Baritone Matthew Peterson won first place in the March 30 Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition for young singers on a professional career track. He was one of 15 chosen from an initial field of almost 50 who competed in mid-March for a chance at more than $33,000 in award money. “The Guild’s primary objective is to assist young singers in their pursuit of a career in opera … and our annual competition is the single most important event on our calendar,” said competition vice president Karen Bruggenthies. Other winners: Griffin Hogan Tracy, Kyra Dills-DeSurra, Erin Hodgsen, Kyrie Laybourn, Katheryne Baker and Eric McConnell. In addition, certificates of merit went to Amy Maples, Daisha Togawa, Jovahnna Borboa. Honorable mentions went to Mary Kettlewell, Nathan Snyder, Zachary Bryant, Christiana McMullen, Christine Honein. The competition was held at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Ave., Denver, and three judges chose the winners, while opera fans enjoyed a lovely free concert. See DenverLyricOperaGuild.org for membership information. Each monthly luncheon meeting has a musical program.

Baaa!

Reminder — “Sheep to Shawl” will be held at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 18. Demonstrations of shearing, spinning, weaving, dyeing, herding and more. Plus an ongoing chorus of “Baaas!” from little lambs and some handcrafts for sale. And some visiting alpacas. Postponed from the original date by a blizzard. Free. 303-795-3950.

Indigenous music

Leon Joseph Littlebird will tell stories and weave music through them for the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at 7 p.m. on May 20 at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. He is a guest speaker for Colorado Mountain College classes and other groups on both Colorado and Native history and will focus on “how music was discovered,” using ancient instruments. Guests are welcome. (A $2 donation is suggested for non-members.)

Band concert

The Castle Rock Band will perform a Memorial Day weekend concert, with flag ceremony by American Legion Post #1187, at 2 p.m. on May 26 at the Wilcox Ave. Bandstand in front of the Philip S. Miller Library. “Semper Fidelis” and Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” will be included on the program, plus “Armed Forces Salute.” Free.

Miners Alley

News from Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden: It is the newest Actor’s Equity Union Theatre in Colorado — designated as a “Small Professional Theatre Level One” under Actors Equity guidelines. Colorado has more than 100 live theaters listed with the Colorado Theater Guild and Miners Alley is only the 10th one to become a union theater, which means it will contribute to health insurance and pension for Equity actors who perform there. Opening May 17 is a new play by Josh Hartwell, based on the story of Mae Brussell, “Queen of Conspiracy.” It will run through June 23. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Minersalley.com, 303-935-3044.

Railroad history

Active Minds will explore the role of railroads in the U.S. as well as the industrial titans who built them. The will bring the story up to the present, starting at 2 p.m. on May 20 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Free.

`Serious Play’

Just opened at the Denver Art Museum: “Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America,” which runs through August 25. It was organized in cooperation with the Milwaukee Art Museum, where it appeared first, with more than 200 works in various media, ranging from works on paper to models, textiles, furniture, ceramics, toys, films. The emphasis is on how design connects to our daily lives and there was an emerging focus on child development, which led to smart toy design. (Don’t miss the big red playground piece.) Darrin Alfred, curator of architecture and design at Denver Art Museum, and Monica Obniski, Demmer curator of 20th- and 21st-century design at the Milwaukee Art Museum, co-curated the very pleasing exhibit. The museum is at 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway in downtown Denver. Denverartmuseum.org.

Man on the Moon

“First Man” a film that tells about astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, will be shown at 2 p.m. May 25 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Free.

`Tunes on the Terrace’

Local band “After Midnight” plays the first concert in Lone Tree Arts Center’s “Tunes on the Terrace” series at 8 p.m. June 21. Clarinetist Roger Campbell leads this big band swing jazz sextet, playing music from Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra — with a cadre of swing dancers … lonetreeartscenter.org.

Regional premiere

“Bull in a China Shop” by Bryna Turner opens May 31 at Benchmark Theatre, 1560 Teller St. in Lakewood’s 40 West Arts District. Kate Gleason directs this play about Mary Wooley and her partner Jeanette Marks over 40 years at a New England woman’s college. A revolution in education … Performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays through June 29. benchmarktheatre.com.