George Maurer Trio to perform
benefit concert

SUN PRAIRIE -- The Sun Prairie area churches invite the public to a Christmas concert to benefit the Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry on Friday, Dec. 6, at St. Albert the Great Church, 2420 St. Albert Dr.

This ecumenical event will feature the music of the George Maurer Trio. Beginning at 7 p.m. the combined choirs of Bristol Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Sacred Hearts Parish, and St. Albert the Great Parish will kick off the concert with a selection of Christmas classics.

The George Maurer Trio will perform with guest appearances by Susan Kelly and Mary Schmidt (George's choir teachers from high school) and Sun Prairie High School's jazz instructor Steve Sveum on sax.

There is no admission charge to this family holiday event. A free-will offering will be taken during the concert with proceeds going to the Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry.

MADISON -- The Dane County Shamrock Club will hold its Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Coliseum Bar (formerly Jingles). Cocktails begin at 5:15 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. At 6:45 p.m. the Cashel-Dennehy Dancers will perform, followed by a Christmas carol sing-along and a performance by The Kissers.

Reservations may be sent to Liz Reinartz, P.O. Box 70765, Madison, WI 53701-0765. Cost is $15 for adults and $7 for children under 10. Without a reservation it will be $17 for adults and $8 for children at the door. All are welcome to attend.

MADISON -- Madison Area Handbells (MACH) will perform its annual holiday concert, "The Bells of Christmas," on December 14 and 15.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, the concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 6101 University Ave., near Allen Blvd. The second concert will be Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E. Gorham St.

Handbells in concert present delights for both ears and the eyes as the ringers synchronize movements of their bronze bells and use a variety of techniques to achieve different sounds. In addition to the bells' broad range of sounds, the performances will feature handchimes, harp, organ, percussion, and voices.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 16 and under. They may be purchased at Borders Book Shops or at the door.

For more information, call 608-271-3514 or visit the MACH Web site at www.madisonhandbells.org.

MONONA -- The Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 300 Femrite Dr., will sponsor a Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

People are invited to take time to slow down during this busy season and enjoy nature's offerings. Participants will learn the variety of winter solstice traditions throughout the world and through the ages. They may take a hike as they learn about snow survival of plants and animals alike. Those participating should bring a flashlight to search for animal tracks. Hot chocolate will be served.

To register, send a check or pay with credit card by calling 608-221-4038. Registration fee is $5 per person and $15 per family, or $4 per ALNC member and $10 ALNC member family.

JEFFERSON -- The Council for the Performing Arts will sponsor a holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Cantus will perform this festive concert entitled "Away in the Manger." The 12-member male vocal ensemble will sing a selection of contemporary sacred, folk, jazz, and pop holiday songs in a completely a cappella style.

This concert will take place at the Performing Arts Center at Jefferson High School, 700 W. Milwaukee St.

Tickets are $19.50 for adults, $18.50 for seniors, and $10 for students. They are available by phone with Visa or MasterCard by calling the CPA at 920-674-2179 or at the council office at 305 S. Main St. in Jefferson; in Fort Atkinson at Humphrey Floral and Gift; in Lake Mills at Fargo Mercantile; and in Watertown at White House of Music.

For seating charts and a direct link to the artist and sponsors, visit the Web site at www.councilfortherperformingarts.org

SINSINAWA -- Looking for a "time out" for some good food and fun for the whole family this holiday season?

Sinsinawa Mound's dinner theatre presents "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" performed by the Main Street Players on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m.

Non-dinner performances will be held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, with $13 extra for the dinner theatre.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a comic play about a church Christmas pageant. What's so funny about putting on the annual church Christmas pageant? Plenty! The couple with this assignment doesn't anticipate trouble, but trouble awaits - big time - when they collide head-on with the Herdmann kids, probably the meanest, nastiest, and most inventively awful kids in the history of the world. This is one of the funniest Christmas stories ever written.

For information on Sinsinawa Mound and its programs, call 608-748-4411 or visit the Web site at www.sinsinawa.org. Sinsinawa Mound, the motherhouse for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, is located in southwest Wisconsin on County Road Z, off Highway 11.