Duke University Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham, is often filled with music, and much of the time it’s available for the public to listen to, for free. During weekdays, there is typically a 15-minute Carillon recita at 5 p.m.
Events at Duke Chapel
See all upcoming events on the Duke University Chapel website.
Here’s some of what’s coming up:
Bach Cantata Series: Music for Candlemas
Sunday, February 4, 2024
5 p.m.
Free
Johann Sebastian Bach’s church cantatas are often considered the pinnacle of German sacred music, works whose theological depth and emotional resonance touch deep places in the human soul. The Bach Cantata Series presents these musical masterpieces accompanied by other notable choral and instrumental works of the Baroque era.
Jazz Vespers: A Service of Celebration
Thursday, February 8, 2024
7 p.m.
Free
Rest, pray, celebrate, and sing in this worship service that combines the ancient Christian tradition of evening vespers with the musical idioms of jazz and gospel. Chapel ministers lead the prayers and readings for the service while Professor John Brown’s Little Big Band leads the music.
The Musical Offering: Roseen Giles, flute; Gabriel Richard, violin; Caroline Stinson, cello; Joseph Causby, keyboard
Sunday, February 25, 2024
5 p.m.
Free
Program: J.S. Bach’s The Musical Offering, BWV 1079. Free admission: no tickets or reservations are needed. Roseen Giles is Assistant Professor of Music at Duke. A musicologist with a specialty in early modern musical culture, she is also the curator of DUMIC (Duke University Musical Instrument Collections). Gabriel Richard is Associate Research Professor of Romance Studies and Music at Duke. He has served as Solo Violin at the Opéra de Lyon, First Violin at the Paris Orchestra, and First Violin of the Thymos String Quartet. Caroline Stinson came to Duke in 2018, where she is cellist in the resident Ciompi Quartet, Associate Professor of the Practice of Music and director of the Chamber Music Program. Joseph Causby is the Director of Music and Organist of the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, NC. As a frequent guest artist at Duke University Chapel, he plays the organ for special services, guest conducts the Duke Evensong Singers, and teaches the chapel’s organ scholars. This concert is presented in association with the Duke University Musical Instrument Collections (DUMIC).
Organ Recital Series: Robert Parkins
Sunday, March 17, 2024
5 p.m.
Free
Robert Parkins is the University Organist and a Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke. His solo recordings have appeared on the Calcante, Gothic, Loft, Musical Heritage Society, and Naxos labels. Salome’s Dance, his most recent release, elicited the following comment from a reviewer in American Record Guide: “His playing is expressive, musical, technically accomplished, [and] uses the instrument superbly, [demonstrating] a fine ear for color-something many organists would do well to emulate.” This year’s recital of “Music for the Lenten Season” will feature works by early Italian and Spanish composers, as well as music of Brahms and J. S. Bach, on the Brombaugh and Flentrop organs.
J. Samuel Hammond Carillon Recital Series: Jonathan Lehrer
Sunday, April 28, 2024
5 p.m.
Free
Duke Chapel’s fifty-bell carillon is among the oldest and largest such instruments in the American South. Both the instrument and the recital series are named in honor of the late J. Samuel Hammond (1947-2021), University Carillonneur Emeritus, who played Duke’s carillon from 1964 until his retirement in 2018. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy the music from the beautiful surroundings of Abele Quad. These recitals will be presented rain or shine.
Docent-Led Tour of Duke Chapel
Sundays (check Duke Chapel website for exceptions)
12:15 p.m.
Free
Learn about the history, architecture, and life of Duke Chapel in this tour, which is free and open to the public. The tour begins at 12:15 p.m., or immediately following the conclusion of the Sunday morning service, and lasts approximately forty-five minutes. No reservation is required but if you plan to bring a large group please notify the Chapel in advance. Meet the docent on the front steps of the Chapel.
Parking at Duke Chapel
Paid parking is available on a first come, first served basis in the Bryan Center Parking Lot at 125 Science Drive. ADA parking is available in the Bryan Center Surface Lot at the same address.
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More Events
Check out our list of free and cheap events in Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle this weekend, or our full event calendar in the Triangle, or just look at few upcoming events here:
