Center for the Arts Celebrates Its Birthday

The will celebrate its first anniversary with special concerts and a free community open house the weekend of Aug. 24-26.

Here's the line-up of anniversary events:

Friday, Aug. 24: Special classical music concert with world-renowned musicians from Japan. Martin Stanzeleit, cellist and Ryoko Nomura, pianist join Debbie Dare, violinist in performing works of Mozart, Schubert, Barber, and Elgar. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20, available at the door.

Saturday, Aug. 25: Jazz Sounds of the Shades of Gray Band. Come dance or tap your toes while seated in the Center’s jazz lounge. 8 p.m. Snacks served. Cash bar. Tickets $15 at the door.

Sunday, Aug. 26: Free community open house, art show, concert and musical petting zoo. Noon-3 p.m. Art show of work by teachers and staff of the Piedmont Unified School District. Starting at  2 p.m., hear, see, touch, and try out stringed instruments and find the right size for you at the Musical Petting Zoo. Professional musicians/teachers Debbie Dare, Betty Wu and Natalie Cox will talk about and perform on violins, violas, celli, string basses and harps. Musical Petting Zoo.

Read about some of the work that went into preparing the center for its opening last year in Who's Who: Nancy Lehrkind and Larkin Smith — Cultural Entrepreneurs and Arts Center Reveals Piedmont's Creative Side.

Check out the slide show for musicians appearing at the anniversary celebration and a glimpse of just a few highlights from the center's first year of operation.

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