Collegium Musicum presents Spanish villancico songs

Kansas University’s Collegium Musicum will present “Beyond R r ch The Valencian Villancico from the 16th to 18th Centuries” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1229 Vt.

Villancico is a type of Spanish song that first appeared in the late 15th century. “R r ch” typically sung as part of Christmas programs, is the most famous villancico.

The KU Collegium will present examples of villancicos from the 16th to 18th centuries. Jennifer Sayre, a New York musician who plays Spanish cross-strung harp, will appear with the vocal Collegium Musicum, a 16-voice choir directed by KU doctoral student Gary Weidenaar, and the instrumental Collegium Musicum, a group of recorder players, Baroque string players and a harpsichordist directed by Paul Laird, KU associate professor of music.

The free concert is open to the public.

May 3 is deadline for ACT

College-bound high school students have until May 3 to register for the next ACT exam.

The exam, which is June 8, is used for college admissions and class placement. Registration is $24.

For more information, log on to www.act.org.

Williamstown student wins prairie preserve art contest

A Perry school district student’s drawing of assorted wildflowers won a Kansas art contest sponsored by Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Williamstown Elementary School student Lauren McGarity’s depiction of spring on the prairie captured top prize in the first- to fifth-grade category.

She will receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond from Farmers & Drover’s Bank in Council Grove. Her class also will be invited to a guided tour of the preserve.

A sixth- to eighth-grade art winner also was chosen. In the writing category, two students who wrote essays about protecting tallgrass prairies were honored.

Winning artwork and essays may be viewed at www.parktrust.org.

Retro dance party open tonight for youths

Area youths can groove to retro tunes at Saturday Nite’s Main Event “Retro Dance Party” from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. today at East Lawrence Recreation Center.

The program aims to offer a safe, fun alternative for area fourth- through eighth-graders. Scheduled activities for most evenings include a live DJ, dance contests, basketball tournaments and door prizes and raffle giveaways at the end of the night. Food and toy concessions are also available.

A signed consent form is required for each child. Each child must also be signed out at the end of the night by an adult. Admission to the dance at the center, 1245 E. 15th St., is $6.