Joey DeFrancesco, a third-generation jazz musician, has been perfecting his unique blend of jazz, soul and blues for more than 40 years. Born in Philadelphia, DeFrancesco got his start on the organ at age four and began playing shows at five when his dad, “Papa” John DeFrancesco, invited him to sit in on sets.

Under the baton of Anne Harrigan, the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra will take the audience at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium to Bald Mountain, the Pines of Rome and beyond with the Walt Disney classic Fantasia. 

For Jake and Pete Twitchell, it’s the 10-year anniversary of their father’s tragic death in a 1952 mining accident. The Pickaway Coal Company’s South Mountain in rural West Virginia — locally nicknamed “The Burnt Part” — is where the death of those four miners occurred, three of whom left behind children.

It’s four songs into Anastasia before audiences are really introduced to Anya (Lila Coogan) the show’s female lead. Up until that point, a lot of years go by, and quickly too, jumping from 1906 to 1917 to our final destination, 1927.

The Gilmore Keyboard Festival welcomed Russian piano virtuoso Nikita Mndoyants to the Wellspring Theater in Kalamazoo on Sunday evening for the third installment of its Rising Stars series. Rising Stars offers an opportunity to see small recitals from up-and-coming artists in the world of classical piano, and 29-year-old Mndoyants performed for a full house clearly eager to enjoy his talents in such an intimate setting.

A murder mystery took place at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre for the opening night of “And Then There Were None,” based on the novel and play written by Agatha Christie and locally directed by Bruce Tinker.

At five years old, Kelly Allen turned a plastic trash can into a loom to weave bookmarks while she watched cartoons.

A pair of 15th century engravings by Martin Schongauer, a 17th century etching on paper by Rembrandt, and Adonna Khare’s ArtPrize 2012 winner Elephant Whirlpool exemplify the diversity of recent gifts, promised gifts and art purchases at Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Kalamazoo and Moscow are colliding this month when a Russian piano virtuoso is performing with the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.

As a kid, Grand Rapids native Mary Tuuk found herself in the audience of the Grand Rapids Symphony often. Now, the Calvin College alumna will be taking a different seat, one behind the desk labeled “GRS President and CEO.” She’ll be bringing a unique combination of skills to the job, including her business experience, such as her most recent role as chief compliance officer/senior vice president of properties and real estate with Meijer, Inc.