But are you *sure* it's off? The Buddy System.

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Jessica Di Santo
My mom is, and always has been, my concert buddy. We're really the only two in our family who makes a habit of subscribing to the Broadway series in Indy; attending our coffee pops and classical performances here with the Indianapolis Symphony; and going nuts for any live musical performance when we occasionally visit the Big Apple. 

And the ritual is the same:  we nestle into our seats, read the program notes, and right before curtain, I lean over and say to mom: "Did you remember to turn off...Read More »

Farewell from the Clarinerd!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by Shannon Draucker

ClarinerdNow that I’ve sappily snapped photos of the Hilbert Circle Theatre marquee, the Symphony Centre entrance, the Marketing and Communications Department sign, and my desk…I feel it is time to pen one final blog post.

As this is my last day at the ISO, my sentimental mood has led me to reflect back on the amazing opportunities this internship has afforded me – meeting and interacting with a group of wonderful co-workers, taking private lessons from the ISO’s principal clarinetist, hearing some of my...

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The ISO - A Great Night Out, Easy on the College Kid's Wallet

Friday, December 9, 2011 by Shannon Draucker

College girls at the ISO!
Me and my friend Gwen at the ISO in October!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my transition to downtown Indy from the hills of rural New Hampshire, it’s that city living is alarmingly pricey.  Marsh groceries, City Market lunches and (a few too many) trips to the Fashion Mall add up at an alarming rate, leaving scant any funds for recreational pursuits. However, while swanky clubs and fancy restaurants might be out of the monetary question, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has taken...

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This Weekend: "Some Enchanted Evening[s]" at the ISO!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 by Shannon Draucker
What little girl didn't prance around her living room belting "Sixteen Going on Seventeen?" What teenager didn't experience some kind of adolescent romantic longing as the stars of the high school musical crooned "Some Enchanted Evening?" What music appreciation teacher didn't at least reference "Do-Re-Mi" in a lesson on Solfege syllables? 

Although I am a self-proclaimed "orchestra dork" and will exalt the unparalleled power of classical music until my dying day, I cannot deny that the works of...Read More »

Bringing Brahms to Life

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 by Shannon Draucker
Me and BrahmsIn an effort to avoid a reputation as the intern who creepily writes about composers' graves, I will refrain from discussing what a transcendent experience I had visiting the resting place of Johannes Brahms at the Zentralfriedhof ("Central Cemetery") in Vienna. I will simply post a picture instead (see left).  In my excitement about the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's performance of Brahms' Third Symphony this weekend, I will however write a bit about the fascinating man that was Johannes...
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"Carmina Burana" in Pop Culture

Thursday, September 22, 2011 by Shannon Draucker
New Communications InternHello, everyone!

My name is Shannon Draucker, and I'm the new Communications Intern for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I am so excited to be here - meeting great people, listening to wonderful music, and learning a lot about the organization!

After I was hired, I immediately visited the ISO's website to peruse the program for this season.  When I saw that the ISO, joined by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Children's Choir, would be performing Carl Orff's masterwork Carmina Burana, I...Read More »

Maestros. Mansions. Memory. Music. Oh, and Jimmy Fallon.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by Jessica Di Santo
If you asked me what's been happening this week, this is how I would sum it up. Maestros. Mansions. Memory. Music. And Jimmy Fallon.

Our new Music Director, Krzysztof Urbanski ("just call me Krzys") arrived late Sunday evening. It's been a privilege for me to host our maestro around town, especially to venues like Lucas Oil Stadium for a photo shoot on Monday (Krzys will be appearing on the cover of the winter edition of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association's 4/c visitor guide)....Read More »

A Symphony on the Prairie Love Story

Thursday, June 23, 2011 by Symphony Stories
It all started August 8, 2009 while watching the "Mozart in Moonlight" of the Marsh Symphony on the Prairie concert series. I was by myself watching the concert that night because all the friends I invited to watch this concert were either at work or had other plans or plain not interested with classical music at all. I was at that time enjoying my independence at 33 years of age, single and unattached, living at my very own apartment and simply enriching my life. Then there was this gentleman...Read More »

Three for Three

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 by Symphony Stories
After graduating from DePauw University in May 2009, two of my friends and I stayed at our alma mater working various jobs, trying to fend off real life just that much longer. The economy was uncertain, and our futures looked like they might be bleak for a while. We enjoyed spending time together, but our worries about the new chapters of our lives made it hard for us to live in any given moment. Every time I smiled, I felt like I had a hornet’s nest in my throat. Misery was spreading around the...Read More »

Best of "About the Instrument"

Friday, April 8, 2011 by The Intern-al Report

AndreaIf you've visited the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra this season, hopefully you have noticed the newest feature of our program book, the "About the Instrument" section on page six. We ask the musicians to tell us about their instrument, its mechanics, its history and what makes it a unique and necessary part of the orchestra. This gives the audience insight into what is happening onstage and behind the scenes to create the wonderful music they hear.

As part of my internship, I've had the...

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Making Music, Changing Lives

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 by The Intern-al Report
AndreaThe title says it all. Making music and changing lives is what the Indy Symphony does. And now, you have a very special chance to help us change the lives of deserving children.

On April 15, the Indianapolis Symphony and the Columbia Club will host "Making Music Changing Lives," a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO), and we would love for you to join us!

MYO is an amazing program sponsored by the ISO's Learning Community that provides individual and chamber music lessons...Read More »

A Season of Excitement!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by The Intern-al Report
AndreaIt's finally here!

The 2011-2012 season has arrived and it is filled with concerts that will arouse great memories, take you on a tour of the world and challenge the musicians to perform at their highest level. Live music in Indianapolis seems to get better with every season at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra!

Three concerts have me particularly excited! Urbanski Conducts Smetana, March 29-31, will be Bohemian perfection. I was fascinated to learn that Smetana composed most of this...Read More »

Performing Copland's "Short Symphony" - For the First Time

Friday, March 4, 2011 by Jessica Di Santo

Marianne Williams TobiasIn this weekend's concerts, the ISO is performing John Adams' Lollapalooza, Saint-Saens' Second Piano Concerto (featuring Ingrid Fliter), Debussy's La Mer, and a piece never before performed by the ISO: Aaron Copland's Second Symphony. It's not very often that this occurs, so I have included Marianne's thoughts from the program book on Copland's "Short Symphony."

Marianne Williams Tobias has authored the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's program notes for more than 20 years.

When I entered...

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Three in Three

Friday, February 11, 2011 by The Intern-al Report

AndreaWow. I cannot believe that I've been the communications intern at the ISO for three weeks now! It has been a great experience so far and I'm sure it will only continue to get better.

To commemorate my first three weeks at the ISO, I'm sharing "Three in Three," three things I've learned about the symphony in my first three weeks--and three things that you should know, too!

1. The ISO's music is truly phenomenal. I must ashamedly admit that I had never been to an ISO performance before starting my...

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Ten things you might not know about Dvorak

Monday, January 31, 2011 by David Glover
This week on the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Symphonic Hits series we're presenting three works by the great Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak. I am also very excited that we are recording the entire concert for later release on CD! While all three works on the program have interesting backgrounds, I thought that here on the blog we could get to know Dvorak, the person, a little bit better. Many people know that he lived for a short time in America, but I hope on the following list you'll...Read More »

New Year's Eve concert - do not miss this wonderful evening (for all ages!!)

Monday, December 20, 2010 by Paul Berns
Paul BernsHi everyone!

It has been a long time since my last blog.  But, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has been very busy with our annual Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration concerts!

I want to inform you of our New Year's Eve concert featuring your own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the world class dance troupe from Indy:  Dance Kaleidoscope - it will be like being in Vienna.  And this evening is very affordable!!!

Afterwards you leave your seats and in the lobby you will be entertained by my 8...Read More »

2000 Yuletide Year

Thursday, December 2, 2010 by Everyone's a Critic
The season of 2000 Yuletide Celebration was the first time any of my family had been to the Celebration but one we will never forget. My daughter was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time (Sydney was born December 18th) and from the beginning to the end of the show my unborn grandchild loved the show. She moved and kicked to the beat of the music thruout the show!!! It was amazing to see and feel my daughters tummy jump and move-the baby loved the symphony and the show! She quieted between acts and...Read More »

Meet George Daugherty: The Creator of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony

Monday, November 8, 2010 by Jessica Di Santo

Jessica Di SantoMy 8 year-old still can't believe that cartoons were only shown on Saturday mornings "back in the day," as she calls "my era."  Yes, darling.  No 24-hour access to cartoons like digital cable, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel provide us today (sometimes I wish we could go back to less programming). My brother and I had the same Saturday morning ritual: make some hot chocolate on the stove and turn on Bugs Bunny and his friends--Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Yosemite Sam--and...

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live from your laptop

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by Brian Smith
Brian SmithThis morning the rarest of occurrences for a new parent took place in my home.  My wife and young daughter were leaving the house for the morning, and since my 2 month old boy was a bit under the weather, I stayed home with him.  As soon as the girls were gone, my boy presented me with a precious gift.  He fell asleep for two whole hours!  Now anyone reading this who has a child knows that these moments where the house is silent are fleeting and to be cherished.  

Given my sudden and unexpected,...Read More »

All in the Family

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 by Jessica Di Santo

Violin
It’s certainly not unusual to have many musicians in one family.  The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is proud to tout its many family connections—husbands, wives, children and siblings—in our ensemble.

But we’ve never had this family connection.

As of this moment, we are in the midst of one of the most prestigious musical competitions in the world.  The quadrennial “Olympics for the Violin,” otherwise known as the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, is taking place and 40 of the...

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