The 2008 Columbia Gorge Fiddle Contest has been scheduled for May 2-4, at the Hood River Middle School auditorium. This event will showcase local and regional contestants and prizes will be awarded for various age groups /divisions. Visit www.columbiagorge
fiddlecontest.com for more details.

Alasdair Fraser, a major force behind the resurgence of traditional Scottish fiddling, and cellist Natalie Haas play a concert at the Columbia Center for the Arts on Wednesday, March 19. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and advance tickets are available at the Oak Street Hotel. The duo is promoting their new CD, “In the Moment.” Each performer will conduct a workshop the day of the show, contact the Oak Street Hotel at 386-3845.

Maryhill Winery celebrates the weekend with new wine releases and music March 15-16. The party theme is “Message in a Bottle,” and will feature seven new wines. Music will be provided by the Kevin Barber Trio (Sat.) and the Ben Macy Trio (Sun.) from 1-5 p.m. Maryhill Museum of Art, 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, Wash.; (509) 773-3733.

The Dalles-Wahtonka High School presents a production of “Peter Pan” at the school’s auditorium March 13-15 and March 20-22. Performances are at 7 p.m. with matinees on March 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and advance tickets may be purchased at Klindt’s Booksellers and Waucoma Bookstore. Children who attend are encouraged to dress as Pan, Tinker Bell, the Darlings, the Lost Boys, Indians or Pirates.

Come and get your jig on! Join the fun at Santacroces' annual St. Patrick's Day party, Saturday, March 15, 7-9 p.m. All ages are invited. Enjoy music with Tobias Ammon on fiddle and Kevin Kingrey on guitar. Menu includes homemade rye bread, corned beef and cabbage. Reservations recommended. Santacroces’ Italian Restaurant, 4780 Hwy. 35, Hood River; 354-2511.

CAST auditions for “Off the Map” by Joan Ackerman will be held at the Columbia Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. and March 17-18 at 6:30 p.m. The list of characters includes adult Bo: The narrator of the story about her eleventh year – age late 20’s; Bo: The 11-year-old girl – Age 11; George: Charley’s lifelong friend - a Korean War veteran - age 40s; Charley: Bo’s father, Arlene’s husband – a Korean War veteran - age 40s. Arlene: Bo’s mother, Charley’s wife – age 40s; William Gibbs: The young IRS agent who comes to audit and ends up staying and changing everyone’s life forever – age 28. If you interested in being a part of the production team, please attend one of the audition times. For more information contact Ken McCarty at oregonken@gorge.net.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge will sponsor a free party at the Columbia Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 15. Music will be by Portland musician Justin Jude, starting at 7 p.m. Jude was nominated best singer/songwriter at the 2007 Bite of Oregon.

Music returns to the Trillium Cafe in March with local bands and more. On Friday, March 14, it’s the Ed Swick Trio with blues, jazz, rock and surf. On Saturday, March 15, it’s music from Ben Bonham. On Monday, March 17, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special menu and music by Victor Johnson and Friends. Trillium Cafe, 207 Oak St., Hood River, 386-1996.

The Pines Tasting Room hosts local music on Thursdays with guitar and mandolin from Kerry Williams. Music is from 5-7 p.m. and there is no cover charge. The Pines Tasting Room, 202 State St., Hood River.

Portland band Jackstraw returns to the River City Saloon on Saturday, March 15 with and an acoustic bluegrass show There is an $8 cover and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. River City Saloon is at 205 Cascade Ave., in Hood River. Call 387-BLUES for more information.

Singer/Songwriter Stephanie Schniederman returns to the CEBU Lounge on Friday, March 14, starting at 9 p.m. Stephanie brings soulful vocals and great songwriting for a night of musical enjoyment. There is no cover and a late night menu is available. Best Western Hood River Inn, 1108 E. Marina Way, 386-2200.

Fiddle player Jake Armerding will perform a concert at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Hood River (Ninth and Eugene) on Saturday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Donations for the artists will be accepted. Jake will be joined by his father, Taylor Armerding, who played mandolin and sang lead for the bluegrass band Northern Lights. The Boston Globe noted Jake Armerding to be “The most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years.”

Date Night returns to Solstice Cafe on Thursday, March 13. Catch music from Rick Hulett and Sid Ordoyne from 6-8 p.m. playing everything from country to classic rock. Baby-sitting provided by Bambinos for $10 per child, which includes pizza, juice and activities from 5-8 p.m. Solstice Wood Fire Cafe, 415 W. Steuben, Bingen, Wash.; (509) 493-4006.

The Trout Lake Arts Council invites artists to jury for the 13th Annual Festival of the Arts held July 19-20. Forty-five artists in all mediums of two- and three-dimensional art will be accepted; art will be judged on its quality and creativity. There will be live music all weekend, a hands-on children’s program and local food and drink. Interested artists can get more information and an application by contacting Laurie Sherburne at (509) 395-2294 or sherb@gorge.net or by visiting the Web site at www.troutlake.org/arts. The deadline for entries is March 31.

The Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta will perform its March concert series at The Dalles Civic Auditorium on Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m. These concerts are sponsored by the Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association and will be conducted by its music director, Mark Steighner. There is no admission charge for these concerts, but contributions are welcome. Refreshments will be sold during intermission. The concert opens with Siegfried’s Rhine Journey, music from one of Richard Wagner’s operas depicting Siegfried’s departure for new adventures after slaying a dragon and saving a fair lady. Rhine Journey is followed by Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3, which will be performed by Meagan Roby, a resident of The Dalles who is in her first year of teaching music at Hood River Middle School.

Local musician Richard Tillinghast has released a new CD, “Sweet By and By.” Recorded in Portland, it contains 12 original songs and artwork from local artists. Copies are $15. Visit his Web site at www.richardtillinghast.com.