By Julie Steele

A&E Editor

If you're like me, you might have spotted some of the blue posters up around campus, advertising free season tickets for anyone who manages to sell ten or more, and found yourself asking: ``Tickets to what?'' The answer: tickets to the Calvin College Artist Series.

The Artist Series will be an annual event focusing on music, theatre and dance performance with a classical (including jazz) style. The Series is, in a way, the prodigy of a similar Calvin series from the 60s and 70s. It will also draw from evening performances by January Series artists, previously sponsored by the music department. In this, its inaugural year, the Artist Series will bring five performances to campus.

The Series will kick-off on Saturday, October 13 with a performance featuring the Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble. This seven-member jazz ensemble is a seasoned group when it comes to playing at Calvin. Returning for the sixth time, they are sure to delight with their New Orleans jazz classics performed on authentic, turn-of-the-century instruments. This show will be in keeping with the Series' goal of bringing excellent yet diverse groups to campus; the hope is that it will draw a broader audience and appeal to more of the community than other performances of the past.

In January the Series will continue with Cantus on Thursday, January 10. Cantus played to a packed house at last year's January Series and actually had to turn people away. Then on Tuesday, January 22, violinist Andrew Manze will grace the stage. He is touted as the leading violinist in the world, and plays mostly baroque pieces. St. Olaf Choir will be performing on Thursday, January 31. They are conducted by Anton Armstrong, formerly of the Calvin College music department (he left in 1990). Finally, the Series will conclude with a performance by The Boys Choir of Harlem on Thursday, February 14. That show promises to be spectacular, and will include multimedia elements.

According to Darlene Meyering, executive assistant to the president and chair of the commitee that organizes the series, the concerts are aimed to appeal equally to students and to the larger Grand Rapids community. But while it is partially intended to draw in crowds from outside the Calvin bubble, the Series has definite benefits for students.

``This is a great opportunity for students to see excellent performers at a very low cost,'' she said. And the benefits will hopefully extend beyond the performance. ``We'd like to build student interaction with some of these artists through master classes, possible meetings with ensembles, and maybe holding symposiums with students on campus.''

According to the Series' mission statement, the goal of the Series is ``to present performing artists who will instruct and challenge our students and to inspire and enrich all who attend.''

To allow for that student instruction, at least two of this year's groups will be working with students after their performances. The Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble will be staying to jam with Ron Rienstra's jazz vespers team, and Cantus will run a clinic with Calvin's Meister Singers.

All shows are being help in the FAC auditorium, and will commence at 8 pm. Both season and individual tickets are available to students at the Calvin College Box Office, and three different seating options are available. Student tickets are offered at half the price of regular tickets. The sell-ten-get-one-free deal on those blue posters previously mentioned is being sponsored by the music department; stop by the department office for details.