Music education major wins scholarship

Heather Baker, a music education major studying flute at Kansas University, is the 2005-2006 recipient of the Presser Scholarship, an award given to an outstanding music major at or after the end of his or her junior year.

The Presser Scholarship is the only music award that is voted on by the entire music faculty, and the Presser Scholar is selected solely by consideration of excellence and merit.

A Lawrence High School graduate, Baker performed a flute concerto with the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra, participating in the All-State band for two years, conducting the marching band at LHS and graduating as valedictorian.

Baker currently teaches music lessons and mentors junior high students as a youth leader. This month, Baker will travel with the KU Wind Ensemble to perform in China. After graduating, Baker plans to travel on mission trips where she will teach and serve in a ministry position and work with youths.

Broadway musical to be performed at Lied

The broadway musical “42nd Street,” winner of the 1980 Tony Award for best new musical and the 2001 Tony for best musical revival, will be performed 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lied Center.

Set in the time of spectacular theater and grand productions, the musical’s story of Julian Marsh is reminiscent of such 1930s movies as “42nd Street” (1933), “Gold Diggers of 1933” (1933) and “Dames” (1934). Marsh is faced with the challenge of putting together a fresh and extravagant show that’s worth the ticket price of $4.40 a seat.

With its tap dancing tour-de-force, the show embodies several show-business cliches: Marsh, the hard-nosed director, is desperate for a hit; Dorothy Brock, the prima donna star, is torn between love and stardom and unable to go on because of an injury; and the newly discovered chorus girl, who inevitably takes over the lead and becomes an overnight sensation.

Tickets for the Lied event are: public, $39 to $44; students, $19.50 to $22; senior citizens, $38 to $43; and KU faculty and staff $33 to $37.50.

Poet laureate to speak at Rockhurst

Four days before he formally accepts this year’s Pulitzer Prize in poetry, U.S. poet laureate Ted Kooser will read from his work at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. The free reading is at 8 p.m. May 19 in the Convocation Center.

Kooser, visiting professor of English at the University of Nebraska, is known for writing poetry that is sophisticated and accessible. He is author of 10 full-length poetry collections, including “Delights and Shadows.”

To register for the event, call (816) 501-4828.