Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

Meet the Musicians!
Tamara Thweatt serves as Principal Flute of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra. She was formerly Piccolo and Third Flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has been a guest musician with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony. Thweatt has appeared as soloist with the Bach Sinfonia of Washington, DC, the Pontiac Oakland Symphony and the Charlotte, NC Symphony. As a Fulbright Scholar to England, Thweatt spent a year of intensive study in the studio of Trevor Wye and performed in Fulbright-sponsored recitals in London and Berlin. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Michigan, a Master's degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University. Dr. Thweatt was formerly Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Iowa, and is currently Instructor of Flute at the University of Indianapolis. Tamara has a new interest in Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), and attended two Shakuhachi workshops this summer in California and Maine.

Want to see Tamara in action with the rest of our orchestra? Find out about our upcoming performances on our website: https://www.icomusic.org/
Will we see you at our next show?

Thank you to all who joined us at Garfield Park, Riverside Park, and Holliday Park last week and to our student partners for performing alongside us: Global Preparatory Academy Indy at Riverside #44 and the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy! Thank you to Kurt Fowler for capturing our Riverside Park concert last week with these beautiful photos. Matthew Kraemer Indy Parks and Recreation

We are so grateful to our sponsors for making our three free parks concerts possible each year! Thank you to Indy Parks and Recreation for partnering with ICO to bring these events to the community. Thank you to our sponsors, The National Bank Of Indianapolis and Penrod Arts Fair. We still have two more performances this week! Join us tonight at 7:30pm in Riverside Park and tomorrow at 7:00pm in Holliday Park. See what we're performing here: https://www.icomusic.org/2024-parks-concerts-program/.

Meet the Musicians!
John Rommel has been a faculty member at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music since 1993. He was Principal Trumpet of the Louisville Orchestra from 1988-1996 and has performed throughout the United States, as well as in France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Chile, and China. As Principal Trumpet of the Louisville Orchestra, he recorded more than 30 compositions by many of the leading composers of the twentieth century. Rommel was a member of the Nashville Symphony from 1979-1988. He has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, and is currently the Principal Trumpet of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He also regularly performs during the summer with the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

John Rommel’s chamber music experience includes performances with Summit Brass, the Saint Louis Brass Quintet, Fulcrumpoint New Music Project, and the Nashville Contemporary Brass Quintet. He has performed as a soloist in many different venues, including being a featured soloist with “The President’s Own” U. S. Marine Band at the National Trumpet Competition. He also has extensive commercial recording experience in the studios of Nashville, Tennessee, and Indianapolis, Indiana. John Rommel’s students hold positions in orchestras, military bands, and with universities in the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. His primary teachers were William Adam, Louis Davidson, Leon Rapier, and J. Jerome Amend, with additional studies with Vincent Cichowicz and William Scarlett.

Come see John in action at our next performance! Find information about upcoming performances on our website: https://www.icomusic.org/

Don't forget to submit your chorus audition materials! The deadline has been extended to 9/15/24. ICO is holding Chorus auditions for our Classical Christmas and Sing-Along performances (12/14 & 12/15), with an additional opportunity in Spring 2025. ICO is committed to welcoming musicians and artists from underrepresented populations.

Chorus audition candidates should prepare a video recording of a piece that they believe represents their voice in the best possible way (see specific requirements and apply on our website here: https://www.icomusic.org/chorus-auditions/). Chorus audition candidates may submit their video auditions to the ICO via email at [email protected].

ICO's parks concerts are coming up next week! We hope you will join us 9/4 at Garfield Park, 9/5 at Riverside Park, and 9/6 at Holliday Park. Audiences can enjoy works by Chevalier, Rossini, and Schubert, plus a salute to Cole Porter (Night and Day) and Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther). We’ll also perform selections from Bernstein’s West Side Story plus an exciting medley of Broadway hits titled Curtain Up! (repertoire varies slightly each night). For a full list of what we're performing and where, click here: https://www.icomusic.org/2024-parks-concerts-program/. You can register for weather related updates here: https://ci.blue.prod.ovationtix.com/36694/production/1202242.

Listen to this all new episode of Mocktails & Masterpieces with Dana Stone and Joshua Allen! Learn more about our Community Partnerships ARTI award from the Indy Arts Council and more behind the scenes of Black Keys.

Listen to the podcast or watch the ARTI video at links below. Don't forget to subscribe and rate Mocktails & Masterpieces so we can continue to provide free content! Thank you to our sponsor: Anthony Team Realty.

Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NHP8m0ovs9gjJYMINkrs9?si=d7423a57d2d841b4
Watch Video Here: https://youtu.be/BzsC2fv6RxE

Meet the Musicians!
Violinist Dianna Joiner is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. She is currently assistant concertmaster of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and recently joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as section violin. During the 2021-2022 season, Dianna was a member of the first violin section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition to regularly performing with the Indianapolis Symphony, she plays with the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio, and several other ensembles in the region. Prior to her time in Indianapolis, she was a member of the West Virginia Symphony, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.

Dianna has participated in summer music festivals including the Britt Music and Arts Festival, New Hampshire Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Breckenridge Music Festival, Round Top Festival Institute, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Center Institute and Festival. Dianna was on the faculty at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and Community Music School from 2018-2021 where she maintained both a Suzuki and traditional violin studio. She has also served on the violin faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Program and Hathaway Brown School.

Dianna received a Bachelor of Music degree from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She also completed a post-graduate degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her former teachers include Carolyn Huebl, Brian Lewis, and William Preucil. In her spare time, Dianna enjoys exploring coffee shops and going on adventures with her husband, violist Patrick Miller, and their corgi named Poe.

Catch Dianna and the rest of our orchestra in action at our next performance! Join us for three free concerts in the parks next week (Sept. 4-6) and for opening night on Oct. 19! Tickets and information here: https://www.icomusic.org/shows/

Don't miss ICO in Indy Parks next week! We will perform three free concerts September 4th-6th. Check out this article from Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper for further details including a sneak peek of what we're performing!

https://indianapolisrecorder.com/indianapolis-chamber-orchestra-to-play-free-concerts-in-september/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE6ziBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHW19HYcNHo7f38Aa94M2OBE0cov-gglmpc2l0GJZA6xTiw21k6c19mwjqA_aem_FrNuMUoB1fDFsZGL1btRCw

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra to play free concerts in September - Indianapolis Recorder The free concerts, which are in partnership with Indy Parks with support from The National Bank of Indianapolis and The Penrod Society, will take place in Garfield Park on Sept. 4, in Riverside Park on Sept. 5 and Holliday Park on Sept. 6.

Don't forget! The deadline to apply for the section violin audition is TOMORROW, August 26, 2024. The deadline to apply for the concertmaster audition has passed (August 4th).

Auditions will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Indiana Landmarks Center (1201 Central Ave. Indianapolis, IN). Visit: https://www.icomusic.org/auditions-openings/ for details on how to apply. Please send your resume and any questions to [email protected]. No deposit, but we kindly ask for 3 days notice out of respect for the audition committee for cancellation. We hope to see you there!

We were honored to accept an ARTI Award last night at Start with Art with Joshua Thompson and all of the fantastic artists involved in Black Keys! Thank you to the Indy Arts Council for this award! We enjoyed celebrating with our board, staff, and artists. Matthew Kraemer Dana 'Hudson' Stone Joshua Allen Kenyetta Dance Co. PsyWrn Simone Okara Imani

An all new podcast episode of Mocktails & Masterpieces is out today! Learn more about ICO Principal Oboe Leonid Sirotkin, who will be featured on "Autumn Sketches" November 23rd. This episode features his musical story as beautifully told by the IndyStar's Instagram TV series "Journeys of Note." This episode was previously released in video format only on May 14, 2020. Thank you to our Mocktails & Masterpieces sponsor, Anthony Team Realty. Tickets on sale now for 11/23 and all of our other concerts: https://www.icomusic.org/concerts/autumn-sketches-vaughan-williams-mozart-and-leonid-sirotkin/.

Listen to this episode here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NHP8m0ovs9gjJYMINkrs9?si=91e5b2b651ae459b
Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/kG-lCRPX5zI?si=yzk3kRFxewPg3zpn

Meet the Musicians!
Matthew Hogan has been a member of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra since 2007. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in bassoon performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he served as Associate Instructor of the Bassoon Studio. His bassoon teachers include David McGill, Kim Walker, and Arthur Weisberg.

Based in Chicago, Matthew is an active freelance bassoonist and has worked with many orchestras including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, and Fulcrum Point New Music Project. He also holds the position of second bassoon with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and as a performing member of the Chicago Philharmonic, has worked with the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Opera Theater and other area arts organizations. Matthew is on the faculty at Northeastern Illinois University and VanderCook College of Music.

Also an organist, Matthew is Music Director at the First Congregational Church of Evanston, Illinois. He has previously held similar positions at churches in Elmhurst, Chicago and Indianapolis. Several chamber music series in Indiana and Illinois have featured him as bassoonist, pianist, and organist.

Join us for our next performance to see Matthew and the rest of our orchestra in action! Find out more on our website https://www.icomusic.org/.

Don't Forget! Our only sale of the year ends this Thursday 8/22. Get 15% off Tickets (valid August 15th-August 22nd, 2024 on 2 & 4 ticket packages and single tickets). No Code Needed. Discount available on ICO website or Ticketmaster. Cannot be used for “Celebrate the Songbook” 5/10/25 at the Palladium.

Experience the magic of live music with the ICO! Buy online here: https://www.icomusic.org/shows/ or Call 317-940-9607. Students and children are free with reserved seat.

ICO is excited to announce Eric Schmidt will be our Chorusmaster for the 24-25 season! Eric will prepare our chorus for "A Classical Christmas" (12/14), Sing-Along (12/15), and "Land in the Music" (4/5/25). We are thrilled to welcome Eric back and hope you will take a moment to learn something about him below. Tickets for all of these performances are available now! Call 317-940-9607 or visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/36694/store/packages.

Over the past decade, Dr. Eric Schmidt has worked with choirs of all levels and sizes, from non-auditioned community groups and children’s choirs to small vocal ensembles, professional chamber choirs and large symphony choruses. He has served as Chorusmaster for the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra since September, 2021. In September 2024, Eric will return to the School of Music at his Alma Mater, the University of Utah, as visiting professor of choral studies. During the 2024/25 season, he will also perform as guest Chorusmaster at the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Utah Symphony. Prior to his appointment in Utah, Eric was the Director of Choirs at DePauw University. Internationally, Eric is one of the music directors for the Internationaler Arbeitskreis für Musik in his native country Germany. In addition to his stage appearances, Eric has conducted several orchestra and choir studio recordings in California and Utah, and also frequently works as clinician and adjudicator. Eric holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Utah and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Arts in Music and Mathematics from the University of Osnabruck (Germany).

Experience the magic of live music with the ICO! Get 15% off Tickets starting TODAY (valid August 15th-August 22nd, 2024 on 2 & 4 ticket packages and single tickets). No Code Needed. Discount available on ICO website or Ticketmaster. Cannot be used for “Celebrate the Songbook” 5/10/25 at the Palladium. Buy online here: https://www.icomusic.org/shows/ or Call 317-940-9607. Students and children are free with reserved seat. Secure your seats before our only sale of the year ends!

Meet the Musicians!
Pamela Ajango is a tenured member of the oboe section of the ICO and teaches at Butler University. She began playing with the ICO in 2002. As a full-time oboist for over 25 years, she has performed with many professional orchestras, for Broadway shows, with international touring artists, on numerous recordings, and as a chamber musician and soloist.

From 1996-2002, Pam lived and worked in NYC. After completing school, she quickly began playing with the area’s top ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; for the Broadway shows Ragtime, Cats, and Les Miserables; and as a commercial recording artist. She also worked part-time for various arts organizations, skills she has utilized more recently as a long-serving member of the ICO’s Orchestra Committee.

Professor Ajango has served on the faculties of University of Virginia, Earlham College, Anderson University, and the University of Indianapolis, prior to her appointment at Butler. She has taught at summer music festivals at Butler and IU, as well as internationally. She has been an invited performer and lecturer at the International Double Reed Society’s conferences since 2008. In June of 2025, Pam will co-host this society’s annual conference at Butler University, with the ICO serving as its resident orchestra.

An Indianapolis native, Pam was fortunate to study with oboists Malcolm Smith, Ralph Gomberg, Joseph Robinson, and Stephen Taylor. She received her degrees from Boston University and the Manhattan School of Music.

Find out when you can see Pam and the rest of our orchestra by browsing our upcoming performances here: https://www.icomusic.org.

Single tickets on sale tomorrow! Plus, you won't want to miss our only sale of the year! Get 15% off single tickets plus 2 & 4 ticket packages starting tomorrow (valid August 15th-August 22nd, 2024). Experience the magic of live music with the ICO.

No Code Needed. Discount available on ICO website, Ticketmaster, or over the phone. Cannot be used for “Celebrate the Songbook” 5/10/25 at the Palladium. Buy online here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36694/store/packages or Call 317-940-9607. Students and children are free with reserved seat.

ICO is holding Chorus auditions for our Classical Christmas and Sing-Along performances (12/14 & 12/15), with an additional opportunity in Spring 2025. ICO is committed to welcoming musicians and artists from underrepresented populations.

Chorus audition candidates should prepare a video recording of a piece that they believe represents their voice in the best possible way (see specific requirements and apply on our website here: https://www.icomusic.org/chorus-auditions/). Chorus audition candidates may submit their video auditions to the ICO via email at [email protected]. Videos must be received by the ICO by 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2024.

Did you know ICO has three (soon to be four) FREE virtual education modules available to any Indiana teacher or school? Our new program (to be released this fall 2024) includes our Black Keys performance with robust curriculum guide for meaningful classroom discussion and activities for students (intended for grades 6-12). Our other three programs include:

Tall Tales & Long Tails (best for grades K-3)
What Makes Music American (best for grades 4-8)
Dominance & Defiance (best for grades 9-12)

Watch previews and learn more here: https://www.icomusic.org/education-programs/. Register for access for your school or class here: https://forms.gle/sZydeorJHeQawwj36. Photo By: Benjy Rose

ICO begins our third year of the after-school music education program this season! Last year, we added a second community center, in addition to Faye Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center, at Shepherd Community Center. Our monthly after-school sessions include an instrument demonstration and introduction by an ICO musician, a music theory lesson, and a hands-on activity such as learning how to read and write music notes on a staff. These sessions take place near schools with little to no music education programming. ICO intends to fill this gap by offering free extracurricular programs that engage students in the joy and benefits of music education. Please consider donating to the ICO so we can continue to provide a variety of education programs https://ci.ovationtix.com/36694/store/donations/52817.

Thank you to The National Bank Of Indianapolis for helping to make this program possible!

Meet the Musicians! Alfred Abel is a founding member of the ICO and Associate Principal Second Violin. He is longtime concertmaster of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra and has served as guest concertmaster for area orchestras including the Danville (IL), Owensboro (KY), Marion (IN), Muncie (IN), Columbus (IN) Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Indiana; and associate concertmaster for Sinfonia da Camera (IL), Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Anderson Symphony. He was recognized in a documentary at Ball State University in 2010 as one of Indiana’s 13 “Hidden Treasures” for his musical contributions.

An avid chamber musician, Alfred performs regularly with his wife, Colette, and children, Benjamin and Clara, in the Abel Family Quartet. He has also performed twice-yearly recitals with piano collaborator Dr. Diane Earle as Visiting Artist at Kentucky Wesleyan College since 2008. He teaches violin and viola at Wabash College, where he is Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra. He also teaches violin/viola studio class at Purdue University.

His hobbies include doing Sudokus, reading trashy detective novels and French literature, and growing hybrid tea roses, peonies, irises, daylilies and assorted native Indiana weeds.

Check out our next performance to see Alfred and the rest of our amazing orchestra in action! Find out more about upcoming performances on our website: https://www.icomusic.org/

Free student and child tickets are back for the 2024-2025 season! All you need is a reserved seat. ICO believes in increasing accessibility to classical music from a young age. We encourage professors, teachers, parents, etc. to share this information with students you know. Butler University students can attend all our concerts right on campus. Students of any age are eligible for free tickets to our concerts with valid student ID. Just be sure to contact us to reserve your seat at 317-940-9607 or [email protected]. We hope to see you at our first concert of the season, Summer Nights, on October 19th and at our free parks concerts September 4th-6th! https://www.icomusic.org/shows/

Are you or someone you know an educator? Each year the ICO performs a FREE interactive education concert. This concert is free of charge for Indiana schools and welcomes students in grades 3, 4, & 5. This year’s concert will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 10:30 a.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University. The multi-disciplinary concert will feature the Carnegie Hall Link-Up Program where students will participate by singing, playing recorder, or playing ukulele with our professional orchestra! Check out the Carnegie Hall program in action here: https://youtu.be/sm_AffNKnxA?si=d0ZQaBSi41DHcxzh.

This concert features diverse composers and musical compositions that will engage and excite students. It allows them to experience a professional concert hall, many of them for the first time! If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more, please fill out this form and we will contact you: https://forms.gle/JAtS4sBaTTEdQEoWA. Deadline to register is 10/31.

A robust teacher guide and training session will be provided for teachers to help you prepare for the experience. We make it easy for you! Questions? Contact us at 317-940-9607 or [email protected].

Thank you to The National Bank Of Indianapolis for making this program possible!

Don't forget! ICO Concertmaster audition applications are due today, 8/4! The deadline to apply for the section violin audition is August 26, 2024.

Auditions will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Indiana Landmarks Center (1201 Central Ave. Indianapolis, IN). Visit: https://www.icomusic.org/auditions-openings/ for details on how to apply. Please send your resume and any questions to [email protected]. No deposit, but we kindly ask for 3 days notice out of respect for the audition committee for cancellation.

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra will perform three FREE, family-friendly concerts September 4th-6th! Mark your calendars and enjoy a live orchestra under the evening glow. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and enjoy the sounds of classical favorites. Open to the whole community to enjoy an evening of chamber music classics in the park.

Admission is free, but please register for updates concerning weather here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36694/production/1202242. Start time is subject to change according to sunset.

9/4 7:30pm Garfield Park
9/5 7:30pm Riverside Park
9/6 7:00pm Holliday Park

Curious about how an ICO audition works? Check out this article to learn more. Thank you to Rita Kohn for speaking with ICO violinist, Emily Popham, about the process and experience.

Bringing music all around Indiana: Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is entering its 41st season - 2024-2025 - with a celebratory nod to Matthew Kraemer's tenth anniversary as Music Director and Principal Conductor and Dana Stone's