By Ken Severson
There’s nothing like a broad and diverse range of music. It can mesmerize, surprise and enchant.
So, perhaps it’s not a wonder the Indiana Wind Symphony is presenting the concert “Eclectic Enchantment.”
The concert is at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at the Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
The night promises to be an eclectic mix of works with performances by guest vocal soloist Jessamyn Anderson, a 2011 Carmel High School graduate.
Anderson, who now lives with her family in Nashville, Tenn., is an accomplished performer, according to IWS founder and Music Director Charles Conrad, a Carmel resident.
“Jessamyn is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and is a very talented actress and soprano,” Conrad said. “She’s appeared in operas, recitals and musicals.”
Conrad said the IWS is going to open the concert with “Serenade No. 12” by Mozart, and then Anderson will sing an opera selection and then a piece by Samuel Barber called “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.”
Conrad said it’s a soprano feature with 15 instruments, and Anderson will also sing an opera selection.
“I’ve been performing as a soprano soloist with the Indiana Wind Symphony for 12 seasons, which means I’ve grown up professionally alongside this ensemble,” Anderson said. “The Indiana Wind Symphony remains a wonderful group to perform with, and I’ve been blessed to sing a wide variety of repertoire with them.”
Anderson said Conrad invited her to perform in the ensemble’s 2011 Christmas concert after he heard her sing “O Holy Night” at the Carmel High School Holiday Spectacular her senior year.
“And now that piece is our iconic song that I look forward to every year,” Anderson said.
The IWS is made up of approximately 80 volunteer members and includes professional musicians, music educators and serious avocational musicians.
Conrad said he believes the IWS is the only concert band that does a chamber series and has done so for 15 years.
“They are smaller than a concert band, anywhere from four to 24 pieces,” Conrad said. “It’s comparable to the orchestra doing a string quartet as part of its series.”
Instruments include woodwinds, brass and percussion and some strings like a string bass and harp.
