Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — January will bring dancing, music and more to Kansas State University.

The following events are sponsored by the university's McCain Performance Series, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Unless otherwise indicated, most are free and open to the public.

• The university's annual String Fling will take place Jan. 17-18, 2015, in McCain Auditorium. Attracting more than 600 students in grades five through nine from all over Kansas, young string players rehearse and perform in seven different orchestras. David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music, has been the director of String Fling for more than 25 years. The orchestras will present their final concerts beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in McCain Auditorium.

• A screening of the film "Spies of Mississippi" will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the Beach Museum of Art. The screening is part of the university's Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week. "Spies of Mississippi" reveals the state of Mississippi's effort to undermine the civil rights movement using a network of spies.

• It's "Shatner's World" — we just live in it. The actor will deliver a one-man show featuring his signature storytelling, humor, musical selections and even a little Shakespeare. The McCain Performance Series event will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, in McCain Auditorium. Tickets are available at the McCain box office, online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain, or by calling 785-532-6428.

• The Concert Band Clinic, coordinated by Frank Tracz, professor of music and director of bands at the university, will be Jan. 24-25, 2015. The clinic will include more than 600 students from the Midwest, as well as six large ensembles, percussion ensembles, sectional rehearsals and master classes with Kansas State University music studio faculty. Guest conductors include Travis Cross, UCLA; Danny Galyen, University of Northern Iowa; Joe Tornello, Boise State University, Brian Silvey, University of Missouri; Linda Huck, Farmington, Missouri; and Travis Pardee, Las Vegas, Nevada. Performances by the honor bands and percussion ensembles will start at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, on the McCain Auditorium stage.

• The Oklahoma City University Faculty Brass Quintet will perform a concert with the K-State Faculty Brass Quintet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in McCain Auditorium's Kirmser Hall. K-State's Faculty Brass Quintet members include Craig Parker, associate professor of music, on trumpet; Rebecca Ronen Walenz, instructor of music, on trumpet; Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, associate professor of music, on French horn; Paul Hunt, professor of music, on trombone; and Steven Maxwell, associate professor of music, on tuba. Oklahoma City University Faculty Brass Quintet members include Michael Anderson and Michael Mann, trumpets; Kate Pritchett, French horn; John Allen, trombone; and Ryan Robinson, tuba/euphonium.

• A staged reading of "We are the Infidels" by Joanna Abillama, master's student in theatre, and directed by Sally Bailey, professor of theatre, will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29-31, 2015, in East Stadium's Purple Masque Theatre. Admission is free.

• The audience selects the winner when the McCain Performance Series presents "Dancing Pros Live" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, in McCain Auditorium. Hosted by Alan Thicke, the competition features professional dancers from "Dancing With the Stars." Tickets are available at the McCain box office, online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain, or by calling 785-532-6428.