Quad City Arts announces the 2025–2026 Visiting Artist Series lineup, continuing a five-decade tradition of bringing world-class performers and creators into classrooms and communities across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. 

Like many arts organizations, Quad City Arts is navigating funding challenges that require thoughtful adjustments to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. This year’s series is not about doing less — it’s about focusing on what the organization does best: connecting people to extraordinary artists who spark curiosity, creativity, and connection through the arts. 
 
In addition to school and community workshops, each artist will present public performances, giving audiences across the Quad Cities the chance to experience these incredible talents live on stage. Performance dates and ticket information will be announced soon on the Quad City Arts website and social media channels. 
 
The season offers a vibrant mix of artists who honor traditional forms while bringing them into the present with fresh, relevant interpretations. Whether it’s classical piano infused with jazz and pop, cultural dance reimagined for today’s stage, or centuries-old musical traditions blended with modern rhythms, each artist bridges the past and present in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences. 
 
The 2025–2026 lineup includes: 

• Sons of Mystro – Classical Crossover / Hip-Hop 
  Educational Engagements: Sept. 22–26, 2025 
  South Florida brothers Malcolm and Umoja fuse reggae classics, American pop hits, and original compositions through electric violin, backed by DJ and drums. Mentored by Black Violin, their performances push the boundaries of the instrument while honoring cultural roots. 
  
  

• Nobuntu – Traditional & Contemporary Zimbabwean Rooted Music 
  Educational Engagements: Nov. 12–14, 2025 
  This award-winning female a cappella ensemble blends pure harmonies, mbira (thumb piano), and authentic dance to share the spirit of humility, unity, and family. Nobuntu’s work extends beyond the stage to social impact initiatives like The Nobuntu Pad Bank. 
  
  

• Barron Ryan – Pianist & Composer / Classical Crossover 
  Educational Engagements: Feb. 23–27, 2026 
  Named one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “Ten Innovators to Watch,” Barron blends classical mastery with jazz, pop, and funk influences, pairing jaw-dropping technique with humor and storytelling.
  
  

• Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande – Mexican Folklorico Dance 
  Educational Engagements: May 11–15, 2026 
  With dazzling costumes and precise choreography, this internationally acclaimed company celebrates Mexico’s regional dance traditions, sharing the cultural stories behind each performance. 

 
In addition to performances, each artist will lead school and community workshops, giving audiences of all ages the chance to engage with their craft. 

Quad City Arts will also host a series of community listening sessions this fall to gather ideas and feedback for a reimagined Visiting Artist Series that remains both artistically vibrant and financially sustainable. These sessions are a unique opportunity for community members, arts supporters, and educators to help shape the series for decades to come. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact Executive Director Brian Allen to be included in the conversation. Through intentional planning and community dialogue, the community can help ensure that the Visiting Artist Series continues to connect people of all ages. We are confident that together we can reshape this program to not only be financially sustainable but also responsive, relevant, and inspiring for years to come. 
​
 “This is a moment of reflection, and more importantly, a moment of collaboration,” Brian Allen, Executive Director of Quad City Arts, noted. “The Visiting Artist Series has always been about more than performances — it’s about opening doors to new perspectives, cultures, and possibilities.” 
 
School staff can schedule residency engagements for this fall and next spring by visiting https://www.quadcityarts.com/vas-scheduling.  
​

About Quad City Arts 
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts.   

The 2025-2026 season of Visiting Artist Series is supported by Scott County Regional Authority, National Endowment of the Arts, Rock Island Community Foundation, and Quad City Arts' Annual Fund. 
 
For Programming Questions Please Contact: Ben Gougeon, Director of Community Engagement, [email protected] or (309) 793-1213, ext. 100
 
For Additional Questions Please: Brian Allen, Executive Director at Quad City Arts,  [email protected] or 309-793-1213, ext. 101. 
​

The roster for Quad City Arts’ 2022-2023 Visiting Artist Series is set, and we are ready to begin taking scheduling requests! 

Teachers and principals of all Quad City Area schools are invited to schedule an outreach visit from a professional performing artist during the upcoming school year through the Visiting Artist Series. 

Schools can sign up for activities with our artists in residence ranging from all-school performances to hands-on workshops and performance opportunities. 

Experiences in past seasons have included drama workshops for high school students with an East Coast theatre ensemble, a technique discussion for junior high band students from a Toronto, Canada, jazz ensemble, a side-by-side concert performance with a Texas string quartet, and hip-hop dance presentations on history and technique for elementary students— all arts experiences that students would otherwise not have access to. 

School staff from public and private schools can schedule residency engagements for this fall and next spring by visiting quadcityarts.com/vas-scheduling. Visiting artist engagements are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. The form found at the link is a request form for one or more engagements. You will receive a confirmation email once your request has been submitted. 

The series serves students and community members in Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine Counties in Iowa, and Henry, Rock Island, and Mercer Counties in Illinois. 

For more information about the Visiting Artist Series program, visit quadcityarts.com/vas. If you have any issues or questions regarding this form or the scheduling process, please let me know. We look forward to sharing the outstanding performing artists scheduled for next season with Quad City area students!

Quad City Arts will begin hosting artists in residence for the 2022-2023 Visiting Artist Series this September. Residencies will continue through May 2023 and will focus on presenting outreach engagements in schools and community sites in and around the Quad Cities. 

The roster of professional performing artists is as follows: 

• SON MONARCAS - Latin-folk fusion ensemble 
  In residence September 19-23 
• THE REMINDERS - Hip-hop duo
  In residence October 3-7 
• LADAMA​ - Latin-alternative band 
  In residence October 24-28 
• SKY CONSORT ​AND EMMA BJÖRLING - Trans-Atlantic band 
  In residence January 23-27 
• BROKEN BOX MIME THEATER - Physical theater company  
  In residence February 6-10 
• ALLA ​BOARA​ - Modern Italian folk 
  In residence February 27- March 3 
• EISENHOWER ​DANCE DETROIT - Contemporary dance
  In residence March 20-24 
• DESSA ​​- Singer, rapper, and writer 
  In residence April 10-14 
• MARTHA ​REDBONE - Native American & African American vocalist/song writer 
  In residence May 8-12  

Find out more about the artists and the lineup on our website: www.quadcityarts.com/vas-scheduling

Every year, teachers and program directors bring a world-class performing arts resource into their buildings by simply opening their doors.

The artists and ensembles who walk through the door are more traditional than technological; they aren’t trained in robotics, webcasting, or video editing. They aren’t equipped with motion cameras or 3-D printing. But they are priceless in the expertise that they bring into every gym, auditorium, and classroom.

The artists and ensembles who are selected for a residency in the Visiting Artist Series are highly accomplished and frequently recognized or awarded at a national and international level. They are selected for both their artistic talents and their ability to engage public audiences, particularly students.

Each season of the Visiting Artist Series presents high-quality examples of music, dance, and theater. The purpose of each school or community site visit isn’t solely performance; it’s about modeling the hard work, dedication, and proficiency mindset that allowed them to become top-tier professional artists. These artists have an ear for music, feet made for dancing, and a voice made to carry through an auditorium. Despite the differences in their genres and their art forms, they all have a brain for the arts.

The outreaches given by each visiting artist during a week-long residency provide an experience that builds on classroom discussion, enhances school curriculum, adds to students’ knowledge of the performing arts from around the world, and develops future audience members.

This spring, the series was forced to cancel two residencies — one planned for steel drum player John Patti in March and another in May for multi-genre quintet Jarabe Mexicano. These two artists were part of the 46th season that featured a dozen other artists and ensembles for outreach performances in the Quad City region.

John Patti’s performance moves jazz and blues to a new level by adding the unique island flare of the steel drum. Patti is well versed in various genres of music, from sophisticated jazz to island jazz and the reggae sounds of the steel pan, R&B, Motown, and blues gives his performance some groove and soul.
​