Music students audition for state

Piano students in grades 5-10 will come to Barton Community College this weekend to audition for a state competition.
The public is invited to listen as each student plays two or three pieces memorized for the Kansas Music Teachers Association District 5 auditions, said Karole Erikson at the college. Auditions will start at 9 a.m. in Barton’s Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel, F-157.  
Dr. Irena Ravitskaya, a music instructor from Fort Hays State University, will listen to each audition and judge whether the student is ready or not ready for the KMTA Honors Auditions, to be held at Washburn University on Nov. 10. Independent piano teachers from Great Bend, Delphos and Holcomb will bring five students to the regional auditions.
Although technically a competition, KMTA Honors Auditions are a learning experience, sponsors said. Music students of any experience level in grades 1-12 are eligible. A statement on the KMTA website notes, “Students gain so much by being a part of a group that shares their interest. Listening to other student auditions and being a part of a larger musical community, including parents, teachers, students and other arts supporters, makes all of their diligent work worth the effort.”
KMTA Vice President for Auditions David Tauscher said about 500 students from the six districts will participate in the state auditions at Topeka.

Library celebrates reading with movies for teens

The Great Bend Public Library will observe Teen Read Week by showing two movies that appeal to teens, youth librarian Jennifer King said.
This year’s Teen Read Week theme is “It Came from the Library.” In keeping with that theme, the library will show “Dark Shadows” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15. “Snow White & the Huntsman” will be shown at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. Both events are free and are reserved for students in grades 7-12. For the Saturday evening movie, doors will open at 7:45 p.m. and close at 8:10.
Libraries across the country celebrate Teen Read Week every year during the third week of October. “Teen Read Week is a time to celebrate reading for fun and encourage teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms – books and magazines, e-books, audio books and more – and become regular library users,” sponsors said.

Model airplane group to hold fly-in Saturday; public invited

Members of the Model Association of Central Kansas (MACK) be flying and talking about model airplanes during a free come-and-go event this Saturday. The public is invited to visit the MACK flying field, located at 114 SW 10 Ave. – south of the intersection of U.S. 56 and Railroad Ave. – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. MACK will provide a hotdog feed around noon.
MACK is an organization providing a safe, family-oriented environment to promote education and wholesome recreation through modeling activities. This program is for all ages, but children must be accompanied by at least one adult.
This event is co-sponsored by MACK and the Great Bend Recreation Commission. It will be canceled if the wind is 20 mph or greater or if it’s raining.

Area art submissions wanted

RUSSELL — Preparation for the Russell Area Artists Exhibit at the Deines Cultural Center has begun, Director Nancy S. Selbe said. The exhibit will run from Nov. 4 through Dec. 8 at the center, located at 820 North Main in Russell. The show is open to any adult artist within a 60-mile radius of Russell.  
To participate, work must not have been previously shown at the Deines Cultural Center. All art must be original. Copies of others’ work or of published material are not acceptable, Selbe said. Crafts made from patterns or kits will not be included in this show.
All two-dimensional work must be framed – including glass for appropriate media – and ready to hang unless specifically designed to be without a frame.
Artists who have been contacted are asked to respond by Oct. 19 with a decision about participation. The number of items each artist may show is dependent upon the number of participants. It is anticipated that each artist may be able to show two or three pieces. Display of work will be at the DCC director’s discretion should space become limited.  
Work should be delivered to the Deines Center by Oct. 31. Pieces may be for sale if the artist chooses.  
Artists may direct questions to Selbe by calling 785-483-3742, or send e-mail to deinescenter@russellcity.org.
Deines Cultural Center hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The center is accessible to those with disabilities.