The next installment of the President’s Lecture Series at UM will explore the first 150 years of the development of the violin.

Monica Huggett, professor of baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music, London, will present “A Short History of the Early Violin: A Lecture-Concert” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the University’s Music Recital Hall.

Huggett also will hold a master class from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the same location. Both events are free and open to the public.

In the 16th century, the violin was used by traveling professionals – very often gypsies – to play dance tunes at weddings, parties and other celebrations, as well as in public houses or just in the street. By the middle of the 18th century, violin virtuosi were as famous as modern-day sports figures, and for the amateur dilettante aristocracy, the violin was the instrument of choice.

To demonstrate how that extraordinary transformation took place, Huggett will begin the lecture-concert with a selection of dances from the Stuart Masque and later treat audience members to sonatas by Marini, Biber and Corelli.

Music, dancing and an appetizer buffet are just some of the highlights planned for “Middle Eastern Heritage Night,” a community celebration on Sunday, Nov. 13, at UM.

Events will be held in the University Center Ballroom beginning at 6 p.m., with a keynote address titled “Reflections on the Middle East From Baghdad to Sanaa and Back” by Ambassador Barbara Bodine.

Bodine served in the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, was ambassador to Yemen during the terrorist attacks on the USS Cole and was the Iraqi post-conflict reconstruction coordinator in 2003.

Dancing to music by the Oriental Jazz Ensemble and a Middle Eastern appetizer buffet will follow the lecture.

The community is invited to attend the festivities. The cost is $10 for general admission or $5 for students. For more information, call the World Affairs Council of Montana at (406) 728-3328.

Wild and domesticated animals are the subjects of works that will be exhibited at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture from Tuesday, Nov. 22, through Wednesday, Dec. 21.

“Creatures from the Permanent Collection” will be in the museum’s Paxson Gallery, located in UM’s Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. The exhibit appeals to all ages and is free and open to the public.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the gallery.

“Creatures from the Permanent Collection” includes works by internationally known artists such as Andy Warhol and regionally important artists such as Edgar Paxson, Walter Hook and Steve Glueckert. Also included are works from the museum’s permanent collection that have never before been exhibited, such as the painting of a lion by 19th century French academic painter Jean Leon Gerome.

At noon Thursday, Dec. 1, Professor Kerry Foresman of UM’s Division of Biological Sciences and Barbra Brady of the Humane Society of Western Montana will present a gallery talk, “Framing Creatures: The Wild and the Domestic.”

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Free parking now is available near the northwest corner of the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center.

The public is invited to learn about Glacial Lake Missoula at an open house hosted by the Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute and by the Montana Natural History Center.

The Glacial Lake Missoula Open House takes place Thursday, Nov. 17, at the center’s new location, 120 Hickory St., near McCormick Park in Missoula. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

The evening will feature presentations and exhibits about the ancient glacial lake and the floods that shaped the landscape of the Northwest, as well as efforts to establish a National Ice Age Floods Geologic Trail along the floods path in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

University of Montana geology Professor Emeritus Dave Alt will give the keynote presentation. Alt is the author of “Glacial Lake Missoula and Its Humongous Floods.” A question-and-answer period will follow.

Refreshments will be served, including local wine, cheese, beer and coffee.

Seventeen new Montana Campus Compact AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America recently were sworn in by Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger, beginning their yearlong service to communities in the state.

The new VISTA volunteers will work in 13 Montana communities and join eight others who are currently serving across the state.

VISTA volunteers seek innovative ways to address critical needs by connecting the resources that college and university campuses provide with Montana community organizations. Last year nearly 2,000 volunteers performed more than 18,000 hours of service and secured in-kind donations that valued almost $80,000, as well as cash and grants of nearly $125,000.

For a list of new volunteers, school affiliations, areas they will serve and their projects, see the news release.

Montana’s defensive line pitched its third shutout of 2005 in a 23-0 road win over Northern Arizona Saturday afternoon at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.

The win improved the Grizzlies to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Sky Conference play. Montana, which failed to score a touchdown offensively, was led by a trio of sophomores. Cornerback Jimmy Wilson returned a blocked field goal 67 yards for a score. Linebacker Alex Hawthorne returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Dan Carpenter made all three of his field goal attempts.

The third-ranked Grizzlies continue their 2005 Big Sky schedule this Saturday at Sacramento State. The Griz-Hornets matchup is slated for 5:05 p.m. at Hornet Stadium. Montana is 10-0 in the all-time series with Sac State.

The UM volleyball team lost in three games at Eastern Washington Friday night, 26-30, 26-30 and 26-30. Saturday’s match with Portland State was a bit closer, as the Griz nearly rallied from a 2-0 deficit, but lost in five games, 28-30, 22-30, 30-26, 30-17 and 15-17.

The Grizzlies drop to 13-14 with the loss, 2-10 in Big Sky Conference play.

Montana remains in eighth place in the Big Sky, trailing seventh-place Northern Arizona, which is 3-10 in league play, and sixth-place Idaho State, which is 4-8 in conference play.

Montana, still hoping to make the league tournament, will host Weber State and Idaho State on the final weekend of Big Sky Conference play. The Grizzlies play the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday and the Bengals at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Junior Matt Dlouhy had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Grizzlies dominate the boards 62-32 in the UM’s 83-47 exhibition-game victory over Great Falls Friday night at Dahlberg Arena.

The Grizzlies, who limited the Argos to 24.6 percent shooting, had four players with double-figure points and three with double-figure rebounds.

Montana will play its second and final exhibition game tonight at 7:05 p.m., hosting St. Martin's. The regular-season opener is Friday, Nov. 18, at Boise State.

The University of Montana women's basketball team will play Deja Vu, a collection of former Lady Griz standouts, in its final exhibition game, Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2:05 p.m.

Montana opened its exhibition season Nov. 2 with a 66-51 victory over Baden Sports. The regular season opens Friday, Nov. 18, at Utah State.