Jon Frank

The Australian Chamber Orchestra comes to Bailey Hall with Dawn Upshaw.

From Down Under

The Cornell Concert Series welcomes the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO), with renowned American soprano Dawn Upshaw, April 27 at 8 p.m. in Bailey Hall.

The concert features Grammy-winning composer Maria Schneider's "Winter Morning Walks," written for Upshaw and the ACO with settings inspired by poet laureate Ted Kooser, whose morning walks during his recovery from cancer treatment led to a series of postcards (to his friend, writer Jim Harrison) with elegantly wrought poems evoked by common things and daily events.

Schneider will be in attendance at the Bailey Hall performance, which also includes works by Shostakovich, Schubert, Schumann and Schoenberg.

Upshaw is a 2007 MacArthur fellow and four-time Grammy winner. Richard Tognetti is artistic director and first violinist of the ACO, currently on a 10-city North American tour ending at Carnegie Hall.

Tickets are $25-$35 for reserved seating, $17 for students, available at http://www.CornellConcertSeries.com or http://www.BaileyTickets.com; Ticket Center Ithaca, 171 The Commons, or by calling 607-273-4497. Ticket fees apply. Cornell discounts are available online with valid netID.

Family drama

Cornell Cinema is showing the acclaimed 2011 Iranian drama "A Separation" April 27-28 and May 1 in Willard Straight Theatre.

The story concerns a couple who must decide whether to leave Iran to offer their daughter a better life or stay to take care of a parent with Alzheimer's disease. Directed by Asghar Farhadi, the film won a 2012 Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for best foreign language film and three prizes at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Information: http://sonyclassics.com/aseparation.

Music hall

The Just About Music (JAM) residence hall's annual music festival, Cornstock, will showcase bands and musicians from JAM and the Cornell community, April 29, 1-5 p.m. in the Appel Community Center Courtyard. Free and open.

Performers will include 3Unit, Alan Rose and the Restless Elements, Contradictator, Dan Wolff, Second Salvo, Strange Attractors and Thunderstorm Clouds. JAM T-shirts and performing bands' merchandise will be available.

Cornell's North Star Trio also has a performance and jazz jam planned for 5-7 p.m. at Appel Commons following the festival.

Aztec Two-Step

WVBR's "Bound for Glory" welcomes the return of veteran folk-rock duo Aztec Two-Step April 29, 8-11 p.m. in the Anabel Taylor Hall Café. Free.

Neal Shulman and Rex Fowler have been playing together for 40 years, one of the longest runs in music. Since their debut album in 1972, their songs have been full of energy, poignant twists and tight harmonies. They were the subjects of a 1999 PBS documentary, "No Hit Wonder," and periodically perform a live tribute to Simon and Garfunkel. Their new album, "Cause and Effect," features songs of social significance.

"Bound for Glory" live performances, in three 30-minute sets, are open to all ages and are broadcast live on WVBR-FM 93.5 and online at http://www.wvbr.com.

Active engagement

Representatives from a broad coalition of campus and community partners will discuss Cornell's engagement mission, what "engagement" means, why it matters and how to go about it in a respectful and empowering manner, in "Working Across Differences to Make a Difference," April 30, noon-2:30 p.m. at 102 Mann Library. Food will be provided.

Cornell's land-grant mission states that we have an obligation to enhance not only the well-being of our students, but also New York state residents, communities and others around the world. Awareness is growing that embracing diversity and collaborative engagement based on meaningful dialogue and exchange are essential to achieving those goals and maintaining relevance in the work that we do, including sustainability and translational research initiatives.

Sponsored by the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research and presented by Mann Library's Connected Minds, Resilient Communities programming. Information: http://www.mannlib.cornell.edu/resilient-communities.

Great generals

Professor of history and classics Barry Strauss will discuss the three great military leaders examined in his new book "Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership," May 1 at 4 p.m. in Olin Library 106. Free and open to the public.

Following his talk, Strauss will lead a question and answer session and books will be available for purchase and signing.

Strauss' book shows what these three commanders can teach us today about strategic thinking, ambition, leadership, branding and more, in comparing how they waged war and how they succeeded and failed. Information: http://barrystrauss.com/.

Dance diversity

The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Spring Mini- Locally Grown Dance Festival, showcasing new works from students and faculty choreographers, May 3, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. in the Class of '56 Dance Theater. Tickets are $4 at the box office, 430 College Ave., or by calling 607-254-ARTS.

Works will explore the play between convention and invention, between form and abandon and between the mobilized mind and the moving body.

The May 3 and 5 concerts feature modern, post-modern and hip-hop dance styles by faculty member Jumay Chu and a dozen student choreographers from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. The May 6 show includes Indian dancer Durga Bor performing ragas in collaboration with musician Max Buckholtz and new work by Hobart and William Smith faculty.

Audience members are welcome to attend free, on-site performances May 3 and 5 at 7:15 p.m. on Bailey Plaza, in front of Bailey Hall.

Slope Day

Slope Day 2012 marks the last day of classes Friday, May 4, with a concert at noon featuring English pop singer Taio Cruz, alternative rock band Neon Trees and reggae group The Wailers.

Currently registered Cornell students (including graduate students and December 2011 graduates), faculty and staff will be admitted free with a valid Cornell ID. Guest and alumni tickets -- $25 until 9 p.m. April 29, $35 (subject to availability) until May 4 -- are on sale at http://www.CornellConcerts.com. Activities, games and food will be offered on Ho Plaza during the day. Information and rules: http://slopeday.cornell.edu/tickets.php.

Volunteers are needed. To sign up or for more information, visit http://slopeday.cornell.edu/volunteer/.