'Summer celebration' this Monday will launch free events series

The Cornell School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions will launch its free summer events series with a "summer celebration" Monday, June 29, at 4 p.m. in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room. The summer months will be welcomed with free ice cream and balloons as well as swing dance music for kids and adults.

The Cornell events series, which has been a summer tradition for over 20 years, features Tuesday night classical concerts, Wednesday night lectures and Friday night outdoor concerts on the Arts Quad.

Here are offerings from the first week of the events series:

• Summer Celebration: Monday, June 29, Memorial Room, Willard Straight Hall, 4--6 p.m. The summer kick-off event features ice cream, balloons and live music provided by Ithaca's own Swingsation. Ice cream from the Cornell Dairy Store will be served, and balloons will be distributed.

• Albrecht and Chancler: Tuesday, June 30, Proscenium Theatre, Center for Theatre Arts,7:30 p.m. The summer classical concert series begins with performances by cellist Robert Albrecht and pianist Rose Chancler. The two will perform both duets and solo pieces by Brahms, Schumann, George Crumb and Emma Lou Deimer. Free tickets are required for classical concerts. They are available starting at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the concert in the Proscenium Theatre Lobby.

• Persis S. Drell: Wednesday, July 1, David L. Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall 7:30 p.m. (See story on summer lecture series.)

• Salamander Crossing: Friday, July 3, Arts Quad (Rain Location: Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall) 7:30 p.m. The Boston Herald describes Salamander Crossing as a "splendid, eclectic band [that] sings, writes and plays with delightful sophistication." However you describe them, you'll find that their expert guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, close harmonies and skillful song writing create a truly enchanting sound.

Cornell's Summer Events Series runs from June 29 to Aug. 7. For a Summer Events Calendar, call 255-8226, e-mail cusce@cornell.edu or visit the online schedule at www.sce.cornell.edu/CUSS/html/events.html.