Visiting Artist Series
SINCE 1974, THE VISITING ARTIST SERIES Has MADE THE PERFORMING ARTS ACCESSIBLE BY BRINGING THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES. THE PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT MORE THAN 600 ARTISTS TO THE QUAD CITIES, 424 RESIDENCIES, 10,000 SCHOOL VISITS, 400 CONCERTS, AND REACHED OVER 2.6 MILLION PEOPLE in our community.
About The VISITING ARTIST SERIES
Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages in quality arts experiences with professional performing artists. These unique outreaches serve students of all ages in both public and private schools and colleges, in urban, suburban, and rural districts in both eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Visiting Artists can provide a variety of different performance formats and are listed below.
Visiting Artists can provide a variety of different performance formats and are listed below.
2026/2027 Visiting Artist Series Line-up
Leland FaulknerNative American Storyteller
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS: Sept. 21-25, 2026 
Dreamcatcher is a gathering of traditional Native American wonder tales and magical adventures told with an original and personal perspective. Listen with the heart of a child, the mind of an elder, and the soul of a warrior and you too will walk the path to other places and other times.
These traditional tales of wonder are full of entertaining lessons from Turtle Island, and are a gift and legacy for future generations. This performance is a celebration of the power, beauty, and simplicity of human imagination. Prepare your heart for timeless stories that feature the animal world, nature, dreams, tricksters, and heroes, some have hilarious characters, some are frightening, others give us hope, and all of them teach and heal. Leland Faulkner is a member of The Bad River Band of Chippewa in Odenah, Wisconsin, his mother’s tribe. His father was a Shoshone Bannock tribal member from Fort Hall, Idaho and he walks the path between both peoples. Leland has travelled the performer’s path for over thirty five years, training with masters of story, physical theater, mime, and acting. Leland has loved all magical adventures and wonder tales since he was a little boy, now reaching deep into the spiritual medicine bag where these stories and tales are kept, Leland brings you dreams and visions with this performance of Dreamcatcher. |
Dusky WatersNew Orleans Blues/Roots
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS: Nov. 10-13, 2026 
Dusky Waters is the nom de plume of contemporary Americana songwriter and musician Jenn Jeffers, an artist whose work bridges the rich musical traditions of the South with a modern, genre-defying sound. As the Executive Director and Co-Founder of BlackAmericana Fest, a New Orleans-based music festival celebrating Black artists in Americana, Folk, and Country music, she is at the forefront of fostering a more inclusive roots music landscape.
Dusky Waters is an expression of Jeffers’ affinity for the magic of twilight hours and the ever-present Mississippi River, which has shaped her journey from her childhood on the banks of its tributary in Little Rock, Arkansas, to her early twenties in the Delta of northern Louisiana, to her current home in New Orleans. Her music mirrors this passage, fusing the gospel, folk, and soul traditions of the region with pop melodies and arrangements. She has earned critical acclaim, with audiences and press lauding her ability to craft songs that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her music has been described as “beautifully crafted” and “sublime,” elevating her songwriting craft and “clarion call vocals.” Known for high-energy performances that consistently turn crowds into “a sea of movement,” Dusky Waters brings an electrifying presence to the stage. With soulful lyricism, intricate banjo and guitar licks, and a sound that ebbs and flows like the Mississippi, Dusky Waters reimagines Americana. Her music is a manifestation of the magic and mourning of the bayou state and an uplifting testament to the power of self-actualization - honoring tradition while forging a new path that reflects the ever-evolving spirit of the South. |
Brass QueensAll-female Jazz Brass Band
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS: Feb. 8-12, 2027 
Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019.
Finding that they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians and bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed "the hardest working band in town" by their peers. The Queens gained a dedicated following through outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic. Now, a core value of the band is to play for as many audiences as possible to increase the visibility of female musicians. |
The Chardon Polka BandPunk-rock Polka
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS: April 13-16, 2027 
The Chardon Polka Band has enjoyed over twenty years of creating their own distinct brand of polka, infusing this traditional genre with oddball humor, rock and roll, electric energy, and eclectic influences.
The band tours nationally and produces their own Emmy-Award-wining program for PBS, The World According to Polka. The Chardon Polka Band discusses musical instruments and influences while performing some of their favorite polkas and infusing their own energy into a traditional genre! |
Movement Revolution Dance CrewHip-Hop/Breaking Dance
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS: May 10-14, 2027 
Movement Revolution Dance Crew (MRDC) was founded in 2010 by Chicago native Monternez Rezell. As Artistic Director Monte takes street dance to another level by integrating the street culture into concert dance; all while paying tribute to the founders and originators of the hip hop culture. MRDC performs several styles of street dance seen in hip hop culture including breaking, popping, locking, waving, and litefeet as well as other club dances and social dances.
In addition to performing, MRDC takes pride in sharing our knowledge, passion, and dance skills with students of all ages across the Chicago-land area. Members of Movement Revolution Dance Crew travel to various elementary and high schools teaching “Healthy Hip Hop”. This dance and performing arts program serves youth in underresourced neighborhoods with a focus that enriches students, introduces them to music and dance as well as teaches them life lessons through Hip Hop. Healthy Hip Hop teaches students the value of positive art; Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun. |
MORE About The VISITING ARTIST SERIES
∙All-school performances
Create a school-wide learning experience about arts and culture. Hillcrest Elementary School said of Mexico Beyond Mariachi’s visit, “We were very pleased that the students were able to enjoy a little bit of Mexico and the history of different music. This was a very great experience for our students and staff! They were very engaged and happy to participate with the performers. They also learned Spanish!!”
∙Lecture/demonstrations about careers in the arts
Explore real-world applications for the performing arts. West Liberty Middle School said about DJ Dan Quinn, “The organization and presentation of the information to the students was excellent. Dan brought in the career aspect of a DJ to the students and also presented the history. His study guide and materials were very beneficial in getting the students ready for his presentation.”
∙Hands-on workshops with students
Dive into arts skills and techniques with a professional artist. United Township High School students participated in a theatre workshop with Broadway’s Next H!t Musical. “My students had a great time. It is important for them to see adults model free thinking, quick thinking, trusting your gut and not overthinking things, and laughing,” they said.
∙Skills demonstrations for arts students
Discover advanced arts skills and practical knowledge. Pleasant Valley High School students were visited by a Canadian jazz quartet, “The Allison Au Quartet were all wonderful educators and musicians. They did an excellent job of relating to the students and not talking over their heads. In addition, they were outstanding musicians who stayed after to answer several questions from our students. Good musicians and even better people. Thank you for bringing them in.”
∙Performance opportunitieS
Collaborate with a professional artist on a performance. The Rock Island High School Orchestra reflected on their experience performing side-by-side with Grammy-winning ensemble Turtle Island String Quartet, “Thank you so much for the opportunity to play on the concert with the Turtle Island String Quartet. It was an unbelievable experience for us all.”
Funding Partners 2025-2026 Season
The 2026–27 season of the Visiting Artist Series is powered by Quad City Arts, and supported by Scott County Regional Authority, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rock Island Community Foundation.
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Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series is the winner of the 1999 William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence awarded by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. For 50 years, this nationally recognized performing arts residency program has brought distinguished artists and ensembles to Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa, and Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island county in Illinois.
