Arts at the Abbey brings free concerts by locally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists and ensembles to the Abbey Basilica at Belmont Abbey College. The series offers a diverse range of musical programs, from classical guitar and flute and harp to chamber music and vocal performances, providing cultural opportunities for both the college community and the public.

The 2026–2027 season opens with Carolina Pro Musica, a Charlotte-based ensemble specializing in music written before 1800 and historically informed performance. For According to Burney: Music Ancient and Modern, the ensemble explores the work of Charles Burney, an 18th-century historian, critic, composer, and editor whose A General History of Music, published between 1776 and 1789, was among the first comprehensive surveys of music history written in English.

The program brings Burney’s curiosity about music history to life with selections ranging from plainchant to music of the Reformation and beyond. Soprano Anne O’Byrne makes her first appearance with Carolina Pro Musica, bringing an extensive career in opera and early music performance to the Basilica.

Carolina Pro Musica has been an artist-in-residence at Belmont Abbey College since 2002 and is currently in its 46th season of presenting early music concerts in the Charlotte area. The ensemble has performed throughout the United States and internationally, including tours in Poland and England.

About Arts at the Abbey:

Arts at the Abbey is made possible in part by The Associated Foundation, Inc. of Belmont, the Monks of Belmont Abbey, private donors, Gaston Arts Council, and the North Carolina Arts Council. The series is supported in part by the Gaston Community Foundation, with assistance from Sam Stowe of Belmont and Karen Hite Jacob, organist for the Abbey Basilica and Belmont Abbey College.

The concerts are free to attend and donations are welcome.