By TOM BENSEN
The University of Montana School of Music presents the Navy Band Northwest, September 15, at 7:30 p.m. in theUM Recital Hall; and the Faculty Guest Artist Series with the Hemispheres Saxophone Quartet featuring Andrew Dahlke, soprano and alto saxophone; Johan Eriksson, alto saxophone; Matthew Roehrich, tenor saxophone; and Samuel Williams, baritone saxophone, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the UM Music Recital Hall.
City Club Missoula presents a lunch and discussion featuring MCPS Superintendent Mark Thane today, September 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. Visit here for reservations and more information.
The Missoula Community Theatre will prove that Shakespeare is for everyone with a NEW performing arts class for Grades 6-12. Register now for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, September 14 – October 9th, with performances on Saturday, October 10th. Register online at here or call 728-7529.
In celebration of Arts in Education Week, the Missoula Children’s Theatre presents Little Red and the Hoods. This delightful tale of Little Red Riding Hood, told with modern lessons includes plenty of audience participation and fun. Tickets are on sale now for Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. and also an adapted performance for people living on the autism spectrum on Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. For more, call 728-7529 or visit here.
The Big Sky Mudflaps at the Top Hat Lounge 9/19 at 9PM
The Big Sky Mudflaps celebrate 40 years of playing music by reenacting their first gig in 1975 at the Top Hat Lounge on September 19, starting around 9:00 p.m.
Living Art of Montana presents Creativity for Life drop-in Saturday workshop September 19. An Expressive arts workshop that takes place 2 Saturdays per month year-round for people facing illness or loss including care providers and family members. No charge, registration not required, all materials provided. Workshops run 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the Living Art studio. Topic/Facilitator to be announced.
Tell Us Something presents Oldest Trick in the Book, September 15, 6:00 p.m. at the Top Hat Lounge. Join us for a night of true personal stories shared without notes and based upon the theme: Oldest Trick in the Book. Eight storytellers are on the roster.
Flamenco Montana presents their Fourth Annual Flamenco Montana Festival featuring a host of classes for all experience levels in dance, guitar, and canto (songs).
Carlos Lomas, Vicente Griego, and Antonio Hidalgo Paz will lead classes and present a concert happening September 16 at 7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church. Classes will be held at Rocky Mountain Ballet Theater September 17 through 20.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents The Intimate Diebenkorn: Drawings 1949 – 1992 September 24 – December 12 in the Paxson and Meloy Galleries, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 24, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
The Loft of Missoula presents “New York Folk Meets Missoula Swing: Again!” when Ron Gluck and Ron Meissner (“Ron & Ron”) on Friday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.
The Montana Repertory Theatre presents Funny Bellies by Gaaby Patterson, Sunday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m.at the Masquer Theatre, PARTV Center on the UM Campus. The even is free (pass the hat). Call 243-6809.
The University of Montana students looking for volunteer opportunities can explore their options during the Fall Volunteer Fair on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 15-16. Hosted by UM’s Office for Civic Engagement and the student group Volunteers In Action, the fair will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. both days in the University Center Atrium. Students and community members can learn about numerous volunteer opportunities available in the Missoula area from nearly 30 community agencies, which will have the chance to recruit new volunteers. The Office for Civic Engagement also will provide information about several of its programs during the fair. For more information, contact Colleen Kane, director, UM Office for Civic Engagement, 243-5531.
Arc Iri, a Providence, RI based band, will be playing at FrontierSpace (In the alley behind the Old Post) September 19 at 7:00 p.m. Free event, donations encouraged.
The Missoula Art Museum presents Neil Chaput and Keith Graham: Montana’s One-Room Schools through September 19; Kathryn Schmidt: Seen In Broad Daylight through October 24, Terrain: Plateau Native Art & Poetry through February 27, 2016 (pictured here).
The String Orchestra of the Rockies presents ‘Sweet Italienne’, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the UM Music Recital Hall, featuring the internationally acclaimed cellist Matt Haimovitz.
Zootown Arts Community Center accepting submissions for our 4th Annual Festival of The Dead Group Art Show. We at the ZACC are proud to celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday celebrated to pay respect to the deceased. Join us in celebrating life and working through death with self-expression. Only through art can we truly appreciate the absence of life. Application deadline is September 21. Visit here for more information.
Percussionists Wanted – Desire, Not Experience, Sought After. Have you ever wanted to learn to play percussion using a variety of hand and stick drums, Tibetan bowls and bells, and smaller percussion instruments? A special introduction to this largely improvisational music is being planned. You do not have to have musical experience or the instruments themselves. A small group will be formed to participate in an afternoon and evening session at the Missoula Public Library on September 29 as part of Missoula Public Library Senior Citizen week. Quiet Drum & Percussion blends worldwide percussion instruments, softer drums and voice for a meditative musical evening. Flutes, violin, udu, harps, Tibetan bowls and bells, and smaller percussion instruments make up the musical mix. Largely improvisational. All musical talent and experience levels welcome. Please contact John or Susan Hancock at 721-2789 or e-mail here
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.