Poetry
Classic Slam
Next month, West High senior Shannon Croft will represent Alaska at the National Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington, D.C. Get a sneak preview of what the judges can expect when she presents the poems she's preparing at the Classic Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Tap Root Public House. She won't be the only young talent onstage. Courtney Lynn, a senior at Burchell High School in Wasilla, will also be in Washington, D.C., in July for the Brave New Voices International Youth Slam Festival. There'll be plenty of word-slinging action as Anchorage poets are judged by a celebrity panel and the audience and compete for prizes.
Music
Thunderbird Ukulele Orchestra
Just back from Hawaii and sounding better than ever, East High School's own Thunderbird Ukulele Orchestra will be featured in the annual East High Guitar and Ukulele Concert. The performers have put a whole year of work into creating a polished and varied program consisting of hits from Beethoven to David Bowie. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, in the East High School auditorium, and it's free.
Music
Edvinas Minkstimas
Lithuanian pianist Edvinas Minkstimas returns to Anchorage for an impressive solo recital that includes two flamboyant showpieces, Franz Liszt's "Tarantella" and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. The program will include Franz Schubert's profound Sonata in A Minor and the marvelous, but seldom heard, "Davidsbundlerdanze" by Robert Schumann. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the UAA Fine Arts Building Recital Hall. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance at uaatix.com.