This Week in Arts

Musical, performances, art exhibitions plentiful in Big Rapids community

The Festival of the Arts is still in full swing with many events coming up this week.

Madcat, Kane and Maxwell Street Concert will be presented at Ferris State University in Williams Auditorium. Admission is $3 for students and $5 for general admission. The performance will be held on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.

Peter “Madcat” Ruth is a Grammy award-winning virtuoso harmonica player who resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has played shows in many different countries. In addition to the harmonica, Madcat also plays a variety of instruments from around the world.

Madcat will be hosting a harmonica workshop on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. before the concert to help people work on their playing. The workshop will be held in the Rankin Student Center Dome Room. Admission to the workshop is free.

The Ferris State University Winter Band and Orchestra Concert will be held on Feb. 14 in Williams Auditorium at 4 p.m. The concert will feature the FSU West Central Concert Band, Symphony Band and West Central Chamber Orchestra and there is no admission fee.

The theme of the FSU concert is “Storytelling through Music.” Certain pieces will be performed with narration such as “Peter the Wolf.” The concert will also feature Chinese music that celebrates the Chinese New Year and, because it will be Valentine’s Day, the concert will have romantic selections such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and more.

Other events taking place as part of the Festival of the Arts include A Performance in Poetry by M.L. Liebler and the Detroit Legacy on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., a foreign film called “After the Wedding” on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., and Writing Our Lives: A Workshop in Memoirs on Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m..

More upcoming events for the festival are Mike McConnell, Master Wood Turner on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m., a Music Therapy Presentation and Workshop on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m., the Crossroads Charter Academy High School Pre-Festival Band Concert on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., and the Taste of Mecosta County event on Feb. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information on these events and events to come visit ferris.edu/festival.