FILMING EXCELLENCE — “Kansas Debate: For the Love of the Argument” has been selected to show at the Lawrence Arts Center’s Drop Your Shorts Off Film Festival on May 7. The film was produced by Kansas City native and KU senior Greg Dubinsky, along with three others students. The story is about the Kansas debate team and how they debate because they love it (hence the name). The filmmakers focused their lens on one of the most successful and most under-appreciated teams at the University of Kansas. The film shows the team at its best, winning the Wake Forest University debate tournament, where more than 100 teams competed. The son of Jeff and Debbie Dubinsky, Greg, who initiated and is president of KU’s Documentary Film Society, is hoping to find a production job in television and film following graduation in May. To check out the documentary, visit http://www.vimeo.com/18014967. 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — A contingency of congregants from BIAV trekked to New York last month to promote the congregation and the Kansas City area at the Orthodox Union’s Emerging Communities Fair. More than 1,000 people were there to explore viable alternatives to life in the Northeast. Eva Sokol organized the BIAV presentation, and led the group, which included Rabbi Daniel and Ayala Rockoff, BIAV President Andy Ernstein, Carol Katzman and Jason Sokol. Sokol said they spoke to approximately 80 families about our community. Many are interested in finding out more about Overland Park.
U.S PREMIER — The Kansas City Symphony is presenting the U.S. premiere of a percussion concerto “Frozen in Time,” by young Israeli composer Avner Dorman Friday through Sunday, April 29 through May 1, at the Lyric theatre downtown. Dorman calls the concerto “an imaginary snapshot of the Earth’s geological developments from prehistoric times to the present day.” Dorman, who is married to Kansas City native Jenny Sherman, is receiving quite a bit of world-wide acclaim for his compositions. In “Frozen in Time” he uses several instruments that are not common in western orchestras such as tables, darbukas (a Middle Eastern drum), many types of cymbals, a cencerros (24 cowbells) and djembes (African percussion instrument). The concerto features special guest Austrian percussionist Martin Grubinger. For more information contact (816) 471-0400.
STERN HONORED — Speaking of the Kansas City Symphony, Music Director Michael Stern will receive an honorary Doctor of Musical Arts from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance May 7 at Spring Commencement, where he will also give the commencement address.
Stern, who is in his sixth season with the Symphony, said in a news release that he is “grateful for the invitation from the university to participate in their commencement ceremony and to receive this extraordinary award. It is made all the more special for me since I admire so much all of the meaningful and progressive momentum which has been so evident at the Conservatory of Music and Dance under Peter Witte’s leadership. I am thrilled at the partnership we are establishing between the Kansas City Symphony and the school, and I am honored to have the chance to continue to find the best ways to serve the causes of music, young talent, and our city.”
TEXTING DONATION — NCSY Alumni is making it easy to give tzedakah in this fast-paced world with its innovative new texting campaign. Following in the footsteps of many other organizations, NCSY Alumni now receives a $5 donation if someone texts a keyword to 50555. The NCSY Alumni keyword is “AMEN.” Every time you do that, your mobile phone company tacks on $5 to your bill and that money is given directly to NCSY Alumni from the phone company.