Applause, applause: The Allentown Arts Commission Arts Ovation Awards, now in its 30th year, will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27, ballroom, Renaissance Hotel, 12 N. Seventh St., Allentown. The Butz Family, above, will receive the Legacy Award. “To see the years of dedication this year’s recipients have given to Allentown and the arts shows us that our community has a very deep, rich soul,” said Jane Heft, of the Allentown Arts Commission, and City Center Allentown Vice President & Design Director. Also receiving awards: Peter Gourniak, Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts; “Blues, Brews & BBQ,” Outstanding Achievement in Performing Arts; The LGBT Library at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Outstanding Achievement in Literary Arts; JoAnn Wilchek Basist, Civic Theatre, Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education; Jessica Bien, General Manager, Muhlenberg College Department of Theatre and Dance, Outstanding Service to the Arts, and The Alternative Gallery, Outstanding Emerging Artists. The Arts Commission will also award scholarships for outstanding achievement in art, music and theater to students from Allentown’s high schools: William Allen, Louis E. Dieruff and Central Catholic high schools. Valet parking is available. Ticket information: Ovation.AllentownArts.com

“Requiem” for singers: The Allentown Symphony Chorus hosts “Verdi’s Requiem Singing,” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Rodale Community Room, third floor, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. The free event is open to singers who’ve always wanted to sing Verdi’s “Requiem” or who would like to sing it again. Allentown Symphony Chorus Master Eduardo Azzati and Maestro Diane Wittry of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra will attend. The event will kick off the Allentown Symphony Chorus season in which they will prepare and sing Verdi’s “Requiem” with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in concert, April 13 and 14, 2019. The event is free and open to the public. Information: allentownsymphony.org; 610-432-6715