UGA Presents welcomes the return to Hodgson Concert Hall of legendary banjo player Béla Fleck with his celebrated “My Bluegrass Heart” project on Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
The performance is the second in the 2026-27 UGA Presents season and is part of American Panorama: Voices of a Nation at 250, a series celebrating the diverse musical traditions that have shaped American culture.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Fleck has continually expanded the possibilities of the five-string banjo, moving effortlessly between bluegrass, jazz, classical, country, pop and world music. A 19-time Grammy Award winner, he has received awards in nine different fields, an extraordinary achievement that reflects both his versatility and his omnivorous approach to his instrument.
Yet for all of Fleck’s musical explorations, bluegrass remains at the core of his artistry. “My Bluegrass Heart” represents a return to those roots and brings together some of the finest musicians in the genre for an exhilarating display of instrumental virtuosity and improvisational energy.
The Grammy Award-winning album “My Bluegrass Heart” is the third installment in a bluegrass trilogy that began with Fleck’s 1988 recording “Drive” and continued with 1991’s “The Bluegrass Sessions.” The live project expands on that tradition with a multigenerational band of acclaimed musicians whose collective resumes include Grammy Awards and nominations as well as numerous International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honors.
Joining Fleck on the Hodgson Concert Hall stage will be fiddler Michael Cleveland, Dominick Leslie on mandolin, Jeff Partin on dobro, Mark Schatz on bass and other instruments, and Georgia native Jake Stargel on guitar.
This performance is supported by Deana and Steven Jones, Dianne D. Wall, and Evelyn and Bob Winstead.
Three ways to get tickets
- Purchase tickets online at pac.uga.edu.
- Call the Performing Arts Center box office at 706-542-4400, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Five-minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30, and UGA student tickets are $15. Audience members can create their own series of three or more performances for 10% off.
Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free. To learn more about all UGA Performing Arts Center events, visit pac.uga.edu.