Animal theme for concert

Babar of storybook fame is among a herd of elephants coming to the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, in a family concert by Artist-in-Residence Lara Downes.

The pianist’s whimsical program, “Babar and the Elephants,” features Francis Poulenc’s Story of Babar, Claude Debussy’s Children’s Corner, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, Henry Mancini’s Baby Elephant Walk and JoAnne Brackeen’s Pink Elephant.

Two performances are scheduled: 1 and 3 p.m. March 8 in the Studio Theatre. (Ticket availability is limited for the 3 p.m. concert; check with the box office.)

A Mondavi Center artist in residence since 2004, Downes also serves as director of the UC Davis ArtsBridge program and the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition.

The mother of two small children, Downes is strongly committed to introducing classical music to students, presenting a full range of outreach activities ranging from advanced master classes to introductory kindergarten through 12th-grade programs in conjunction with her concert appearances.

Downes is the founder and president of the 88 KEYS Foundation, which provides pianos to K-12 public schools.

Mendelssohn’s Elijah

The UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus and Alumni Chorus, for their joint production this year, chose Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah — in celebration of the bicenennial year of the composer’s birth. The March 8 concert features Robin Fisher, soprano; Catherine Cook, mezzosoprano; Joseph Palarca, tenor; and Eugene Brancoveanu, baritone. D. Kern Holoman conducts at 8 p.m. in Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center.

Mondavi Center tickets: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or www.mondavi.arts.org.

Video and dance event

Spark; I Am Strange; They Are Strange, a collaboration between UC Davis video arts students and the Linda Bair Dance Company of Davis, is scheduled for presentation to the public at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. Admission is free.

The Vagina Monologues

UC Davis students and community members are presenting The Vagina Monologues as a fundraiser for Women’s Resources and Research Center gender education resources and the V-Day international campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Performances are set for 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. Tickets at the women’s center and Armadillo Music, 205 F St., Davis.