SANDPOINT — While the Lost Horse Press has teamed up with the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint for the past couple years on the “Shakespeare in Sandpoint” event, this year MCS is adding an extra element to the program.

It will be an afternoon of diverse music and arts leading up to the evening production of “Henry IV, Part I,” with the conservatory’s new “Celebration of Arts and Culture.”

“Our theater group has opened for (Shakespeare in Sandpoint), and then we decided to really collaborate and pull that together,” said Janice Wall, director of the MCS Music Matters program.

The celebration will feature the Matsiko World Orphan Choir and MCS Children’s Choir, MCS musicians, tribal dancing by Azul Fire and Friends, contra dance with Seth Richards and Red Herring, Sandpoint Literary Collective poets and writers, the MCS theater group, and the MCS percussion ensemble.

Wall said the goal is for the celebration to mark the culmination of the Summer Academy in the future. This year, however, it is the kick off for the orchestra camp, she said.

For the children’s choir, MCS is working with Farmin-Stidwell and Kootenai elementary schools through the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant the school district was awarded last year. The kids will practice with the Matsiko choir to sing “Africa,” by Toto.

The Masiko choir is made up of children from the mountains of Peru, to the villages of Liberia, West Africa. The orphaned children, ranging in age from 5 to 15, make their way to the United States sing, dance and share their stories. Their overall goal is to raise hope, needed assistance, awareness and educational support for as many as 600 million at-risk children across the world.

“It’s incredible to witness lives transforming as these kids share their hope-filled message on stage,” Heather Mehra-Pedersen, a Sandpoint resident and former director for the Asia International Children’s Network, said in a statement. During their stay in Sandpoint, MCS and local families host the kids.

The celebration will culminate with “Shakespeare in Sandpoint,” which is returning to town for the fifth year, performed by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and hosted by Lost Horse Press in an effort to carry out the nonprofit’s mission of inspiring and educating people through programs, such as the free plays held each summer, according to a statement by Lost Horse Press officials.

“Henry IV, Part I” will be directed by Kevin Asselin of MSIP, and the audience will “experience the power, honor, and rebellion displayed in the fight for the throne, as a young prince must live up to his father’s expectations,” according to the statement. MSIP is a nationally recognized outreach program of the College of Arts and Architecture at Montana State University.

“Shakespeare in Sandpoint” and the “Celebration of Arts and Culture” will be held on Saturday, July 27, at War Memorial Field. Both events are free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic items to enjoy the afternoon and evening performances.

Gates will open at 1 p.m., with the “Celebration of Arts and Culture starting at 1:30 p.m. and the Matsiko choir performing at 3:30 p.m. The production of “Henry IV, Part 1” begins at 6 p.m.

In addition, MCS is inviting community children to sing with the Matsiko choir. Rehearsals will be held on July 25-26 from 3-4 p.m. at MCS. Those interested should contact the conservatory in advance at 208-265-4444.

Information: sandpointconservatory.org

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.