
Town Hall: Orin Grossman – “George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess: The Great American Opera”
May 12, 2026 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Orin Grossman has delighted audiences worldwide with his unique combination of performance and discussion of great American and European music. Dr. Grossman studied music at Harvard College, graduating magna cum laude and earned a Ph.D. in Music at Yale University. Dr. Grossman became Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Fairfield University in 1975 and he was named Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1991. After ten years as the Academic Vice President at Fairfield University, he returned to the faculty in the fall of 2009 as Professor of Visual and Performing Arts. Dr. Grossman now is a frequent star professor for “One Day University,” a premiere lecture organization, giving talks nationwide. He is in demand as an interpreter of George Gershwin’s music, playing his songs and classical compositions around the world. Dr. Grossman will explore the story of Porgy and Bess, its fascinating history, and conclude with a performance of beloved songs from Porgy and Bess in a special arrangement by the great American pianist, Earl Wild.