By Gail Parsons ~ for The Daily Union ~ Sunday, March 2, 2008

Our first Premier Ball was a sound success. Though we may not have padded our scholarship fund as much as we may have liked, the event went (almost) without a hitch. A surprise snow event prevented some people from making it, but I am glad they all weighed the importance of coming into town and being out on the road.
We had about 80 people who enjoyed an evening of entertainment, dancing, visiting, eating and drinking. The fire-eating stilt walker was a hit with many as was a band that played a range of music.
In the next couple of months the JCAC board will decide on the theme for next year. Anyone with thoughts or ideas are welcome to call the JCAC at 762-2581, e-mail jcartscouncil@yahoo.com, talk to any board member or stop in at our next board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Now that this event is behind us, it is time to look at what’s coming up.
KSU Chamber Orchestra
England/Scotland Tour Farewell Concert
The Kansas State University Chamber Orchestra will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10 at the First Presbyterian Church, 113 W. Fifth St.
The concert will be under the direction of Dr. David Littrell. University Distinguished Professor and conductor of the KSU Orchestra, Littrell also teaches cello and double bass. He received the 2007 Kansas Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation.
The KSU Chamber Orchestra comprises 31 students from the 80-member Kansas State University Orchestra. Members study many different disciplines such as music, graphic design, engineering, architecture, foreign languages, economics, business, biology, math and animal science.
Just a few days after the concert, the JCAC will bring in its next event.
Annual Irish Dinner and Dance
It’s time to pull out the dance shoes and mark your calendar for March 15. That’s when the JCAC brings the Lincoln Irish Dancers and Rowan back for an Irish dinner and dance at the Junction City Municipal Building.
For the past two years these two groups provided an evening of fun and excitement, and promise to do the same again.
We’ll start the evening at 6 p.m. with dinner followed by a concert Rowan, an Irish dance demonstration and then with Rowan on stage, the Lincoln Irish Dancers will lead a Ceili, or a community dance.
Step-by-step they will teach, even those of us with two left feet, the steps of Irish dance.
The cost for the full evening is $20 and dinner reservations are needed by March 12 so we can get an accurate dinner count turned in to Coaches who does an excellent corned beef and cabbage dinner.
For those who would like to just attend the Ceili, tickets are $10 and will be available in advance at the Information Center at the Municipal Building, 700 N. Jefferson St. or at the JCAC, 107 W. Seventh St. Ceili-only tickets will also be available at the door. Reservations can be made by calling 762-2581 or sending an e-mail to jcartscouncil@yahoo.com.
The Ceili will start at about 7:30 p.m. Whether you want to dance, or just enjoy an evening or Irish entertainment, good food and fun—get your reservations in soon.