Story Time at the Symphony Words by Kate Hamori One of my most vivid musical memories is from my very first orchestra rehearsal in high school. I won’t lie—I was totally panicking. But as soon as we started to play, all my thoughts and worries disappea …

Women & The Orchestra Words by Kate Hamori If you take a look at your average symphony concert program, you’re likely to notice a pattern: the majority of the composers that appear on orchestra concerts are white men. This isn’t because women aren’ …

Teaching Your Kids At Home? Here’s How Music Can Help. By Crystal Hammon You’d be hard pressed to find an educator – let alone a music educator – who would discourage you from listening to classical music or sharing it with a child. And with good reaso …

Nicholas Sokol is a composer, conductor, and pianist specializing in solo, chamber, orchestral, choral, and electronic music. Nicholas’ music has been performed throughout the United States and at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall. His music has been performed by members of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, members of the New World Symphony, the Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, and the Atlantic Music Festival New Music Ensemble. 

Los Angeles-born conductor Leonard Slatkin has led an award-winning career, conducting orchestras all over the world. Slatkin has received six Grammy awards and 33 nominations and is a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts. Slatkin also h …

It’s no secret that learning to play a musical instrument offers numerous benefits — from improved cognitive development and hand-eye coordination to greater self-esteem and broader cultural horizons. For Betty Perry, it proved to be the ticket to a be …

Michael Toulouse Interviews Gemma New Photo by Roy Cox Conductor Gemma New makes her ISO debut this Thursday at Conner Prairie. She sat down recently with CMI’s Michael Toulouse to talk about the music that will be featured during the upcoming concert. …

As the conductor for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) from 1937 to 1955, Fabien Sevitzky is widely credited for bringing the ISO to national prominence, in part because he understood the importance of mass media in establishing the orchestra’s …

Recendez begged her parents to play the flute. When she was 8, her mother finally took her to a reluctant music teacher who said she was too young for lessons. “He handed me a flute and said, ‘Here you go. Try to make a sound,’” Recendez says. “I made …

After besting over 130 applicants for the job as music director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Maestra Janna Hymes has taken the helm as the CSO’s first female conductor. Her journey to the podium began as a teenager when a music teacher was t …

Violinist Jennifer Koh sat down with Michael Toulouse to talk about the concerto she’ll be performing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and why this composer’s music means so much to her.

Anne Duthie McCafferty grew up in Indianapolis and has played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for 45 seasons. She never thought she would have the chance to have a performance job, but when the opportunity arose she took it. Since then, McCafferty has performed for millions of people, performed numerous fantastic pieces, and coordinates the local chapter of Classical Revolution. Read below about her life, career, and impact on Indy.