Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Holiday shows with LeAnn Rimes and the King's Singers at McCain Auditorium, WinterDance 2014, a family holiday art workshop, a variety of concerts and many other performances highlight cultural activities at Kansas State University in December.

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

• Collegium Musicum, the early music ensemble under the direction of David Wood, instructor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, in McCain Auditorium's Kirmser Hall.

• The university's Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble, conducted by graduate student conductors and Don Linn, instructor of music, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in McCain Auditorium.

• The Jazz Bands, directed by Wayne Goins, professor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Forum Hall at the K-State Union.

• The McCain Performance Series will present one of classical music's most celebrated artists, Yo-Yo Ma, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 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.

• Join Linda Duke, director of the Beach Museum of Art, and Shreepad Joglekar, assistant professor of photography, for the gallery walk "Tree of Life" at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Beach Museum. The gallery walk will be an informal exploration of "Tree of Life: The Art of Charles Bello" exhibition.

• The Wind Symphony and Concert Band, conducted by Frank Tracz, professor of music, and Don Linn, instructor of music, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in McCain Auditorium.

• WinterDance 2014 features Kansas State University dance students performing original choreographed pieces by the university's dance faculty. A variety of styles will be presented, including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, African and more. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in the Mark A. Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall. General admission tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the public. Tickets are available at the McCain Auditorium box office, online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain, or by calling 785-532-6428. Fees may apply to some orders.

• The Family Holiday Workshop, an extravaganza of winter-themed art activities to help celebrate the season of light, will be 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Beach Museum of Art. The workshop is a great opportunity for families to have fun together. The cost is $5 per child; $3 for Friends of the Beach Museum members. Reservations are not required by calling 785-532-7718. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• The annual Festival of Holiday Music, a shared concert by the university's Collegiate Chorale, Collegium Musicum, Concert Choir, In-a-Chord, K-State Singers, Men's Choir, and Women's Choir, directed by Joshua Oppenheim, associate professor of music; Julie Yu-Oppenheim, associate professor of music; and David Wood, instructor of music, will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in McCain Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by phone at 785-532-6428.

• The K-State Tap Dance Ensemble will perform at the American Music Recital at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in Peace Memorial Auditorium, Manhattan City Hall, 1101 Poyntz Ave.

• The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents the American Association of University Women and the music program's saxophone studio in a recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, in McCain Auditorium's Kirmser Hall. Anna Marie Wytko, assistant professor of music, teaches the saxophone studio.

• The Music Theory Class Composition Recital will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in All Faiths Chapel. This one-hour concert features the best compositions from the Theory 1-Theory 4 classes, taught by David Littrell, distinguished professor of music; Kristin Mortenson, instructor of music; Ben Worcester, instructor of music; Karen Large, assistant professor of music; David Pickering, assistant professor of music; and Craig Weston, professor of music.

• The Kansas State University Orchestra, directed by David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, in McCain Auditorium. The program includes Humperdinck's Prelude to "Hansel and Gretel"; Holst's "Mars" and "Jupiter" from "The Planets"; Mozart's "Non più andrai" from "The Marriage of Figaro," featuring Aria Contest winner Christian Blackburn, baritone; Keiko Abe's Prism Rhapsody, featuring Concerto Contest winner Ethan Wagoner, marimba; and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, second and fourth movements.

• The Beach Museum of Art's Early Release Workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, will let participants work with clay pottery The workshop is inspired by the Pueblo Indian pottery in the Beach exhibition "Earth and Loom." It's also a great chance to create a holiday gift. The cost is $5 per participant; $3 for Friends of the Beach Museum members. Reservations are required by calling 785-532-7718.

• The Jazz Combos, directed by Wayne Goins, professor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Union Station in the K-State Student Union.

• Students, as you prepare for your finals: Study smARTer not harder. The Beach Museum of Art is offering free Wi-Fi, free food and free art for K-State Student Study Night from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

• Guitar class students of Wayne Goins, professor of music, will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in Union Station at the K-State Student Union.

• The K-State African Ensemble will perform for Manhattan Parents and Teachers from 4-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in 026 Nichols Hall.

• The K-State Tap Dance Ensemble will perform at the Little Apple Men's Chorus Holiday Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in McCain Auditorium. Tickets go on sale Dec. 8 at the McCain box office and cost $15.99, taxes and fees included.

• Celebrate the holidays with one of the most beloved female country artists, LeAnn Rimes, at McCain Auditorium. "LeAnn Rimes: One Christmas," a McCain Performance Series presentation, will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. Tickets are available at the McCain Auditorium box office, online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain, or by calling 785-532-6428.

• Come a-wassaling to McCain Auditorium and enjoy "Christmas with the King's Singers." The top a cappella ensemble will perform, as part of the McCain Performance Series, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Tickets are available at the McCain Auditorium box office, online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain, or by calling 785-532-6428.