Bollywood and more

About 60 members of Miami University’s Collegiate Chorale and Global Rhythms Ensemble performed in "Bollywood Night" at the Hollywood Bowl in July, as part of the Bowl's world music series. According to director Ethan Sperry, 14,000 tickets were sold before the show.

The headliner was A.R. Rahman, shown in photo, Bollywood film composer who has written more than 80 film scores, music for the Broadway show "Bombay Dreams" and the musical version of "Lord of the Rings." (Thanks to Ethan Sperry for the photo.)

The MU group has collaborated with Rahman for more than three years now, says Sperry. For the LA show, they performed their own version of seven of Rahman’s songs, including "Chale Chalo" from the film "Lagaan," the only Indian movie to have been nominated for an Oscar. To see a photos, visit www.hollywoodbowl.org, or www.globalrhythms.org.

Call for auditons: Middfest International, a Middletown fall festival, is presenting the United States premiere of "Some Sunny Night" this fall. It’s a musical about two disabled athletes – from Norway and China – who forged a friendship and established the first marathon runs in Norway and China for individuals with disabilities. Their story of hope and courage is true. The musical will be performed Sept. 26 at the Sorg Opera House, Middletown.

Vocalists are needed for the chorus in all ranges. Auditons are Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 15-16) beginning at 7 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, Middletown. Call 513-425-7707.

The Sycamore Community Summer Singers have been singing ambassadors for Cincinnati in two European tours – and they’re aiming to make it three. Linda Gartner, director, will lead the ensemble of high schoolers on a June 2007 tour to the cities of Prague, Rothenburg, Strasbourg, Basel and Innsbruck. She’s holding auditions for the chorus 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 26 at Sycamore Junior High School, 5757 Cooper Rd. Interested students should call her at 513-984-3361 or e-mail gartnerl@yahoo.com.

Kids in the news: Two North College Hill High School students were chosen to perform in the All-Ohio State Fair Band at the Ohio State Fair, now in its last week. They are Rickey Logan, Jr., performing on flute and piccolo, and Megan McMahon, who plays clarinet. The band has 200 members from every Ohio county, and it performs daily during the fair.

Two musicians have been honored by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society. Josephine Hsieh, a pianist at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Talia Broering, a voice major at Northern Kentucky University, are the 2006 winners of Artist Grant scholarhips awarded by the Cincinnati MacDowell Society to area artists. Hsieh received a $1,000 award and Broering received $500.

Established in 1913, the Cincinnati MacDowell Society supports the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, N. H., a retreat for writers, painters, sculptors, composers and other artists. Local luminaries who have received the MacDowell Medal for contributions to the arts community include the Cincinnati Pops’ Erich Kunzel.

On Friday, May Festival maestro James Conlon is conducting the United States premiere of "Ogelala," a ballet by Czech-Jewish composer Erwin Schulhoff, at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. This summer, Conlon included a number of works by Schulhoff at Ravinia, where he is music director. (See the review, below.)

Also in that concert: Chinese phenom Lang Lang, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453. Tickets: 970-925-9042 or visit www.aspenmusicfestival.com.