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CORVALLIS, Ore. - The School of Arts and Communication in Oregon State University's College of Liberal Arts is starting a new performing and visual arts series to bring well-known headliners, rising stars and unique, lesser-known artists and ensembles to Corvallis throughout the year. 

The series, "SAC Presents," will feature a wide range of musical genres, from country music to jazz, chamber music and rock. The series also will include exhibits and lectures by visual artists and guest speakers addressing topics associated with the arts.

"This new series allows us to bring a wide range of artists to the campus and the community, while also providing our students with opportunities to go to a variety of performances they might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience," said Lee Ann Garrison, director of the School of Arts and Communication.

SAC Presents will kick off with several events during OSU's homecoming weekend. They are: 

• "How Country Music Became America's Pop": A talk by Bob Santelli, executive director of the Los Angeles-based GRAMMY Museum, Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. in the Austin Auditorium, 875 S.W. 26th St., Corvallis. Free and open to the public.
• The Music Revolution Project: A select group of OSU students and alumni will spend the day in a songwriting workshop with Santelli, a music producer and music faculty, followed by a concert showcasing their work. The performance will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, in the Fairbanks Gallery at OSU, 220 S.W. 26th St. Free and open to the public.
• Jackson Michelson Concert: Rising country music star Michelson, a Corvallis native, will present a free concert on Friday, Oct. 23. The Grange Hall Drifters will open the show, which is co-sponsored by the OSU Alumni Association. 8 p.m., Student Experience Center Plaza, 2251 S.W. Jefferson Way.

The series will continue in November with a performance by concert violinist, recording artist and Milwaukee Symphony concertmaster Frank Almond on Nov. 17. Almond will perform a recital to commemorate the 300th birthday of his celebrated, historical instrument, a 1715 Lipinski Stradivari. The concert will be held in Austin Auditorium at The LaSells Stewart Center. Tickets are $25; they are available at Gracewinds Music in Corvallis and online at TicketTomato.com.

Performances by the chamber music group Ivy Street Ensemble; Douglas Detrick's AnyWhen Ensemble, a chamber music- jazz hybrid band; and other events also are being planned for the winter and spring terms, with dates to be announced later.

The new series, along with growth in OSU's music, art, and theatre programs, is supported in part by generous gifts from donors, including donations made during the Cornerstone for the Arts challenge, in which donors gave over $6 million to support the arts at Oregon State.

More information about SAC Presents is available online at http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/sac-presents-series.