I can’t believe summer is almost over. I can’t believe Marsh Symphony on the Prairie is ending. But I do believe that we will see the 100,000th patron enter those Conner Prairie gates this weekend.
In 2009, we celebrated with Debra Fleetwood, as she was the lucky 100,000th patron to arrive.
If patron number 100,000 walks through our gates (we think on Thursday evening), it will be the third time in history that we have achieved that feat. What helped bring us to this magic number? Amazing crowds at this year’s Fourth of July concerts, amazing crowds at the Classical Mystery Tour (Beatles) weekend, amazing acts like Marvin Hamlisch, the John Denver tribute band and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, amazing performances of Pictures at an Exhibition and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth by our own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and amazing weather (only a handful of weather-related delays and one rainout—knock on wood for this weekend!).
Symphony on the Prairie is more than an attendance number. As we close out the series this weekend, I thought I would reflect upon some highlights this summer.
A debut and an adieu
On July 23 & 24, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile debuted with the Indianapolis Symphony and performed many of her hits to a large crowd of adoring fans. After the concert, we said adieu to ISO Associate Conductor Sean Newhouse. Sean moved to the east coast and now serves as an assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Bravo Sean!
Up, Up and Away
Our very own ensemble-in-residence Time for Three performed their signature genre-bending mix of music for their thousands of devoted fans. Afterward, the boys went on a Conner Prairie balloon ride—they don’t seem to have stage fright…but do I sense a little fear of heights?
It was a Thriller, for sure
Brent Havens, creator and conductor of the Michael Jackson Tribute show and other orchestrated rock tributes such as Pink Floyd, Queen and Led Zeppelin, hit a homerun by including wonderful orchestrations of the King of Pop’s greatest hits. I’ve never seen that many people dancing at Symphony on the Prairie. One patron noted that she left “ticked off that I never got to see [Michael Jackson] in concert for real and I’m convinced no one else will ever come close to being as spectacular as he is/was.” Another patron sent in this message: “This was a wonderful event. The ISO and the band that performed were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed this concert. I love live music!”
He got what he asked for!
After joking about the large amount of insects buzzing around his head on stage, prolific American songwriter Marvin Hamlisch was given several bug repellent options at intermission from his fans—everything from spray, sticks, gels to bug repellant jewelry. During the second half of Marvin’s concert, our very own Principal Librarian Mike Runyan made us all weep when he played the theme from Schindler’s List on harmonica.
Photographs also tell the story
I don't need to go on and on with highlights in writing. I can also tell a story in pictures. Here are some of my favorite photos from this season at Symphony on the Prairie.






Don’t forget! The Music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper on September 2 & 3 and the every-popular River City Brass on September 4 & 5. See you one final time at the Prairie!


As you’ve probably heard by now, my time as Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is quickly drawing to a close – I’ll be conducting the last concerts of my tenure this weekend at Marsh 






I have had a fascination with foreign languages since high school and have attempted to learn several – whether in school, at home, in full-immersion summer courses, or just by hanging out with foreign people in general. To much avail, I speak no other language well, apart from a few phrases which amuse my 5-year-old son. This fascination occurred when I read Ciardi’s translation of Dante’s Inferno and simultaneously (and coincidentally) learned a phrase in my Latin class, omni traductor traditor, or “every translator is a traitor.” (Ironically I must translate this phrase, assuming that the reader does not know Latin.) Simply put, the original is the true source, and any translation of it will result in contamination. So to do this right, I need to learn Italian before I attempt to understand the Inferno as Dante intended? Fantastico!
A big advantage to music is the share-ability factor. Of course this applies to books and movies as well, two of my other great loves. Many of us are passionate about these avenues of expression and enjoy lending out our collections to friends and colleagues. In the past few months, several composers have come up in conversation, Camille Saint-Saens, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Samuel Barber to name a few. Of these, I delved into Samuel Barber pieces after a colleague lent me the second movement of his Violin Concerto. From the moment I began listening, the soulful melody pulled at my heart and became an instant favorite. I've listened to it many times and I'm looking forward to hearing it played this
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