ISO Announces New ISO Music Director!!

Conductor Krzysztof Urbanski becomes the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s seventh Music Director effective Sept. 1, 2011, and at age 28, is the youngest music director among major orchestras in the United States. Urbanski will return to Indianapolis to conduct in concerts on May 20 and 21 and will lead the ISO in its Opening Night Gala in September 2011.

Undoubtedly one of the most interesting conducting talents to emerge in recent years, Urbanski has been attracting a considerable amount of attention throughout Europe where he is respected by orchestras, critics and audiences alike. He took the position of Chief Conductor of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra for the 2010-2011 season and was appointed to that role the week after his highly successful debut. In April of 2010, Urbanski made his U.S. debut with the Indianapolis Symphony and returned for a second visit during Marsh Symphony on the Prairie in June. In September, the ISO’s search committee unanimously voted to appoint Mr. Urbanski to the post, and the ISO musicians overwhelmingly supported the recommendation.

To get a free download of Krzysztof Urbanski conducting Dvorak's New World Symphony with the ISO, go to InstantEncore.com/IndianapolisSymphony and enter code: "Urbanski2010" in the redeem box in the upper right corner.

Read more about Urbanski.

Here is a video of yesterday's announcement.

Introducing More People to MYO - Thank you for your support!!

On Thursday, 10/7 the great, Great, GREAT... Ms. Perry took a group of MYO students, parents and teachers to an MYO fundraiser event hosted by Aga Morgan & Jennifer Lukemeyer and Brian and Mary Ann Sullivan at the Courtyard of The Watermark. Many people were introduced to the MYO program and were quite generous with their support that evening.

We would like to thank all of the students, parents and teachers who participated. Below is a video provided by Loraine Laswell of the group warming up before the big event. Click HERE to see photos from the event.

Playathon was a HIT!!

MYO's Annual Playathon at the Broad Ripple McDonald's this Saturday was a HIT! Thank you to all who supported this event either by performing, donating or cheering in the audience! We're sorting through our donations this week and we'll announce the total amount raised next week.

If you would like to review pictures from the event, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/myoindy/photos/sets to see pictures from the event. If you have pictures, videos, etc. to share, forward them to me at cbaker@IndianapolisSymphony.org and I'll post them on the MYO blog.

BTW, one of the parents sent me this video from the event. This is Alex McGrath and his father is accompanying him on the last piece. Thanks for sending this in!!

ICC is celebrating 25 years!

Nathan Kassab, Orchestra A cellist, was recently featured in an Indianapolis Children's Choir advertisement found in the Indy's Child magazine (pictured on left side) and someone tells me that Hannah is also featured in one of these ads.

Did you know that the Kassab family are very involved in ICC in addition to playing cello in MYO? Hannah and Nathan are in Orchestra A and Gabe, Veronica and Elizabeth are in Orchestra C.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ICC:

• Over 2,500 children from 19 counties participate in ICC.
• ICC groups have toured many countries, including: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Switzerland.

MYO wishes ICC an awesome silver anniverary!! Congratulations!

MYO Violist and The Annual Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Festival

Here are picures of me from my church's festival - Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox festival.

There's delicious food (it is AMAZING), pastries, souveniers, and informational church tours. A little info about the ethnic Greek dancing is that I dance in the high school dance group. Almost every kid at my church is in the dance groups, from pre-k to early college, and we host our festival the weekend after Labor Day each year. I have been dancing for about ten years, now that I think about it!

My mom had this idea of me playing the violin part when she heard one of the songs which happens to be from an island in Greece where all of my dad's side is from, so it had more meaning this way also. It took tons of new skills of listening and copying exactly what is being played and how it is played, but it payed off in the end. It was a great success.

~ George Gemelas is a violist in MYO's Orchestra A