Live Music Indianapolis

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!

So I got one of those calls that comes in every once in a while about someone wanting to make a sizable donation to an ISO education program, and you think, will this really come through?  Maybe, maybe not.  I want to play it cool and steady, but there's a part of me that gets really excited even though they may not pan out.  =)

About 20 years ago I worked as a telemarketer for a regional theatre company selling subscriptions. It was difficult work, but I believed in the product - live theatre.  My boss would tell me that a certain percentage of people who commit over the phone and tell you they'll send in a check, don't.  Instead, I was encouraged to collect a credit card number on the spot to avoid the possibility of amnesia or minds changing.

A Maestro Open committee member had called me to say he made a contact with a guy at Guitar Center who said he may have some instruments to donate to the ISO.  I called up Randy Jaunzemis, VP of Logistics with Guitar Center, that same day to follow up on the lead and in fact, Randy told me that he had some instruments, but didn't know what kind or how many instruments he would have. He then said he would call me when they came in from Maryland.

Some time passed and I got that call, so I drove to the big Guitar Center distribution center in Brownsburg and walked in to a conference room filled with string instruments.  Wow!  Some needed repairs, but many were ready to be placed in the hands of a child.  At that time Randy couldn't commit to which instruments would be coming our way because he had some schools coming by for a look later that week.  He did allow me to take one full sized violin with me that day to hand over to one of our Metropolitan Youth Orchestra students still using an instrument too small for the growing boy.  I was ecstatic!  If we ended up with just the one, that OK, but maybe he might have 5 instruments out the many he had in that room for us?  We had to wait and find out.

That next week, Randy and his colleagues dropped off the instruments at Symphony Centre.  It was a TRUCK LOAD!! We had a concert about a week later and I asked some of the parents to help me catalog the generous gift - 26 instruments in all (roughly $11,000 worth!)

“When one of my contacts put me in touch with the orchestra, I was surprised by the excitement and need for the instruments,” said Jaunzemis. “Putting instruments in the hands of aspiring musicians fits perfectly with our company anthem, ‘we help people make music.’”

Thank you to Guitar Center, Inc. and Randy Jaunzemis for their generous donation to the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra program of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.  This youth and family development program uses string instruction to reach inner city youth and many students have no means to acquire an instrument.  Their gifts will be well used!

THE METROPOLITAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Founded in 1995 by Betty Perry and managed by the ISO since 2008, the MYO is the only youth orchestra in the city designed to serve socioeconomically challenged students in an urban setting and does not require an audition to participate. The program provides a safe, structured and positive learning environment for at-risk and underserved youth and their families; builds students’ musical skills through free and reduced-tuition music instruction; teaches them life skills and exposes them to nurturing adult role models; and encourages them to graduate high school. More than 150 socially, economically and racially diverse students in grades K-12 from area schools participate in the 35-week program.

The MYO program is also supported by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; National Endowment for the Arts; a Community Crime Prevention Grant; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009; Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate; Back Home Again Foundation; Indianapolis Chapter of the Links, Inc.; The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation; Shaw-Burckhardt-Brenner Foundation; Sheila Fortune Foundation; The Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis; and Stewart & Irwin P.C.

Daniel Spilsbury ("DJ") works as an intern in the marketing & communications department at the ISO. DJ just finished following the Butler University basketball team on their journey to the championship game.  Why? DJ is a proud member of the pep band!  Here's his story.

Of all the things I could brag about, the one I enjoy the most is the fact I got paid to go every step of the way along the NCAA tournament with the Butler basketball team.  For four years I’ve supported Butler basketball as a member of the pep band.  The whirlwind excitement swept us all up as we made our journey from San Jose to Salt Lake City to our very home Indianapolis.

On the outset of the tournament the band and cheerleaders provided a large support system for the team.  Being a couple of thousand miles from home and being from a small school tends to do that.  Our music and cheers always energized the crowd that was cheering for us, in a way that music played over the PA never seemed to do.  I also think our support may have provided a small comfort for the team, a small section always cheering for them even in the toughest of times.

As the team progressed the number of Butler fans grew and the team gained a certain noticeable fame.  Our jobs quickly turned from spirit squad to live entertainment.  We kept cheering, but the focus of our music changed from “support the team” to “keep the audience entertained while the game was on pause.”  

When the Final Four games rolled around this became very important.  We’d made it pretty far, but the teams we faced were tough.  People were on the edge of their seats during most of the game.  And when the time outs were called it was nerve wracking.  The pep band broke a lot of the tension with some real fun tunes like “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”  We also gave fans heart with the “Butler War Song” and the R-U-a bulldog chant.

I think the fans would not be able to completely enjoy any game without some form of music on their side.  PA music just lacks the life and excitement of a live band.  It can’t choose songs to play based on how either team is doing.  It can’t bring a crowd to cheer for their team.  But as a band, we can support the team, the fans, and represent Butler as a whole.  And we would not be anywhere without the basketball team or the Butler Way.

Go Dawgs!

Hi All:

Just returned home from a sold out Pink Floyd Tribute Band concert with the ISO.  The light show was dazzling.  And I believe the ISO received at least three standing ovations from the appreciative (of ALL) ages audience. Possibly you were there and will comment.

I loved the outfits worn by our audience.  Walking in from the convenient parking garage I saw a couple that looked like they were dressed for a prom while many others were in jeans. One can always be comfortable at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

My passion for this orchestra and music in general causes me to challenge those reading my blog that attended the Music of Pink Floyd concert. Have you ever attended one of our Classical Series concerts? Here is my suggestion for a night on the town.

For one of our 8pm Classical Series programs, begin with dinner at one of many wonderful downtown restaurants or at Dinner at the Symphony. These concerts have an intermission and you can have a drink and discuss the first half (possibly the world famous soloist or the intriguing music you just heard). By the way:  I often see young couples in the audience dressed to kill - so to speak.  What fun! (casual is ok also)  After the concert head to a local bar for shots (maybe tequila, but please don't drink and drive).  Or to a local jazz club.   Indianapolis offers so much.

On a personal note a "Jazz Master" in town, pianist Claude Sifferlen, passed away this past week.  Some of us in the orchestra know him from the Jazz Chatterbox Club on Mass. Ave.  Claude and clarinet/sax giant Frank Glover performed on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 25 years at this bar. They would always be there playing at "the next level."  Frank being much younger must have started playing with Claude at age 18 or 19.  Claude was a beautiful human being. He will be missed. Through the years the ISO has had as featured soloists (with the orchestra, not as a single act) such greats as Buddy Rich and the Modern Jazz Quartet.  When we think of Claude we put him at that level.  Someone who could live in LA or NYC but we were fortunate he stayed home.

I am proud to say that among my colleagues over the years, and presently, we have that kind of talent in a classical style and our audiences recognize that. And so this week we play for thousands of school age kids during our Discovery Concerts and then next weekend, THE WIZARD OF OZ with Orchestra!

While shopping at the Mall across the street from Hilbert Circle Theatre, a salesman told me he was in the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and they were rehearsing for Mahler's "Resurrection Symphony" in May.  As a student at Miami University he recalled when the ISO performed this masterpiece with John Nelson conducting and Benita Valente singing.  If you have never heard MAHLER - be there!  I had the honor of performing this work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Bernstein conducting - and I was paid!!! I could discuss the rehearsals and performances for hours.

Bye for now.

Recently, ISO double bassist Brian Smith, was interviewed for a video project about the importance of arts in our community. After providing a brief answer to the question, “What argument would you make to those in non-artistic professions to support the need for the arts in society,” Brian spent some more time thinking about it and provided the following thoughts.

I was asked recently what argument I would make to those in non-artistic professions to support the need for the arts in society (the assertion by some being that the arts have no real significance in our community). I mean, it's just another form of entertainment, right?  My answer at the time was that the arts, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in particular, provide not only an entertainment option, but an avenue to explore the emotional and philosophical aspects of our world in a way that other mediums don't allow. If we do our jobs onstage well, performances will take on a life of their own for every audience member listening and each will react differently, based on their own experience, in a personally meaningful way. I believe this is absolutely true, but there is more to the story.

The arts are everywhere in each of our lives, whether we recognize them or not. Consider for a moment going to a movie that contained no music, a wedding with no first dance, or even just turning on the radio and hearing nothing but static. There would be no plays, movies, or TV shows without actors, no sculpture or painting to enhance our homes and workplaces without artists. The arts permeate every part of our lives. They can inspire, console, frighten, and uplift. The arts are like a language that we all speak, and without knowing why, can affect us profoundly. As a musician, I know first hand the benefits of studying an art form. Music can teach us many valuable lessons applicable to other parts of our lives. One lesson of critical importance deals with problem solving and abstract thinking. Have you ever wondered why you can listen to the same piece of music played by multiple performers and have dramatically different experiences? It is due in large part to the fact that each performer must make choices and solve problems in a way that is unique to them, thus creating a new and different interpretation of the work. Among other things, performers must decide for themselves how a piece should paced, phrased, and presented. Then they must figure out a way to achieve that vision. In other words, they have to solve a myriad of problems that will likely involve techniques that they are comfortable with and the integration of new ideas that may be unexplored for them to that point of their development.

To continually progress as an artist, you must, to coin an overused cliche, "think outside the box" as often as possible. Another part of being a musician is, just like mom used to say, learning to play well with others. Most musical performances require collaboration with other artists, whether it be with a large ensemble like the ISO, or a solo recital which usually requires accompaniment of some kind. Communication and compromising skills are essential in these settings and one must learn them quickly if they wish to have success on stage. But the most beautiful and engaging part of any artistic endeavor is the opportunity for people to create and express themselves in unique and personal ways. So often in our formative years we are told to study academic subjects such as mathematics, science, and grammar. While these subject matters are crucial in all our lives, students have far fewer opportunities to explore their creativity and how it may help and impact them in other parts of their lives. Perhaps more than anything else, this is the most important reason why everyone should support the arts.

This video will be shown at the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ annual Start with Art luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009.