Jam in the Atrium

A free jazz series will continue at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the atrium of Vashon Center for the Arts, with jazz pianist Randy Halberstadt joining in a duet performance with Chris Symer on bass.

Halberstadt is an acclaimed improviser, composer, educator, and author. In addition to leading his own trio and quintet and producing his own recordings, he has performed with a constellation of jazz masters over the decades.

Symer is considered by many to be one of the most advanced acoustic bassists in the country. He has taught clinics worldwide and played on soundtracks for television, movies, theater, and performance art, and in settings from duos to big bands and symphony orchestras.

The jam will be hosted by islander Chris O’Brien. Find out more about the series at facebook.com/groups/jamintheatrium.

Ride the Divide

After a year of planning, islanders Bruce Morser and Bob Horsley left Vashon in August 2022 to begin another of their adventures combining cycling with a daily plein-air watercolor painting. As you might expect, everything did not go as planned: this trip became something a whole lot more, something to last a lifetime. Horsley and Morser, joined by a few guests, will talk about this ride of their lives, and show the paintings they created along the way, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org. Youths 18 and younger are free.

Vashon Island Chorale

When the singers of Vashon Island Chorale take to the Kay White Hall at Vashon Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 16, their concert will celebrate the beauty of nighttime overlooking the water.

Under the direction of Dr. Gary D. Cannon, highlights of the “Water Night” concert will include versions of “Sure on this shining night” by both Samuel Barber and Morten Lauridsen. Arrangements by Aaron Copland of traditional American tunes will join William Averitt’s dramatic and optimistic “The Song We Sing.” “At the Water’s Edge,” a suite by Kevin Siegfried, reflects on a Maine seaside village, just as Seattle composer Bronwyn Edward’s “Seashore” depicts Vashon’s coast.

Violinist Gaye Detzer and percussionist Gordy Ryan will join pianist Linda Lee in accompanying “Seashore” and Evan Stults will be a second person at the piano for the lively “Four Hands” accompaniment to “The Song We Sing.” Chorale tenor Don Wolczko is featured in Copland’s “The Boatman’s Dance.”

The Youth Choir from McMurray Middle School, under the direction of Erin Kealy, will also be featured.

Purchase tickets for the concert at vashoncenterforthearts.org. Youth through age 18 will be admitted free.

Owen & Mzee The Musical

The touring production of a brand new Off-Broadway hit “Owen & Mzee The Musical” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The show tells the true story of two unlikely but great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-year-old giant tortoise named Mzee. The New York City-based Vital Theatre Company adapted the musical from a New York Times best-selling children’s book, written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoffand.

The show will also be performed for school audiences at VCA. To find out more and get tickets, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Classical piano concert

Florian Noack, an acclaimed Belgian pianist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts, playing classical pieces by Bach, Liszt, Korsakov, and Lyapunov.

The evening marks Florian’s debut on Vashon Island and the program features two of his own transcriptions.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Figure drawing and sculpture

Magrath Sculpture will offer a new 10-week portrait sculpture class, with Brian Higgins, starting on Sunday, April 23. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each week. Participants will create a life-sized portrait bust in water-based clay; all ages and experience levels are welcome. The 10-week course costs $500 a person plus a $50 fee. Register here.

Live figure drawing sessions are also held at Magrath’s studio on Mondays, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. All classes and sessions take place at 8805 SW 159th St., on Vashon.

Contact mmagrath@gmail.com with questions, or visit magrathsculpture.com to find out more.