 2023
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company - April 2, 2023
2021–22
Amythyst Kiah - November 14, 2021
Tesla String Quartet – February 13, 2022
Velocity Irish Dance - March 18, 2022
Parsons Dance Company – April 21, 2022
Leo Kottke - May 1, 2022
2019–20
Ranky Tanky - September 15, 2019
Daniel Hsu - October 13, 2019
Julie Zickefoose - November 14, 2019
The Russian National Ballet - February 6, 2020
Steep Canyon Rangers - November 7, 2020
2018–19
Keb’ Mo’ - September 16, 2018
Jake Shimabukuro - November 11, 2018
MOMIX: Opus Cactus - February 17, 2019
Havana Cuban All-Stars - March 10, 2019
2017–18
Rhiannon Giddens - September 17, 2017
Sujari Britt - November 12, 2017
J.D. Vance - February 8, 2018
Ailey II - March 4, 2018
The Romeros in Concert - April 15, 2018
2016–17
Kao Kalia Yang - September 16, 2016
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn - October 9, 2016
Gavin George – November 20, 2016
The Shaolin Warriors - March 5, 2017
Branford Marsalis & Quartet with Kurt Elling - April 23, 2017