Symphony hosts violinist

Butler County Symphony Orchestra presents “Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Butler Intermediate High School auditorium.

Violinist Andrew Sords will be the guest artist.

Symphony music director and conductor Matthew Kraemer will present a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the symphony office, 259 S. Main St., or by calling 724-283-1402. For more information, visit butlersymphony.org.

Cinema topic of music talk

ADAMS TWP — Ryan Stewart of Opus I Music Society will present the club’s program “The Soul of Cinema” at 10 a.m. Monday in the music room at Mars Alliance Church, Route 228.

The presentation will include famous examples like John William’s music in “Star Wars” to lesser known scores such as Yann Tieren’s “Amelie.”

The public is invited. Refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m. Call 724-772-1063 for more information.

Harmony dinner nears

HARMONY — Harmony Museum’s annual Harmoniefest dinner is taking reservations through Friday.

The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 in Stewart Hall, 218 Mercer St.

Michael Kraus, portraying a Union soldier, will provide insight and historical interpretation of lyrics of 1860s popular music performed by Nancy Conway and Tom Crytzer, also in period costume.

Admission is $30. For reservations or information, call 724-452-7341 or e-mail hmuseum@zoominternet.net.

Shakespeare contest set

PITTSBURGH — The 21st annual Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, hosted by Pittsburgh Public Theater, takes place today through Feb. 13 at the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave.

Groups from Grove City High School, Hobnob Theatre Company, Seneca Valley Senior High School, and Slippery Rock Middle and High School will be among the nearly 1,000 students participating.

Teams of judges will evaluate the monologues and scenes, and the best will progress to the Showcase of Finalists at 7 p.m. Feb. 16, which audiences may attend for free.

Winners will be selected in several categories. For more information, call 412-316-8200 or visit ppt.org.

SRU hosts celebration

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University’s Feb. 21 Chinese New Year celebration will include food, calligraphy and the debut performance of Chinese traditional music by “Four Rivers Chinese Ensemble.”

The “Year of the Sheep” program will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center. Lunch will be at Rock Catholic.

For more information, call 724-738-9000.