Countdown

        Music convention: About 200 music educators, performers, composers and lovers will convene at the Westin Hotel downtown for the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Conference, today through Sunday. The convention includes workshops, concerts and a gala banquet.

        At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gunther Schuller will lead a “Conversation with the Composers” panel. At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, he will participate in a concert with the Amernet String Quartet, soprano Esther Hyun Nam and pianist William Black.

        NFMC was founded in 1898 and has 500,000 members nationwide. Its purpose is to foster excellence in music through performance, education, scholarships and awards.

        Events are open to the public for a daily fee (lunches and the Saturday banquet are extra). Registration: $25 per day, third floor, Westin. 852-2704.

FYI

        Maestro recovering: Neeme Jarvi, music director of the Detroit Symphony, is recovering in a hospital in Helsinki, Finland, following surgery last week to repair a ruptured blood vessel. He suffered a stroke last month in his native Estonia.

        “We're told the surgery was successful and he'll probably be checking out of the hospital this week,” said Jill Woodward, Detroit Symphony's director of public relations. “We're hoping he will be able to recover quickly and join us this fall.”

        Maestro Jarvi is scheduled to open the symphony season Sept. 13. He is the father of Paavo Jarvi, music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

        Sing-along: Last year one of London's hottest tickets was a sing-along The Sound of Music, which let audiences get in on the act with Julie Andrews as the musical action unreeled. Wimples and lederhosen were de rigeur among many ticket-buyers.

        Now Greater Cincinnati theatergoers can get in on the act — if you're willing to drive to Dayton. The Victoria Theatre opens its season Sept. 4-9 with a week-long engagement of the show. Tickets: (937) 228-3630.

        It's a no-go for our local Fifth Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series, says producer Brad Broecker, because the Aronoff Center doesn't have necessary equipment (projector and screen).

        Art contest for kids: In association with Festival Hispano Sept. 8-9 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Su Casa Hispanic Ministry is sponsoring an art contest for ages 9-16 entitled “The Latino Culture: Through the Eyes and Hearts of Our Children.”

        The contest committee is looking for works capturing various aspects of Hispanic culture (music, dance, cuisine, leaders, etc). Works can be in any medium but must be two-dimensional and cannot exceed 32 inches by 32 inches. Submissions must have a title in English and Spanish and an accompanying essay of 150 words or less.

        First place is worth $400, second place $250 and third place $150. For complete rules and information on submitting, contact Su Casa at 761-1588.

Movies opening Friday

        • The Man Who Cried
        • Original Sin
        • The Princess Diaries
        • Rush Hour 2

Coming Friday in Weekend

        Rated G: The Princess Diaries is a modern-day fairy tale actually designed to carry a G rating.

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