Park Hill Brass will perform an evening of jazz, especially featuring music by the great American composer/bandleader Duke Ellington, at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Buck Recreation Center, 2004 W. Powers Ave., Littleton. The quintet of professional musicians and educators specializes in improv jazz and tours in France each summer. They are: William Brown (Trumpet); Greg Simon (Trumpet); Michael Dunn (Tuba); Nat Wickham (Trombone); Jacqueline Victor (Horn). Tickets: $10/$8 district resident. 303-730-4612, www.sspr.org.

The Heritage Fine Arts Guild of Arapahoe County will hold its 37-year-old, always-strong “This is Colorado” juried exhibit through March 24 at the Madden Museum of Art, 6363 Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village, with a reception from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14. Well-known painter/teacher Victoria Kwasinski is juror and she chose work by 97 Colorado artists. Artist Mary kay Jacobus of Centennial is show chairman. Artists will also show bin work for sale. Admission free. Gallery hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. (Epicurean Catering’s Mangia Bevi Café is in the building, should the munchies strike).

Erik M. Gantt will speak about “What Lies Beneath — Changes in Our Landscape,” an update on Douglas County’s archaeological sites, for the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at 7 p.m. Jan. 17. The high plains and foothills have been inhabited for at least 12,000 years. Lamb Spring, the Hess Site, Oeskeso and Franktown Cave will be included in the overview. Gantt is project director for Centennial Archaeology and president of the Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists. All are welcome to attend the meeting at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. A call for reservation is appreciated: Caroline Smith, 303-471-5611. Light refreshments at 6:30.

“Music Can Be Fun” is the title for Highlands Ranch Concert Band’s first free concert in 2011 at 2 p.m. Jan. 30, St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 3350 White Bay Dr., Highlands Ranch. The program will include “Symphonic Songs for Band” arranged by Robert Russell Bennett; “Washington Grays March by Grafulla and “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite March” by Karl King, according to band president Kelley Messall. For information about membership in the 80 piece band, visit www.hrconcertband.org.

The Depot Art Center will feature works by its nine new members through Jan. 20 at its gallery in the red 1881 Santa Fe Depot at 2069 W. Powers Ave., Littleton. A public reception is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. January 15. New members: Sue Buckner, Brian Serff, Jane Isaacs, Karla Horst, Robyn Tingey, Susan Anderson, Rosemary Laughlin, Joni Tomasetti and Janice Warriner. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. 303-795-0781.

The Wildlife Experience launches a lecture series in January: On Jan. 18, photographer John Fielder’s topic will be “Colorado 1970-2010 Views and Observations.” Fielder will sign books at 6:30 p.m. and lecture at 7 p.m. On Jan. 19, the topic will be “Colorado Forest Health— Then and Now” with a panel of experts speaking about fires, the pine beetle epidemic and more. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Lecture at 6 p.m.

Additional lectures are planned in February through June. Lectures are free, however small donations will be welcome. 720-488-3300, thewildlifeexperience.org. The museum is at 10035 S. Peoria St., Parker.

Jeff Wittig and Friends, a five-member band that plays classic folk and rock music will perform from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 15 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Wittig has performed with Prairie Home Companion and CDs will be available for purchase. 303-795-3961.

The new Edge Theatre Company, owned by Rick and Cathy Yaconis of Highlands Ranch, will host a beer tasting fundraiser from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 15 at the theater, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood. Glen Washburn will lead a tasting of 10 Colorado beers, from light to dark. Food included. Tickets: $25 single/$45 two. 303-521-8041.

New Youth Art Programs are offered at Curtis Arts and Humanities Center in January through March, 2349 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village: Kid’s Drawing for 9 to 13 year olds with Rick Brogan; Pee Wee Art I and II for 4 to 6 year olds; Cookies N’ Crafts for 5 to 7 year olds. Contact the Arts and Recreation Division, for costs and dates, 303-486-5773 or see greenwoodvillage.com.

The Young Musicians Foundation of Colorado announced its 2011-2012 Support Roster, which includes a number of south area talents among the 12 finalists. These are high school and college students on a professional track, who receive help for additional training and out of state competitions. Included: pianists Joseph Eisle, 16, of Centennial; Christina Lan, 17, Douglas County; harpist Emily Levin, 20, Centennial; violinist Zoe Proett, 13, Littleton. They were chosen at day long auditions on Dec. 29 at Littleton United Methodist Church and will be showcased in concerts during the year.

“Bunny Bunny Gilda Radner, a Sort of Love Story” by Alan Zweibel will be presented by Stories on Stage at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Maggie Roswell of The Simpsons, Aaron Serotsky and Eric Sandvold will be featured. Tickets: $25, 303-494-0523, storiesonstage.org.

Saving Places, 2011, the annual preservation conference presented by Colorado Preservation Inc, will be held Feb. 2-4 at the new Embassy Suites Hotel at the Convention Center. See www.coloradopreservation.org for costs and program listings. Open to anyone iDonovan Rypkema, the Washington-based guru of preservation, will speak at the Thursday luncheon.

Collector’s Road Show will offer free appraisals from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 18 at Buck Recreation Center, 2004 W. Powers Ave., Littleton. Bring 1 to 3 items for complimentary appraisals and discussion of street value vs. insurance value. Sponsored by Darlene Bowman of Colorado Next Chapter. Adults only. A $5 donation is welcome. 303-730-4609.

Colorado Ballet dancers will demonstrate how literature is transformed into dance, with costumes, music, movement and Shakespeare at 3 p.m. Jan. 16 at Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle. Tickets: $1 per person over 2. 303-708-3513. www.sspr.org. The Parker Writers Group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 16 in Meeting Room A at the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Dr., Parker. Kimberlee Gard, group coordinator and published writer, will present “Writing Freelance,” with advice on publication, submissions, terminology and more. She will conduct some exercises to help writers get started. Open to anyone interested in writing. direct questions to parkerwritersgroup@gmail.com.Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock presents magician/illusionist Dan Sperry at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15. He was on America’s Got Talent. Theatre of Dreams is at 735 Park St., Castle Rock. Tickets: $20. 303-660-6799.Photographers are invited to submit digital entries by 5 p.m. Jan. 25 for the 45th Annual Eye of the Camera Photography Exhibition, which will run Feb. 13 through April 3 at the Littleton Museum. Internationally published photographer Russell Burden of Highlands Ranch is juror. Up to three entries by Colorado photographers, with a $30 fee per photographer. Cash awards of $1,700. For entry brochure, which has specific instructions, contact the Littleton Museum, 303-795-3950. Entries may be submitted online, mailed or hand-delivered to the Museum at 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton.