The Laporte County Symphony Orchestra: a Community Gem by Paula Mchugh
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 21, Number 14 Thursday, April 21, 2005 The LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra: A Community Gem by Paula McHugh match the experience of sitting in a concert hall and listening to a live performance. Luckily for local res- idents, the venues in which the LCSO performs— LaPorte’s Civic Auditorium, the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte, and the First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City—make it an easy, close-to-home, has- sle-free drive. The high quality of the LCSO’s per- formances brings raves and kudos from discrimi- nating listeners. Reflecting back on the Movie Magic Classic Concert presented last month in Michigan City, Mary Kelley said that she and other audience members were moved to tears by “the incredible performance” of the two teenaged Young Artists Competition winners, a 13-year old violinist and a 15-year old pianist. “Everyone in the audience was crying and clapping,” Mary said. “The two young musicians were so poised in front of all those people.” The event drew a crowd of well over 200, according to LCSO Executive Director Tonya McGue. As word continues to spread about the superb musical talent within arm’s reach, the audi- ence numbers continue to expand. Meanwhile, the Friends’ guest speaker and symphony director and conductor Friends of the LCSO have committed themselves to Philip Bauman talked about the gift of sharing music for the helping increase public awareness of this communi- greater good of the community. ty asset. Whoever it was that said that the future of strong Symphony Continued on Page 2 communities lies in their ability to offer cultural attractions should offer a round of applause to LaPorte County and its environs. Beacher country residents are enriched with the soul of art in all forms. The Friends of the LaPorte County Symphony have formed to further the area’s awareness of its rich musical legacy, and they have seen its membership double in just a two-month span of time. At the orga- nization’s April meeting hosted at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, more than a dozen new members joined with charter members to listen to guest speak- er and symphony director and conductor Philip Bauman talk about the gift of sharing a musical inheritance for the greater good of the community. Philip and Friends well know that a person can have the most incredible home sound system for listening At their April meeting, Friends of the LCSO were treated to music by to their favorite recordings, but it still will never LCSO harpist Meg Rodgers. THE Page 2 April 21, 2005 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $28 6 months $16 3 months $10 1 month $5 Marcia Morris has been in charge of transporting the Vacationing Violins to and from each of the exhibit spaces since their premiere in February at Purdue North Central. Liz Bernel, Mary Kelley and Tanya McGue volunteer their time towards making sure the community enjoys and supports the LCSO. Liz serves as President of the Friends of the LCSO and Mary is Vice President. Tanya is the Executive Director of the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra. Marcia Morris, First Lady of LaPorte (wife of Symphony Continued from Page 1 LaPorte mayor and LCSO Board member Leigh Morris) has been in charge of transporting the artful “The LCSO is a gem in our community,” said violins to and from each of the exhibit spaces since their Friends President Elizabeth (Liz) Bernel, who hap- premiere in February at Purdue North Central. pily serves to enlist new Friends of the LSCO as Asked if she had a favorite among the 13 original vio- well as new symphony audience members and sup- lins, Marcia was quick to describe the nuances of porters from not only LaPorte and Michigan City, but each. One that Tanya and Marcia agree will be a also from neighboring Porter County communities such popular choice among certain LaPorte raffle ticket hold- as Valparaiso and Chesterton as well as southern ers is artist Lee Rardin’s rendering of LCSO audience Michigan. Liz announced that the Friends have members. already planned two new fundraising events for next year: Sax in the City (to be held at Rag Tops Museum in Michigan City) and Hoosier Idol, a talent contest loosely based on the popular television show. Liz hopes that the Friends meetings held every other month in various locations around the area will attract new members who appreciate the ongoing mission of the LCSO to broaden the artistic experience of people in the growing community. One of the LCSO supporters’ most recent ventures is the “Vacationing Violins” exhibit, a collaborative effort between local artists and numerous other communi- ty groups and businesses. After traveling to Purdue North Central, LaPorte Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City, the Framing Station and the Lubeznik Center, the 13 uniquely-painted violins will meet their new owners this coming Saturday evening. Raffle tickets are still “Lee (Rardin) had us hold up a flashlight to our faces,” Marcia Morris said available for the one-of-a-kind violins up until concert as she pointed out her place among a dozen painted audience members time. on one of the violins in the exhibit. Marcia’s likeness is on the bottom row. THE April 21, 2005 Page 3 Open ‘til 6 p.m. Evenings www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the [email protected] Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel 1/2 Price Sale on all New Arrivals Buy One Piece, Membership manager Kathy Callan and Executive Director Tanya McGue will be saying goodbye to the Vacationing Violins when raffle winners are Get Second Piece 1/2 Price announced at Saturday evening’s concert. The violins, painted by local artists, have been exhibited at several venues across the county since (Of Equal or Lesser Value) February. A Vacationing Violins Bon Voyage Party was held at the Lubeznik Center last weekend. Pendleton...Wrinkle-Less The LCSO was founded in 1972 by LaPorte music Everyday Chinos teacher John Bennett, and during its 32-year tenure, All-seasons, 100% cotton the originally-named LaPorte Symphony has had pants constructed of an ultra- seven music directors. Philip Bauman, who carries a smooth, fine twill that's notable list of musical accomplishments, has been Music specially treated for wrinkle Director and Conductor since 1994. (Philip also resistance. The rumples designed the LCSO’s very impressive and informative and wrinkles go, but the website at www.lcso.net according to Tanya) . The cur- rent roster of orchestra musicians totals 74, with crease stays, so you can many living in LaPorte and Porter counties and oth- count on a tailored look. ers from far western Lake County, southern Michigan, Flat-front style with zip and South Bend. front and on-seam pockets. In addition to presenting ten musical concerts—includ- Machine wash. $48 ing children’s concerts and school education pro- grams, the LSCO sponsors an annual Young Artist Competition where winners are featured during the concert season and who receive a monetary award. The 2005 Florence Andrew Young Artist Competition is sched- uled for Sunday, May 22 in LaPorte, and students through grade 12 from Northwest Indiana and south- west Michigan (Berrien County) are eligible to apply. Rules can be obtained from Marcia Morris or from the LCSO website at www.lcso.net/. Symphony Continued on Page 4 THE TENT IS UP! Blow Out Sale Select Styles $5, $10 and $15 Sale Ends April 30th. Hurry in for Spectacular Savings! Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 - HANNAH’S, NEW BUFFALO THURSDAY, MAY 12 - TIPPECANOE PLACE, SOUTH BEND 409409 Alexander StreetStreet, LaPorte, IN 326-8602 On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Georgia Whitted, secretary for the Friends of the LCSO, gets ready to Monday-FridayMonday - Friday10 am 9:30to 6 pmto 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to5 5 pm enjoy the Friends’ April luncheon meeting at the Lubeznik Center. THE Page 4 April 21, 2005 Symphony Continued from Page 3 The symphony will be presenting its final concert of the 2004-2005 season this Saturday, April 23 at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium. The Night on Broadway Pops Concert will offer selections from Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Wicked, Cats, West Side Story Les Miserables, 42nd Street, and a host of other Broadway favorites. Guest artists are soprano Kimberly Jones and tenor Brian Manternach, along with the LaPorte High School Chorale under the directorship of Thomas Coe. In addition to announcing the raffle winners for the Vacationing Violins, awards recognizing excellence and service to the LSCO will be presented to individu- als. Selections from Broadway favorites will highlight the “A Night on Broadway April Pops Concert” at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium. Musical Award of Excellence honorees Cindy Ault William Harris Merry Johnson Elaine Shumway JoFran Bendix Betty Hatfield Shirley Mosher Barbara Smith Elizabeth Bluhm Sherry Jagger Carol Rose-Lewis Charles Steck John Utley. All have played with the LCSO for at least 20 years.