Concert Indianapolis Indiana

Hi Everyone:

After a day of adjudicating at the ISSMA state solo/ensemble competition I am thrilled to announce I am not deaf.  I heard over 40 Group I snare drum soloists play and 'wow' were most of them really loud.  It gave me a chance to talk to the kids and their parents and point out that if they were really interested in being a music major in college they should attend as many ISO concerts as they can. 

Well in my previous blog I asked the question:  who from management is at most of our (over) 200 concerts each season.  Well, the obvious answer would be the ISO Personnel Manager (and assistant principal trombone) Blake Schlabach-- but also, CEO/President Simon Crookall is often in the audience speaking with our valuable supporters and audience.

Excuse my being so random in this blog:  Referring back to my first blog, the ISO owns hundreds of percussion instruments that are stored backstage in a very large and (high ceiling) practice/storage area.  Let me know if you would like a tour!!  We have 20 sets of sleigh bells, giant tubular chimes (ladders needed-you will see them at Symphony on the Prairie for our July 4th concerts), African drums, cymbals galore, snare drums, triangles, - more later.

The timpani/percussion section----- getting excited and practicing for Shostakovich Symphony 11 on March 12 & 13 = guaranteed to bring you to your feet.  Some of the parts are heard on orchestral percussion/timpani auditions!!!!

Here is another "list of ten"  for you to enjoy.  Places the ISO has performed:

10.  Peru (Indiana)
 9.   Washington, D.C. (Kennedy Center numerous times)
 8.   New York City (Carnegie Hall numerous times)
 7.   Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 6.   Berlin, Germany
 5.   Miami Beach, Florida
 4.   Chicago, Illinois
 3.   Bloomington, Indiana (of course)
 2.   Vienna, Austria - (visited Mahler's gravesite!)
 1.   London, England

Ok, I am ready for some questions.  Bye for now.

PAUL