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Secrest Artists Series Records

Finding Aid & Inventory

The Secrest Artists Series was endowed by Marion Secrest in the 1980s. The Secrest Artists Series brings dozens of world-class performers to Wake Forest University. Secrest's endowment allows for students, faculty, and staff to attend for these events for free while community members can buy tickets that are subsidized by the endowment.

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Biographical and Historical Note

Marion Secrest was born in 1906 to a father who was both a physician and a botanist; she was also the first of four children. In 1910, the family moved to Winston-Salem, NC, from Wisconsin in search of a more temperate climate. Secrest would spend the rest of her 103 years in Winston-Salem, save for the short time she was at the University of Wisconsin, earning degrees in French and English. She made her first sizable donation to Wake Forest University in the late 1980s, endowing the Secrest Artists Series.

The Secrest Artists Series has a long and distinguished history of presenting performing artists of national and international reputation to the Wake Forest campus and Triad community. Considered as education and entertainment of the highest quality, such celebrated performers as Itzhak Perlman, Christopher Parkening, Ravi Shankar, Doc Severinsen and his Big Band, Denyce Graves, and the National Symphony with Leonard Slatkin have appeared on the Secrest Series. Each event is usually accompanied by a pre-concert talk or a residency activity by the artist.

Endowed in 1987 by Marion Secrest, a local performing arts patron, in honor of her deceased husband, Willis Secrest, the future of the series is guaranteed. The mission statement of the series states that the best of the established artists in the performing arts and the most promising of the new will appear without admission charge to the students, faculty, and staff of Wake Forest University. This fact alone distinguishes this series from other college and university performing arts series. It is assumed that attendance at these first class artistic events is part of the cultural education and enhancement of students at Wake Forest University. Tickets are available to the public at subsidized prices. Performances take place in the Scales Fine Arts Center or in Wait Chapel.

Collection Overview

The Secrest Artists Series contains committee agendas, brochures and schedules, budgets, correspondence, letters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials that document the program's history and seasons.

Collection Inventory

  • Administrative and promotional materials (1958-2018)
    • Advisory Committee agenda and discussions (1998-2007) Box 1 Folder 1
    • Annual reports (1998-2012) Box 1 Folder 4
    • Artists Series Concerts (1958-1984) Box 1 Folder 2
    • Attendance statistics (1989-2013) Box 1 Folder 5
    • A Brief History of the Wake Forest University Artists Series (1983) Box 1 Folder 13
    • Brochures and schedules (1983-2013) Box 1 Folder 6-8
    • Budget information (1984-1986, undated) Box 1 Folder 9
    • Budgets (1985-1993) Box 1 Folder 10
    • Budget history (1996-2000) Box 1 Folder 11
    • Concert etiquette Box 1 Folder 12
    • Correspondence, general Box 1 Folder 15
    • Correspondence: support and thanks Box 2 Folder 1
    • History (1958-2009) Box 1 Folder 14
    • Marketing analysis (1986) Box 2 Folder 2
    • Music recordings, photographs (25 compact discs) (2008-2013) Box 11 Disk 1-25
    • Newspaper clippings (1990-1999) Box 2 Folder 3-4
    • Newspaper clippings (circa 1990s-2000s) Box 2 Folder 5
    • Old Gold and Black clippings Box 2 Folder 6
    • Overcrowding issue (1995) Box 2 Folder 7
    • Piano repairs (1987-2005) Box 2 Folder 8
    • Pocket schedules (1989-2013) Box 2 Folder 9-10
    • Posters, oversize (1996-2011) Box 13
    • Posters, oversize (circa 2012-2017) Oversize 1-3
    • Prior to school starting Box 2 Folder 11
    • Promotional magnets (2015-2016) Box 9 Folder 19
    • Promotional magnet (2016-2017) Box 9 Folder 20
    • Promotional materials and programs (2006-2007) Box 9 Folder 24
    • Promotional postcard (2014-2015) Box 9 Folder 44
    • Publicity Box 2 Folder 12
    • Scrapbook materials, oversize Box 12
    • Season guidelines Box 2 Folder 13
    • Season histories and evaluations Box 2 Folder 14
    • Season program (2017-2018) Box 9 Folder 17 Box 9 Folder 22
    • Seasonal program (2018-2019) Box 9 Folder 47
    • Season promotional postcard (2016-2017) Box 9 Folder 21
    • Season (2012-2013) Box 2 Folder 15
    • Season program (2018-2019)
    • Signed photographs Box 2 Folder 16
    • Signed photographs and programs Box 2 Folder 17
    • Silk Road Ensemble performence program (2019 March 28)
    • Photographs Box 3 Folder 9
    • Secrest, Marion, biographical information and correspondence (1986-2013) Box 1 Folder 3
    • Standard Operating Procedures (undated) Box 3 Folder 10-11
    • Strategic Planning (2007) Box 3 Folder 12
    • Strategic Planning (circa 1990s) Box 3 Folder 13
    • Top Ten Reasons Box 3 Folder 14
    • Wait Chapel information (undated) Box 3 Folder 15
    • WFDD broadcast clearance agreement form Box 3 Folder 16
  • Artist materials (1957-2018)
    • Abraham, Inc. (2011) Box 2 Folder 18
    • Accademia di San Rocco (2001) Box 2 Folder 19
    • Ahn Trio (2002) Box 2 Folder 20
    • Alan Arkin (1989) Box 2 Folder 21
    • Alina Ibragimova and Cedric Tiberghien: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 9
    • Alina Ibragimova and Cedric Tiberghien: programs (2017 April 6) Box 10 Folder 2
    • Allison Balsom (2009) Box 2 Folder 22
    • Alicia DeLarrochia (1990) Box 4 Folder 21
    • Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan (2015) Box 9 Folder 7
    • Aman (1990) Box 2 Folder 23
    • American Brass (2003) Box 3 Folder 2
    • Amsterdam (1988) Box 3 Folder 3
    • Angela Hewitt (2009) Box 5 Folder 20
    • Anonymous Four (2000) Box 3 Folder 4
    • Anthony and Joseph Paratore (1995) Box 7 Folder 19
    • Apollo's Fire (1994) Box 3 Folder 5
    • Apollo's Fire (2000) Box 3 Folder 6
    • Arcadi Volodos (2001) Box 3 Folder 7
    • Aulos with Julianne Baird (1998) Box 3 Folder 8
    • Bagby/Beowulf (2011) Box 3 Folder 17
    • Baltimore Consort (1996) Box 3 Folder 18
    • Baltimore Symphony (1989) Box 3 Folder 19
    • Bang on a Can All Stars (2000) Box 3 Folder 20
    • Beethoven Symposium (1997) Box 4 Folder 2
    • Ben Heppner (2002 October 5) Box 5 Folder 18
    • Benjamin Grosvenor (2015) Box 5 Folder 9
    • Birgit Nilsson: programs (1965 March 25) Box 9 Folder 46
    • Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra (1993) Box 4 Folder 5
    • Brad Mehldau Jazz Trio (2004) Box 6 Folder 24
    • Branford Marsalis: photographs (2018) Box 9 Folder 35
    • Branford Marsalis: programs (2018 March 22) Box 9 Folder 33
    • Broadway's Next Hit Musical (2014) Box 4 Folder 6
    • Bruckner Orchestra Linz (2009) Box 4 Folder 8
    • Camerata Romeu (2002) Box 4 Folder 9
    • Canadian Brass (1987) Box 4 Folder 10
    • Cantus (2013) Box 4 Folder 11
    • Carolina Chocolate Drops (2013) Box 4 Folder 12
    • Chamber Music Society (1994) Box 4 Folder 13
    • Chanticleer (1991) Box 4 Folder 14
    • Chicago Pro Musica (1991) Box 4 Folder 15
    • Chitose Okashiro (1998) Box 7 Folder 12
    • Christopher Parkening (1986) Box 7 Folder 20
    • Christopher Parkening/Jubilans Sykes (2000) Box 7 Folder 21
    • Claire Bloom (1999) Box 4 Folder 16
    • Classical Savion: photographs (2016) Box 10 Folder 6
    • Colorado Quartet (1988) Box 4 Folder 17
    • Czech Philharmonic (1987) Box 4 Folder 18
    • Daniel and the Lions (1988) Box 4 Folder 19
    • Danu (2012) Box 4 Folder 20
    • David Finckel, Wu Han, Phil Setzer (2016) Box 5 Folder 2
    • David Finckel and Wu Han (2005) Box 5 Folder 1
    • Denyce Graves (2001) Box 5 Folder 8
    • Doc Severinson (1998) Box 4 Folder 22
    • Eighth Blackbird: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 7
    • Eighth Blackbird: programs (2017 January 26) Box 9 Folder 40
    • Eileen Ivers (2001) Box 6 Folder 3
    • Elly Ameling (1989) Box 3 Folder 1
    • Elmar Oliveira (1987) Box 7 Folder 13
    • Emerson Quartet (2006) Box 4 Folder 23
    • English Concert (2004) Box 4 Folder 24
    • Eos Orchestra (2003) Box 4 Folder 25
    • Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (2002) Box 4 Folder 26
    • Evelyn Glennie (2008) Box 5 Folder 4
    • Frederica von Stade (2002) Box 9 Folder 2
    • Fretwork: photographs (2016) Box 10 Folder 5
    • Fretwork: programs (2016 October 13) Box 9 Folder 16 Box 10 Folder 1
    • Gewandhaus Orchestra (1986) Box 5 Folder 3
    • Guarneri and Orim Quartets (1996) Box 5 Folder 11
    • Guarneri String Quartet (1989) Box 5 Folder 10
    • Handel-Haydn Society (1995) Box 5 Folder 15
    • Hanover Band (1997) Box 5 Folder 16
    • Hesperion XX (1998) Box 5 Folder 19
    • Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake: photographs (2018) Box 10 Folder 12
    • I Musici (2006) Box 5 Folder 21
    • Igor Kipnis (1992) Box 6 Folder 8
    • Ida and Ani Kavafian (1991) Box 6 Folder 5
    • Imani Winds (2012) Box 6 Folder 1
    • Isabel Bayrakdaman (2006) Box 4 Folder 1
    • Irvin Mayfield and the NoJo (2008) Box 6 Folder 23
    • Itzhak Perlman (1996) Box 7 Folder 23
    • Janus Starker (1985) Box 8 Folder 11
    • Jason Vieaux (2007) Box 8 Folder 30
    • Jerusalem Quartet (2013) Box 6 Folder 4
    • Joshua Bell (2004-2005) Box 4 Folder 3
    • Julliard String Quartet (1983 February 24) Box 9 Folder 29
    • Keigwin Company (2015) Box 6 Folder 6
    • King's Singers (1986) Box 6 Folder 7
    • Klezmer Conservatory Band (1996) Box 6 Folder 9
    • Kondonassis/Zukerman (2000) Box 6 Folder 10
    • Kremerata Baltica (2010) Box 6 Folder 11
    • Kronos (1995) Box 6 Folder 12
    • Kyoko Takezawa (1987) Box 8 Folder 20
    • L. Subramanian (1991) Box 8 Folder 16
    • L.A. Philharmonic (1985) Box 6 Folder 13
    • Ladysmith Black Mambazo (2010) Box 6 Folder 14
    • Liverpool Orchestra (1992) Box 6 Folder 16
    • Lura Negra Dance Theater (2009) Box 6 Folder 17
    • Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (1984 October 4) Box 9 Folder 30
    • Lynn Redgrave (1994) Box 7 Folder 28
    • Mandinka Epic (2000) Box 6 Folder 18
    • Marc-André Hamelini (2006) Box 5 Folder 14
    • Marcel Marceau (1988) Box 6 Folder 19
    • Marcel Proust's Paris (1997) Box 7 Folder 25
    • Marian Anderson: painting (1997) Box 9 Folder 42
    • Marian Anderson: programs (1960 January 14) Box 9 Folder 45
    • Mariza (2015) Box 6 Folder 20
    • Marshall Williamson (1984 March 1) Box 9 Folder 31
    • Masters of Mexican Music (2004) Box 6 Folder 22
    • Meredith Monk (2009) Box 7 Folder 1
    • Midori (1990) Box 6 Folder 25
    • Mihai Ungureaunu (1995) Box 9 Folder 9
    • Monte Carlo (1988) Box 7 Folder 2
    • Moscow Virtuosi (1993) Box 7 Folder 3
    • Mozartean Players (1992) Box 7 Folder 4
    • Muir String Quartet (1999) Box 7 Folder 5
    • Munich Symphony Orchestra (2011) Box 7 Folder 6
    • Nathan Gunn (2010) Box 5 Folder 12
    • National Symphony Orchestra (2004) Box 7 Folder 7
    • Netherlands Chamber Orchestra (1997) Box 7 Folder 8
    • New Century Saxophone Quartet (1994) Box 7 Folder 9
    • New World Symphony (1991) Box 7 Folder 10
    • New York Baroque Dance company: A Venetian Carnival (1983 October 13) Box 9 Folder 32
    • Nexus (1998) Box 7 Folder 11
    • Noche Flamenca: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 13
    • Noche Flamenca: programs (2017 October 19) Box 9 Folder 38
    • Orchestre National de Lyon: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 8
    • Orchestre National de Lyon: programs (2017 February 23) Box 9 Folder 41 Box 9 Folder 23
    • Orion Weiss (2003) Box 9 Folder 8
    • The Orlando Consort (2016) Box 7 Folder 14
    • The Orlando Consort program (2016 April 7) Box 9 Folder 26
    • Orpheus (1998) Box 7 Folder 15
    • Orpheus (1994) Box 7 Folder 16
    • Orquesta Sinfonica de Mexico (2015) Box 7 Folder 17
    • Paragon Ragtime Orchestra (1999) Box 7 Folder 18
    • Paul Lewis: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 11
    • Paul Lewis: programs (2017 November 16) Box 9 Folder 37
    • Paul Winter (1993) Box 9 Folder 12
    • Pentagon Papers (2007) Box 7 Folder 22
    • Philadelphia Dance Company (2002) Box 7 Folder 24
    • Philadelphia Orchestra program (1979) Box 9 Folder 25
    • Philippe Bianconi (1987) Box 4 Folder 4
    • Piedmont Chamber Orchestra (1981 October 29) Box 9 Folder 22
    • Quatuor Ebene (2014) Box 7 Folder 26
    • Radio Kaboul (2005) Box 7 Folder 27
    • Ravi Shankar (1997) Box 8 Folder 6
    • Ravi Shankar (1998) Box 8 Folder 7
    • Red Priest (2003) Box 7 Folder 29
    • Reduced Shakespeare Company program (2018 September 20) Box 9 Folder 48
    • Richard Goode (1995) Box 5 Folder 6
    • Richard Staltzman/NACO Box 8 Folder 14
    • Richard Stilwell (1986) Box 8 Folder 12
    • Rise Stevens: programs (1957 April 11) Box 9 Folder 43
    • Rose Ensemble (2009) Box 8 Folder 1
    • Ruben Gonzales (1986) Box 5 Folder 5
    • Russian State Symphony Orchestra (1999) Box 8 Folder 2
    • Ruth Laredo (1993) Box 6 Folder 15
    • Salzburg Marionettes (2001) Box 8 Folder 3
    • Sao Paulo Orchestra (2006) Box 8 Folder 4
    • Savion Glover, "Classical Savion": programs (2016 November 10) Box 9 Folder 18 Box 10 Folder 3
    • Schubert's "Winterreise": programs (2018 February 8) Box 9 Folder 36
    • Scottish Christmas (2004) Box 8 Folder 5
    • Secrest Artist Series: programs (2016-2017) Box 10 Folder 4
    • Secrest, Marion, Winston-Salem Journal obituary (2013 September 21) Box 9 Folder 34
    • Shantala Shivalingappa (2013) Box 8 Folder 8
    • Sharon Isbin (1995) Box 6 Folder 2
    • Shuffle, Play, Listen (2011) Box 8 Folder 9
    • Sousa Band (1992) Box 8 Folder 10
    • St. Lawrence String Quartet (2003) Box 8 Folder 13
    • Stefon Harris (2004) Box 5 Folder 17
    • Stephane Grappelli (1994) Box 5 Folder 7
    • Strata (2013) Box 8 Folder 15
    • Summit Brass (1991) Box 8 Folder 17
    • Sweet Honey in the Rock (2014) Box 8 Folder 18
    • Takacs Quartet (2000, 2009) Box 8 Folder 19
    • Tallis Scholars (1990) Box 8 Folder 21
    • Tallis Scholars (2009) Box 8 Folder 22
    • Tamburitzan Performing Ensemble (1993) Box 8 Folder 23
    • Theater of Voices (1996) Box 8 Folder 24
    • The Bobs: photographs (2017) Box 10 Folder 10
    • The Bobs: programs (2017 September 14) Box 9 Folder 39
    • Time for Three (2007) Box 8 Folder 25
    • Tord Gustavsen Ensemble (2011) Box 5 Folder 13
    • Treemonisha (2005) Box 8 Folder 26
    • Turtle Island String Quartet (2015) Box 8 Folder 27
    • Tuscan Sun Festival (2005) Box 8 Folder 28
    • Ursula Oppens (1985) Box 8 Folder 29
    • Vienna Chamber Orchestra (1999) Box 9 Folder 1
    • Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (2008) Box 9 Folder 4
    • Waverly Consort (1992) Box 9 Folder 5
    • Wayne Shorter Quartet (2012) Box 9 Folder 6
    • Wind Soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (1997) Box 9 Folder 10
    • Windsync (2016) Box 9 Folder 11
    • Wynton Marsalis (1992) Box 6 Folder 21 Box 9 Folder 13
    • Xiayin Wang (2014) Box 9 Folder 3
    • Yetim Bronfman (1985) Box 4 Folder 7
    • Yin Mei Nomad: The River (2007) Box 9 Folder 14
    • Yolanda Kondonassis and Eugenia Zuckerman (2000 September 21) Box 9 Folder 27
    • Young Uck Kim and Patricia Zander (1983 March 24) Box 9 Folder 28
    • 100 Years of Broadway (2010) Box 9 Folder 15

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Title
Secrest Artists Series Records
ID
RG16.32
Date [inclusive]
1957-2018
Extent
9.42 linear feet  10 document boxes, 2 oversized boxes, 1 artifact box

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives 2014
Revision Description
 Revised by Kelli Johnson, Olivia Field, Sayeda Islam 2016, 2017, 2018
Conditions Governing Access Note
This collection is open for use. 
Copyright Statement
The nature of the WFU Z.Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 
Preferred Citation Note
Secrest Artists Series, RG 16.32, Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

Artifacts have been removed from the collection and added to RG14 University Archives Artifact Collection. These include a Secrest Artists Series frisbee, 2 Itzhak Perlman pins, and a Joshua Bell magnet.

The following items were removed from this collection and added to the University Archives Artifact Collection, RG14: - Secrest Artists Series frisbee - 2 Itzhak Perlman pins - Joshua Bell magnet

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