Waubonsee Community College is inviting prospective students, families and community members to explore its Aurora Downtown Campus at 18 S. River St. on Tuesday, March 31, college officials said.
The event will feature guided campus tours for the community in English and Spanish at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to a news release from the college. Between these sessions, at 4:30 p.m., a Resource Fair will create a space for families to connect with bilingual staff and support services to learn about admissions, financial aid, Waubonsee’s Latinx Resource Center, Adult Education Program and more, officials said.
At Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown Campus, students can earn full college credit for general education courses, associate degree and certificate programs, the release noted.
Waubonsee is committed to removing barriers for students with children, officials said. The college has launched a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois, which provides a free, on-campus after-school care program for elementary-aged children, kindergarten through fifth grade, of enrolled Waubonsee students.
For information on the upcoming event showcasing Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown Campus, or to RSVP, go to waubonsee.edu/visit.
Ensemble from Rosary earns honor
Rosary College Prep’s Ensemble earned a Division I rating, the highest possible distinction, at the IHSA Solo & Ensemble Competition on Saturday, March 7, officials with the Aurora school said.
This is the 13th year in a row that Rosary’s Ensemble has earned a Division I rating, according to a press release from the school. Rosary’s Ensemble consists of 11 girls from sophomores to seniors.
The IHSA Solo & Ensemble Competition provides student musicians from across Illinois the opportunity to showcase their musical skills before professional adjudicators, officials said. Earning a Division I rating signifies superior performance and mastery of the selected repertoire, according to the release.
“We are incredibly proud of these students and the passion they bring to their music,” said Sara Caligiuri, Rosary’s vocal director, in the release. “Consistency and collaboration are key traits of our Ensemble, and it is an honor to have their talent recognized with the highest division rating.”
In addition to the Ensemble, Rosary had 17 students participate in the solo competition in either the vocal or instrumental category, the release said. A total of 16 students earned a Division I rating, and one student received a Division II rating.
Rosary College Prep is an all-girls Catholic, college-preparatory high school at 901 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora.
Woodwind Trio to perform at library
The St. Charles Public Library continues its Sunday Concert Series with a performance by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Woodwind Trio at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, in the Carnegie Community Room at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles.
At the event, flutist Scott Metlicka, clarinetist Gene Collerd and bassoonist Vince Disantis will perform a concert of chamber music. The ensemble performs a mix of classical and chamber repertoire, highlighting the distinct colors of the woodwind family in an intimate setting, library officials said.
The performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation.
Step Afrika! to perform at The Hemmens
Dance troupe Step Afrika! will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at The Hemmens Culltural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
The dancers will execute styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances and an array of contemporary styles, according to The Hemmens website. The show integrates songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation.
Step Afrika! headlined President Barack Obama’s Black History Month Reception in 2016 and performed at the first Juneteenth Celebration at the White House in 2023. The company is featured at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture in the world’s first interactive exhibit about the dance style called stepping.
Tickets range from $22 to $47.50. They can be purchased at hemm.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/18770.
