OK. This is an imperfect calendar, but it’s a start at reminding you about events we’ve advanced in Arts Arena or elsewhere. We’re also looking for your contributions and suggestions. Please make them in the Comments section below.

Thursday, Jan. 15, seems to be a big day for beginnings:

1) The Minnesota Orchestra starts its two-week Bernstein Festival.

2) The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Philip Brunelle depart for England on a six-concert tour. Their Jan. 20 concert in London will be broadcast in the United States at 8 p.m. on Minnesota Public Radio, 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities. Jan. 20, as you know, also happens to be inaugural day on our side of the Atlantic Ocean. This concert is a gift from abroad, as David Hawley recently reported.

3) The Critics’ Art Show opens at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, featuring a panel of area arts critics defending their choices of emerging artists for this show.

Also this week:
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is in week two of hosting its month-long International Chamber Orchestra Festival. Yes, at the same time as the Bernstein Festival. Want to know more about this battle of the bands? Read Hawley’s backgrounder.