Calendar of Events: Mozart opera, big band concert on the slate

March 6–9

Springfield Regional Opera Young Artists presents a Café des Artistes production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte,” an opera that explores human relationships and their complications. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. March 6 and March 8 and 2 p.m. March 9 at Hyde Gallery, 221 E. Walnut St. General admission tickets are $15, or $10 for students; there will be no reserved seating. On March 7, the production will be part of First Friday Art Walk activities, and the artists will perform vignettes throughout the evening free of charge. For more information, call (417) 863-1960.

March 12

Missouri State University’s office of public affairs and the extended campus will present Ethics Across the Curriculum – Medical Ethics at 7 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Theater. Rebecca Dresser, the Daniel Noyes Kirby professor of law and ethics in medicine at Washington University-St. Louis, will present the lecture, the fifth in the Public Affairs Lecture Series. Since 1983, Dresser has taught medical and law students about legal and ethical issues in end-of-life care, biomedical research, genetics, assisted reproduction and related topics. She also is the author of the book, “When Science Offers Salvation: Patient Advocacy and Research Ethics” and a member since 2002 of the President’s Council on Bioethics. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (417) 836-5073.

March 17

Author Christa Ann Banister will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room of Evangel University’s student union as part of the school’s artist series. The event is free and open to the public, though space is limited. Banister will talk about her novel, “Around the World in 80 Dates: Confessions of a Christian Serial Dater,” and answer questions from the audience. For more information, call (417) 865-2815, ext. 8640.

March 25

The Les Elgart Big Band Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Clara Thompson Hall on the Drury campus. The orchestra is one of few remaining big bands of the 1940s. Now conducted by Russ Dorsey, the Les Elgart Orchestra has played worldwide, receiving numerous awards and recording more than 100 albums. During the program, the orchestra will be joined by local jazz educators, including Tina Claussen, director of jazz studies at Drury. The event is free for Drury students, faculty and staff, and to local music students and teachers, who can get free tickets at Hoover Music. Tickets for the general public are $15 each. For more information, call (417) 873-7217. 

Business & Professional Development

March 6

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce presents Good Morning, Springfield!, a monthly networking program at 7:30 a.m. at Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave. Participants will hear updates from community leaders and news about timely programs and chamber events. The cost is $13 for members and $18 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.springfieldchamber.com.

How to Discover, Prevent and Recover from Employee Theft will be presented 2–5 p.m. at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. This seminar is a collaboration of the Greene County prosecuting attorney’s office, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Foundation and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. Topics will include key red flags associated with embezzlement and fraud, common fraud schemes and tips to protect against embezzlement and fraud. Victims of employee theft also will participate in the presentation. The event is free to chamber members and SMBA members, and $90 in advance for nonmembers. The fee increases to $115 at the door. To register, visit www.springfieldchamber.com.

April 17

The Springfield Area Human Resources Association presents Where Have All the Employees Gone 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at Doubletree Hotel, 2431 N. Glenstone Ave, Guest speaker Gerry Hoeffner, president of Florida-based Personnel Dynamics, will discuss the Ozarks’ changing – and diminishing – work force. Specifically, he will talk about the difference between employee attraction programs and recruitment programs and managing the human side of business. The cost is $35 for SAHRA members and students, and $50 for others. Lunch is included. To register or for more information, call (417) 864-1828.

Community

March 8

Stress Management Center is sponsoring a Celebration of Life Fundraiser for Susan Snider of Shoe-Biz, who is battling cancer. The event, 3–11 p.m. at American Legion Post 639, 2660 S. Scenic, will begin with a music jam session 3–6 p.m., followed by a silent auction and a performance by Howie and the Hillcats with Richard Bruton at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door; a buffet and cash bar will be available. For more information, call (417) 823-8308.

March 15

The second annual Pitter Pat 5K/One Mile Fun Run, to benefit Isabel’s House, the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, will begin with 7 a.m. registration at the corner of Scenic and Bennett streets. The fun run starts at 8 a.m. Preregistration is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 9 and younger; on the day of the event, registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children. All proceeds benefit Isabel’s House, which provides round-the-clock residential care for children birth to 12 years whose parents are experiencing a family crisis; domestic violence; lack of food, utilities or housing; or surgery/hospitalization. Last year’s event raised more than $2,000 for Isabel’s House. For more information or to register, visit www.jlspringfield.org.

Through March 16

Bass Pro Shops presents the Spring Fishing Classic at the retailer’s 46 locations, including Springfield. Through this free event, Bass Pro is asking experienced anglers to share their knowledge of the sport by supporting the Anglers’ Legacy program. During the Spring Fishing Classic, anglers can visit any Bass Pro location and sign the Anglers’ Legacy Pledge. Special events during the Spring Fishing Classic include a reel trade-in program March 6–9. For more information, visit www.basspro.com.

March 27

Empire Bank presents Downtown in Denim, a fundraiser for the horse-therapy program at Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, at 6 p.m. at the Tower Club, 901 E. St. Louis St. The event will feature a four-course meal prepared by Executive Chef Brad Lyons and paired with select wines. Dress is casual. Tickets are $70 each or $500 for a table of eight. For tickets or more information, call (417) 376-2238.