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A summer of music…

The Center for the Arts, Manassas, has announced the SummerSounds Concerts 2009 schedule.

The opening performance will be June 27 and will feature the National Concert Band of America, providing patriotic marches and contemporary favorites on the Manassas Museum lawn. The other performers are:

n July 11 -- Pan Masters will provide traditional island calypso, reggae, R&B, soca and pop music on the Manassas Museum lawn.

n July 25 -- Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen will take to the stage and entertain with pure bluegrass and new acoustic American roots music at the Harris Pavilion.

n Aug. 8 -- Bruce Ewan & the Solid Senders will perform internationally acclaimed harmonica maestro music at the Harris Pavilion.

n Aug. 22 -- Laurie Rose Griffith and Peter Mealy will present award winning acoustic variety music on the Museum lawn.

n Sept. 5 -- Washington Scottish Pipe Band will close out the season with bagpipes and Celtic dancers to melt a Celtic heart on the Museum lawn.

The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free, courtesy of Micron Foundation and the City of Manassas. For more information call 703-330-2787. Those attending should bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Prince William residents can act, sing and dance their way to the stage this summer in the Pied Piper Theatre's sensational offerings of theater camps and classes.

With programs available for ages 5 to adult, the choices are varied.

With locations in Manassas, Gainesville and Woodbridge, the theatre continues its premiere musical theater camp, "Theatre Express!" for ages 8 to 12 during July and August.

"Footlights and Fairy Tales" offers 5- to 7-year-olds an opportunity to act and sing, while students 13 to 20 will enjoy Will Shakespeare's Excellent Adventure with director Joyce Peifer Forbes and Actor's Approach with New York actor Adam Deremer.

Other offerings include Onstage at the Kellar Theatre, Stage Combat, Broadway Dance for Actors and Voice Training with Lori Lind, plus more. To register call 703-330-ARTS.

The next exhibit at the Caton Merchant Family Gallery will be Quilters Unlimited-Arlington Chapter from Wednesday through July 29.

For the first time in its recent history, the Prince William Symphony Orchestra will present a summer benefit series, in the form of half-hour chamber music presentations by orchestra members and professional friends.

The series will be conducted in the banquet room at La Chapelle, the Spanish restaurant in downtown Manassas at the corner of Main and Church streets.

The dates of these mini-concerts fall on Saturday evenings at 7:30 and will alternate with the SummerSounds concerts, including July 18, Aug. 1, 15 and 29.

The price for each presentation alone is $15, but for those who would like to dine beforehand, La Chapelle will offer a fixed price menu (choice of two dinners) and a reduced price for the musical of $10. All ticket proceeds go to support the symphony. For reservations call 571-379-8185.

… for information on the symphony, call 703-659-0103.