Dasan Ahanu
Co-founder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre, founding member and coach of Durham’s Bull City Slam Team, and 2023 Piedmont Laureate.
Chatham Rabbits
Americana/bluegrass duo and stars of On the Road with Chatham Rabbits airing on PBS North Carolina
Cost 'n Mayor
Superstar dance duo known for their hyper-synchronous style and high-energy flare.
Ariana DeBose
Academy Award-winning actress, singer, dancer, and Raleigh native.
Ben Folds
Chapel Hill legendary genre-bending musician, New York Times best-selling author, award-winning photographer, and outspoken arts champion.
Nneena Freelon
Durham-based Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, composer, actress, and playwright.
Jabu Graybeal
Chatham County native and touring star member of Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, half of the music duo “SUMMERZOVR,” and performer.
Jaki Shelton Green
The first African American appointed Poet Laureate of North Carolina, acclaimed poet and educator, and Orange County resident.
Hiss Golden Messenger
Critically acclaimed, Durham-based, Americana folk band
Mark Hewitt
Chatham-based, world-renowned potter.
Larry & Joe
Versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters performing a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music.
Beth Leavel
Tony Award-winning American stage and screen actress and singer.
Branford Marsalis
Three-time Grammy-award winner and internationally renowned saxophonist based in Durham.
Photo Credit: Palma Kolansky
Scotty McCreery
ACM and CMT Award-winning country music singer and Garner native.
Photo credit: John Shearer
Rissi Palmer
Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter, and host of Apple Music's Color Me Country radio show.
Watchhouse
Nationally acclaimed folk music duo based in Chapel Hill, featuring singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz.
Photo Credit: Kendall Bailey
Mike Wiley
Nationally acclaimed actor and playwright based in Chatham County.
Photo Credit: Chris Charles for Creative Silence
