McHenry Museum marking building's 100th

The McHenry Museum and Historical Society is planning a series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the downtown Modesto building, with one set for next weekend.

• Jan. 28 — Annual gala and fund-raiser hosted by the museum and historical society's guild. Hosted cocktail hour withhors d'oeuvres is at5:30 p.m., dinner is at 7.Tickets are $80 per person; proceeds will go toward improving the permanent exhibit area in the Windmill Room. Reservations required by calling Janet Maggard at (209) 526-4897.

• April 29 — McHenry Museum building birthday celebration. 2 to 4 p.m. Reception and speakers. More details to come. $25.

• June 23 — "Night at the Old Library," an event for children celebrating the museum's former state as the Modesto library. Characters will dress in costume from 100 years ago. Time and details to be announced.

• Aug. 25 — Street festival with barbecue, music and dancing. Time and details to be announced.

Symphony chorus seeking singers

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus resumes rehearsals Monday for its spring season. Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. Mondays at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1600 Carver Road. Experienced singers — especially tenors and basses — are needed. The chorus will perform the Mozart Requiem with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra on May 11-12 at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Those interested in singing with the chorus should observe Monday's rehearsal, then arrange an audition time with the director, Daniel Afonso Jr. For more information about the chorus, contact Burt Vasché at chorus@modestosymphony.org or (209) 505-6156.

Folk singer performs

Six-time Grammy nominee John McCutcheon returns to Modesto Tuesday for his 11th annual concert to benefit the Modesto Peace/Life Center. The performance is at 7 p.m. at Modesto Church of the Brethren, 2301 Woodland Ave.

McCutcheon is known for playing many instruments, including guitar, fiddle, banjo, autoharp and hammered dulcimer. His latest album is "This Land: Woody Guthrie's America."

Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door, $15 for groups of 10 or more and $5 for youth 18 and under. Tickets are available at the church, Anderson Frame Shop and Gallery, 1323 J St. and by calling (209) 579-9913.

Carnegie classes

The Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock is offering classes in art, dance, theater and music for preschoolers through adults. Kids classes include art, creative dance, basic drawing, contemporary dance, experimenting with clay, watercolor and drama.

Classes for teens include block printing, improv workshop and creative writing. Classes for adults include drawing and painting. Internationally known quilter Yvonne Porcella, who is currently featured in a retrospective exhibition at the Carnegie gallery, is giving a workshop on "Fusible Fabric Faces" on Feb. 25. For details, visit www.carnegieartsturlock.org or go to the center at 250 N. Broadway. Call (209) 632-5761.

Beyer student finalist

A 16-year-old Beyer High School student is among the first six finalists in a nationwide online talent contest to find a "mass participation" Internet TV star. Drew Monson will get $10,000 and a trip for two to Hollywood if he is named the winner at the end of this month. Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") will choose the winner from 18 finalists at the end of this month.

Contestants had to submit audition videos for "Beckinfield," an online science-fiction "mass participation" series on www.theatrics.com where anyone can create a character and be part of the story. Beckinfield is a small town where mysterious things happen, like UFO sightings. Monson, who makes comedy videos on his YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ mytoecold, said he found out about the competition while researching online video contests. He said he was surprised and excited to make it into the finals. If he wins, he'll probably save the money. "It would be good for after high school," he said. "I wouldn't have to worry too much about what to do. I would have money to live somewhere for a while."

'Rabbit' at Gallo

Beatrix Potter's famous friend, Peter Rabbit, comes alive in a children's production at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

The show, for children in kindergarten through grade five, is set in the English countryside, where Peter Rabbit and his good friend Benjamin Bunny reside. The lovable heroes are in search of excitement, but instead encounter their foe, Mr. McGregor. The show is Jan. 29 at 2 and 4 p.m. in the Foster Family Theatre at the Gallo Center, 1000 I St., Modesto. Tickets are $8-$15. Call (209) 338-2100.

Quilt exhibits

There are several opportunities to view quilts in the Modesto area in the next couple of months. They are:

• Through March 14 — "Yvonne Porcella: A Retrospective" at the Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock. Wednesdays-Sundays,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Through March 25 — "Quilts Modesto: A story of Women's Art" at the McHenry Museum. Quilts dated 1880 to 2011 are exhibited by members of Country Crossroads Quilt Guild. McHenry Museum, 1402 I St., Modesto, Tuesdays-Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

• March 20-April 25 — "A Celebration of Fiber Arts" at Mistlin Gallery, 1015 J St., Modesto, Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.