Connick, Yo-Yo Ma highlight Carmel concert series

For its fifth-anniversary season, Carmel's Center for the Performing Arts will present jazz vocalist-pianist Harry Connick Jr., iconic cellist Yo-Yo Ma, broadcaster Ira Glass and a rare Central Indiana appearance by former Polish president Lech Walesa.

Fifty events are scheduled August through April at the facility's Palladium and Tarkington performance spaces.

Connick will perform on Aug. 6 at the Palladium as part of 2015-16 season kick-off festivities, while Walesa will serve as narrator for the Polish Baltic Orchestra on Feb. 26. Yo-Yo Ma's performance on Nov. 18 and the visit from the Polish Baltic Orchestra are part of the venue's classical series.

Glass will perform on Jan. 23 as one of the Center for the Performing Arts' "spotlight shows."

Six subscription series are designated as classical, songbook, jazz, country, world stage and dance.

Special events include an Oct. 3 "Songbook Celebration" and an inaugural New Year's celebration on Dec. 31. The Oct. 3 gala will include the induction of George and Ira Gershwin to the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.

Online subscriptions go on sale at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Sales at the Palladium box office, 1 Center Green, and by phone, (317) 843-3800, begin at 10 a.m.

The 2015-16 Center for the Performing Arts schedule (all events in the Palladium, unless otherwise noted):

Classical Series

>> Yo-Ya Ma (pictured), cello, Nov. 18.

>> Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with violinist Pinchas Zukerman, Jan. 10.

>> Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra with former Polish president Lech Walesa, Feb. 26.

>> Joshua Bell, violin, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, March 13.

>> Jeremy Denk, piano, April 24.

>> Cleveland Orchestra, May 15.

Songbook Series

>> Great American Songbook Academy finals, July 25.

>> Ann Hampton Callaway performs "Barbra Streisand Songbook," Sept. 18.

>> Frank Sinatra Jr., Oct. 16.

>> Vikki Carr, Jan. 30.

>> Feinstein with Cheyenne Jackson (pictured), March 5.

>> Denzal Sinclaire, April 16.

Jazz Series

>> The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman, Oct. 18.

>> Regina Carter & Kenny Barron, Nov. 21.

>> Ramsey Lewis Quartet, Jan. 9.

>> John Scofield & Joe Lovano Quartet, Feb. 6, 2016

>> Christian McBride Big Band (pictured), March 4.

>> SFJAZZ Collective performs "The Music of Michael Jackson," April 8.

Country Series

>> Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Sept. 25.

>> Tanya Tucker, Oct. 31.

>> Ronnie Milsap, Nov. 20.

>> Rosanne Cash (pictured), Jan. 8.

>> Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, March 11.

>> The Oak Ridge Boys, April 23.

World Stage Series

>> National Dance Company of Siberia, Oct. 11.

>> Bollywood Masala Orchestra (pictured), Nov. 1.

>> Son de Madera, Nov. 13, the Tarkington.

>> Celtic Nights, Feb. 20.

>> Silk Road Ensemble, Feb. 27.

Dance Series

>> Compania Flamenca Jose Porcel, Oct. 9.

>> Alvin Ailey II company, Oct. 30.

>> Moscow Festival Ballet, Jan. 15-17, the Tarkington.

>> Alonzo King LINES Ballet (pictured), March 18-19, the Tarkington.

Pop, Rock & Folk Shows

>> Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Oct. 23.

>> Gordon Lightfoot, Nov. 5.

>> Under the Streetlamp, March 18.

>> Patty Griffin (pictured), Sara Watkins and Anais Mitchell, March 20.

Family Shows

>> National Circus & Acrobats of the People's Republic of China, Oct. 24.

>> Dan Zanes & Friends (pictured), Nov. 14, the Tarkington.

>> Project Trio presents "Peter & The Wolf," Jan. 9, the Tarkington.

>> Disney's "Choo Choo Soul," March 12, the Tarkington.

Spotlight Shows

>> Ira Glass (pictured) presents "Re-Inventing the Radio," Jan. 23.

>> The Band of Royal Marines with the Pipes, Drums & Highland Dancers of the Scots Guards, Feb. 5.

>> Mojo & the Bayou Gypsies, March 11, the Tarkington.

Holiday Shows

>> Wynonna, Dec. 4.

>> Dave Koz & Friends (pictured), Dec. 11.

>> Jim Brickman, Dec. 17.

For more information, visit TheCenterPresents.com.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.