The Olney Central College Community Band will begin its 18th season this spring. “This is a great opportunity for people who enjoy playing music to get together and support each other while having fun at the same time,” said OCC Director of Bands Wade Baker. “I definitely want anyone high school age and up that is interested to come and be a part of the OCC music family.” The OCC Community Band will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in Room 216 of Wattleworth Hall, beginning Jan. 10. The group will present its annual concert in May.

Local artist Mari Yamato will be teaching spring semester introductory painting and ceramics courses at Olney Central College. Students in the painting class will explore and work in several mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolor, and gouache — an opaque version of watercolor. They also will study art styles such as abstract, realism, and impressionism.

The Olney Central College Concert Band has been invited to audition for the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago. OCC Director of Bands Wade Baker is compiling submission materials which include video from last month’s Fall Concert and audio from the concert and community bands’ combined performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2019. He expects to learn next month if OCC will be among the four bands selected to participate in the March 24-25 event.

Want to personalize your favorite OCC T-shirt or even design your own OCC gear? You can with the Olney Central College Bookstore’s new customization service. Pricing starts as low as $4 and is available for items purchased in the Bookstore or acquired from outside retailers. These can include cotton clothing, cups, mugs and blankets. Examples are currently on display in the Bookstore.

The Olney Central College Music Department will present its Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 at the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. This special evening of holiday music will feature Vivaldi’s Gloria performed by the OCC Community Choir under the direction of Dr. Andrew Pittman, OCC Director of Choral Activities. Soloists are Lori Weitkamp, Leia Meredith and Jessica McDonald.

Olney Central College Theater will present three performances of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play December 16-18 at the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.

Olney Central College Professor David Denton will appear in two upcoming episodes of History’s Greatest Mysteries on The History Channel. Hosted and narrated by Laurence Fishburne, the show delves into a wide range of historically compelling topics and the mysteries surrounding them. Recent episodes featured the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and the Chicago Tylenol murders.

The Olney Central College Music Department will present its Fall Band Concert at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. The evening will feature performances by the two Contemporary Ensembles (Rock Bands), the Jazz Ensemble and the OCC Concert Band.

The Anderson Library partnered with OCC’s Peer Coach Program and the Active Minds Club to create a meditation room within the library. Designed for students, faculty and staff, the Zen Den provides a dedicated space for meditation, prayer, contemplation, calming sensory overload and reflection. Located in the Academic Success Center, Room 255B, the Zen Den offers visitors a soothing and relaxing environment where they can reduce anxiety while recharging the mind and body.

Olney Central College Theater will hold auditions for the fall production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11-12 in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.