for the ARTS record

INCA SON TO PERFORM In mid-November, Nantucket will host Inca Son, an 11-member dance and music ensemble that plays music from the Andes of Peru, and all of Latin America.

Inca Son, (meaning "Sound of the Incas"), transports you to the Andes Mountains of Peru with ancient melodies, dances and colorful Inca costumes and Andean attire. With their distinctive sounds on the pan flutes, Inca Son performs both original compositions (on many instruments they make themselves) as well as traditional songs from Peru and Latin America, which the musicians rearrange to create a unique style. Each song and dance has a special importance, meaning or background from many different Andean folkloric periods that are described to the audience before it is performed.

The band's awards and performing credentials include the 2007 Independent Music Award for "Best World Traditional Song" and the Boston Music Award for "Outstanding World Music Act."

Cesar Villalobos, founder and creative director of the group, was awarded the "Distinguished Arts Educator in Music" award by the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education for superior teaching and interdisciplinary planning, professional involvement and leadership beyond the classroom, for his dedication to students and for his exceptional contribution to arts education.

Inca Son's mission has always been to preserve their cultural and musical legacy for future generations.

Cesar Villalobos will come to Nantucket for several workshops with Nantucket Elementary School fourth and fifth graders on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Those students will participate in the public performance on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m., which will include all the Inca Son band members and dancers.

NHS Culinary Arts students will prepare ethnic foods for a rare dining experience on Thursday evening in the NHS cafeteria. The dinner cost is $15 for adults, $7.50 for children, and can be paid at the cafeteria door. Funds raised will go toward the Culinary Arts trip to Europe in the spring.

This program is presented by the Friends of Nantucket Public Schools and the Nantucket Atheneum. Funding comes from the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation and Atheneum Family Night sponsors Nantucket Bank and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Glowacki. For further information: http://www.incason.com.

THOUGHTS ON WHALE OIL Environmental historian and author Al Crosby will host "Oil: From Cetaceans to OPEC" at the Nantucket Historical Association's Food for Thought Series on Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street, at noon. Free admission; bring your lunch.

Crosby will discuss how and why whale oil was considered one of the most important commodities of the colonial era by shedding light on Nantucket's whaling heyday. He will explain what was used for lighting before whale oil and spermaceti candles, and why, even after the discovery of petroleum and electricity for lighting, whales continued to be hunted well into the twentieth century (and for what purpose).

On November 15, the Food for Thought Series will continue with "Island Personalities" hosted by Nantucket Historical Association Research Fellow Bob Mooney. Bring your lunch. Each talk begins at noon and is free to the public.

For additional information about the Brown-Bag Luncheon Series, please call 508-228-1894, ext. 0, or visit www.nha.org to view the full schedule.

NANTUCKET NEW SCHOOL TO HOST ANNUAL HARVEST BASH The Nantucket New School will host its annual fall dinner and auction on Saturday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m. at the Nantucket New School, 15 Nobadeer Farm Road. With a theme of "Once in a Blue Moon," the event is designed to appeal to many with an art exhibition, games, prizes and a spirited auction. Jim Perelman is preparing the dinner and there will be dancing to the Nantucket band, The Shingles.

"It's going to be a really exciting evening," said Head of School Dave Provost. "Parents and friends of the school look forward to the Bash. While it's a chance to raise some money for the school, it's also a great way for our community to come together and have a good time."

New this year, the Harvest Bash includes an exhibition of art by many of the island's most popular artists. Some of the artists included in the show are Margaret Fox, Christine Sanford, Daniel Sutherland, David Lazarus, Terry Pommett, Jan Pawlowski, Katie Trinkle Legge, and Illya Kagan. The exhibition will be up in the school's Great Hall on November 11- 20, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sale of the art will benefit the Nantucket New School.

The highlight of the evening for many will be the music and dancing. Fresh from their popular performance at the Scalloper's Ball in October, The Shingles will take the stage following the auction. The band members are Andy Bullington, Cary Hazlegrove, Michael Kopko, Ben Champoux, Chris Westerlund, Jake Vohs and Dave Provost.

Tickets for the Harvest Bash, $100 per person, are available by calling

508-228-8569. I