Lincoln Center—the world’s largest performing arts complex—is undergoing a dramatic transformation as a major redevelopment project unfolds across its 16-acre campus. Revitalized public spaces, new restaurants, and striking new theaters will start to emerge in early 2009. And beginning in May, events are planned throughout 2009-2010 for the center’s 50th anniversary.

Visits can be tailored to the interests and needs of individual student groups. Among the options:
 
TAKE THE TOUR
Armed with encyclopedic knowledge, interesting anecdotes and a passion for the arts, guides reveal Lincoln Center’s past, present and future with a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the center tick, including information about the transformation under way in its public spaces and theaters as part of a major redevelopment project. A guided tour includes visits to up to three renowned theaters—David H. Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater), Avery Fisher Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House and Vivian Beaumont Theater—and, beginning in mid-February, to the dramatically redesigned, glass-walled Alice Tully Hall concert venue. A look-in at a rehearsal is included wherever possible. Visitors who have a special interest in jazz can take the “Jazz at Lincoln Center Tour,” which takes them through several beautiful venues at Jazz’s home in the Time Warner Center, featuring views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. Tours last approximately one hour.

MEET THE ARTIST PACKAGE
The popular Meet the Artist package takes place in one of the intimate theater spaces and includes a private performance and talk by an opera singer, classical or jazz musician, dancer or Broadway actor who shares unique insights about his or her art and career.
 
GROUP DISCOUNTS TO LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS PERFORMANCES
Lincoln Center Group Sales can arrange discounted tickets to Lincoln Center Presents performances in the Great Performers, American Songbook, Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center Festival and Midsummer Night Swing series.
 
For Lincoln Center guided tours, call 212-875-5370; for special group packages and group ticket discounts to Lincoln Center Presents performances, call, 212-875-5190. (www.lincolncenter.org)

The exhibition Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs opens June 27 at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, continuing into October. It will present more than 130 treasures from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tut and other ancient sites. Nearly four million people visited an earlier King Tut exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, during a four-city U.S. tour from 2005 to 2007.

The exhibition will highlight more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline will focus on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Many of the artifacts have never before visited the United States. On display will be Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary, including the largest image of King Tut ever found – a 10-foot statue that originally may have stood at Tutankhamun’s mortuary temple and retains much of its original paint. One of the four gold and precious-stone-inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs also will be exhibited.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum in June will unveil its permanent $8-million Global Perspectives exhibit, where visitors will discover similarities in world cultures. It will focus on one culture every few years—the first being modern-day Egypt—and will feature an intense cultural immersion program, a language and communication area, a marketplace, an area about living spaces, information about the environment and natural world, and a section on celebrations. (www.childrensmuseum.org)
 

VisitRochester has introduced a new curriculum-based publication aimed at the student/youth tour market. Called “Great Expectations,” the brochure contains 35 educational opportunities in the Rochester, N.Y., area, including the Finger Lakes, Seaway Trail and Genesee Valley.
 
The new planner is divided into educational areas of study, musical performance opportunities and services.

Ed Hall, president and CEO of VisitRochester, said, “VisitRochester’s participation with tour operators in many national and international associations, such as NTA, OMCA and ABA, as well as SYTA, demonstrates to us that student travel is one of the dynamic growth areas in our business. This new publication gives us the opportunity to present our community in a whole new light to these active travelers.”
 
Each component is about 1½ to 2 hours in duration and enables teachers to “pick and choose” in creating a student trip. The catalog is being distributed throughout the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Michigan, Ontario and the province of Quebec, the United Kingdom and at national travel trade shows.
 
“This is not your usual brochure – it’s glitzy, entertaining and innovative,” said Paula Savage, VisitRochester director of tourism sales. “It can be used as an ‘idea builder’ for teachers working on everything from science to the Erie Canal and Susan B. Anthony.”
 
The new catalog is available in print and accessible on the VisitRochester website (www.visitrochester.com). Contact Paula Savage at 585-279-8305.

Legendary jazz icon Arturo Sandoval will perform for hundreds of jazz students at the inaugural Disney Jazz Celebration, set for Feb. 19-21 at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort. Over the course of his career, Sandoval has received four Grammys, six Billboard Awards, an Emmy and the title of Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982-1990. The Florida International University tenured professor will share his love of jazz with the middle and high school jazz musicians attending the festival.

“Arturo Sandoval is a protégé of jazz master Dizzy Gillespie and a technical genius on the trumpet. He has dedicated much of his career to teaching his craft and he has one of the most extensive educational programs in the industry,” said Tim Hill, director of special programs for Disney Destinations.
The festival is open to high school and middle school vocal and instrumental jazz students. The competitive performance weekend includes an opening ceremony, classes and clinics, nightly concerts and a closing award ceremony.

 Jazz clinicians include Steve Fidyk, jazz drummer, author and member of the jazz faculty at Temple University; Bob Mintzer, saxophonist, bass clarinetist, composer, arranger, Grammy winner and educator; and Jiggs Whigham, internationally acclaimed trombonist, band leader, conductor of the BBC Big Band in Great Britain and artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra. Joining the event as a vocal clinician is Jennifer Barnes, studio vocalist, live performer, educator, clinician and arranger.

The nightly concerts include performances by some notable jazz rising stars. The performers include Laura “Lolly” Allen, a vibraphonist, singer and drummer; Nathan Warner, an orchestral, commercial, big band and jazz trumpet player; and Kenneth Whalum, saxophonist who played with hip-hop stars Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Sean “P-Diddy” Combs.

Disney Jazz Celebration Master Classes are special one-hour presentations inside a Disney theme park conducted by distinguished music educators and industry leaders focusing on students’ artistic achievement, successful career skills, and the tools for performance excellence. Selected students from participating ensembles will have the opportunity to perform with the Disney Jazz Celebration clinicians and adjudicators in a structured and educational jam session experience. (800-603-0552, www.disneyjazzcelebration.com)