BRIEFLY IN DATEBOOK

Debra Huse’s Studio Gallery on Balboa Island will hold an opening

artist reception from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight. The reception will be an

unveiling of works that Huse, a plein air painter, completed on location

in the desert. The Balboa resident was one of 50 painters invited to

paint in La Quinta Arts Foundation’s 3rd Annual “Desert Plein Air, a

Celebration of Outdoor Painting” in January. The public is invited. The

gallery is at 229 Marine Ave, Ste. E, Balboa Island. Information: (949)

723-6171

Eclectic Orange lineup announced

Mark Morris’ staging of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s comic opera “Platee”

will open the Orange County Philharmonic Society’s 2001 Eclectic Orange

Festival in September.

The festival offers performing artists from around the world in a

variety of new works and fresh perspectives on classic material.

Other highlights for the festival include composer Tan Dun conducting

his Academy Award-nominated score for the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden

Dragon” in October; the November premiere of independent filmmaker Hal

Hartley’s “Soon,” which was commissioned by the Salzburg Festival; and

the return of Baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants in December.

Information: (949) 553-2422 or https://www.eclecticorange.org.

Pacific Chorale to hold auditions

The Pacific Chorale will hold auditions for its 2001-2002 season paid

professional ensemble, the John Alexander singers, March 3-4 at Cal State

Fullerton.

If hired, singers will perform in 22 concerts, including guest

appearances with other California music and dance groups. The repertoire

for the 2001-2002 season includes Verdi’s “Aida” and the world premiere

performance of Richard Danielpour’s “An American Requiem.”

Auditioning singers will be asked to sing a prepared art song or aria

for which an accompanist will be provided. Professional singers are

expected to display a superior level of vocal production, as well as

exhibit skills in sightreading. Auditions are by appointment only.

Information: (714) 662-2345.

Company searches for fiction writers

Red Dress Ink is searching for new authors who want to start a new

chapter in their lives by writing the next generation of urban fiction

books.

Themed “a women’s life in the city,” the authors will write 90,000 to

110,000 words about city girls in their 20s who are discovering

themselves, sharing apartments, meeting men, struggling with careers and

stressing for success. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second,

and third place winners.

Interested writers 18 and older should send the first chapter of their

book along with an outline of the complete novel by May 1, 2001 to: Red

Dress Ink Writing Contest, 300 East 42nd Street, 6th floor, New York, NY

10017. Entries will not be returned.

Each submission should be original and not have won a previous award.

For more information, send a stamped-self-address envelope to the above

address.