From the Field

Members of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra filed back into the ISO’s Large Rehearsal Hall just after 12:30 PM on Sunday following a morning rehearsal with the Disney Playhouse famed band Dan Zanes and Friends.  The youth orchestra was invited to perform with the popular children’s music band on their Indianapolis concert at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

“What is wrong with your hair?” Markeisha Laswell asked of the Grammy Award winning child music star Dan Zanes when he stopped by the rehearsal hall for a quick hello after the morning rehearsal.  Justice Vaughn then grabbed the opportunity to ask how he gets his hair to look like that.   Zanes’ eyes widened as he quipped with “I use a little bees wax and my man claws.”  Surprised, the two 10 year olds ran to the other side of the room giggling.

Shortly thereafter, Elena Moon Park from the band invited the orchestra to play on the concert’s finale, Bye, Bye, Roseanna – a piece they had not rehearsed.  She had no sheet music in hand for the orchestra’s director, Ms. Perry - only her ukulele as she plucked out a short series of notes.  The kids picked the little diddly up and added it to their set.  Very cool!  Hey, like the professionals!