Orchestra Indiana announces 2023-2024 season

ORCHESTRA INDIANA ANNOUNCES 2023-24 SEASON

Highlights include music from the Harry Potter films, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, a tribute to the Beatles, and Beethoven’s immortal 9th Symphony.

Orchestra Indiana to begin search for new music director.

CONTACT: Katie Morgan Perez (765) 669-0356, kperez@orchestraindiana.org

February 28, 2023

MUNCIE, IN – Today, Orchestra Indiana announced details of its 2023-24 concert season with performances in Muncie’s Emens Auditorium and venues throughout East Central Indiana. Highlights include music from the Harry Potter films, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, a tribute to the Beatles, and Beethoven’s immortal 9th Symphony. Season ticket packages including all six programs in the Muncie area are on sale now through the Emens Auditorium Box Office. Call (765) 285-1539 between 10am – 5pm weekdays or email emens@bsu.edu with questions.

“It’s an exciting season that continues the artistic profile we established when Orchestra Indiana was founded,” said Orchestra Indiana Executive Director Katie Perez. “From the Beatles to Beethoven, there really is something for everyone.”

With the recent appointment of Matthew Kraemer as Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic, Orchestra Indiana is in search of new artistic leadership. The search process will be led by a committee comprised of members of the Orchestra Indiana Board of Directors and musicians.

For the 2023-24 season, respected conductor, violinist, and educator Joel Smirnoff has been named Principal Guest Conductor. Smirnoff, who currently resides in Carmel, was a long-time member of the Juilliard String Quartet, Chairman of the Juilliard School’s Violin Department, and led the Cleveland Institute of Music for nearly a decade.

“While work has already begun, it may take several seasons to find the right person to lead our orchestra,” said Steve Slavin, Chairman of the Orchestra Indiana Board of Directors.” “We are fortunate to have Joel Smirnoff – a very accomplished musician and artistic leader – close by to provide stability while we go through the process.”

ORCHESTRA INDIANA 2023-24 Season:

Magical Music: Harry Potter & More

Joel Smirnoff, Principal Guest Conductor
Saturday, September 16 @ 7:30pm – Emens Auditorium, Muncie
Sunday, September 17 – TBA
Orchestra Indiana opens a wondrous new season with music from the Harry Potter movies, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” immortalized in Disney’s Fantasia, and other magical tunes.

Appalachian Spring

Joel Smirnoff, Principal Guest Conductor
Saturday, October 14 @ 7:30pm – Rediger Chapel Auditorium, Taylor University
An intimate program of classical favorites including Copland’s Appalachian Spring as originally written for a 13-piece chamber orchestra, Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, and Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

Classical Mystery Tour

Saturday, November 11 @ 7:30pm – Emens Auditorium, Muncie
Original cast members of Broadway sensation “Beatlemania” join Orchestra Indiana for a tribute to the Fab Four. Enjoy all your favorite Beatles’ hits including “Yesterday,” “Help,” and “Love Me Do” performed by musicians who look and sound like John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Christmas Celebration

Saturday, December 2 @ 6:00pm – Emens Auditorium, Muncie
Orchestra Indiana performs the sounds of the season.

Brahms Violin Concerto

Joel Smirnoff, Principal Guest Conductor
Saturday, February 10 @ 7:30pm – Emens Auditorium, Muncie
Sunday, February 11 – TBA
Romance will be in the air in a program featuring Brahms’ impassioned Violin Concerto and highlights from Prokofiev’s searing Romeo & Juliet.

Beethoven’s 9th

Joel Smirnoff, Principal Guest Conductor
Friday, April 12 @ 7:30pm – Emens Auditorium, Muncie
Saturday, April 13 – TBA
Enjoy an epic season finale – Beethoven’s 9th Symphony – the great composer’s immortal “ode to joy.”

ABOUT ORCHESTRA INDIANA

Orchestra Indiana began in March 2022 when the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Marion Philharmonic Orchestra merged into one organization. Both the MSO and MPO have rich histories in our region, and Orchestra Indiana is fortunate to continue their legacies.
The Muncie Symphony Orchestra began when Dr. Robert Hargreaves was hired by the Ball State Teachers College to lead the college’s music program in the 1940s. He thought Muncie needed an autonomous orchestra. Hargreaves led the first professional orchestra with two concerts in the spring of 1948. (cont.)

By January 1950, more than 50 musicians met and approved a constitution for the Muncie Civic and College Symphony Association. For more than 70 years, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra flourished thanks to a strong relationship with Ball State University, with BSU music faculty and talented music students making up a large portion of the orchestra.

The Marion Philharmonic was formed in 1969 under the direction of Benjamin G. Del Vecchio. The orchestra was comprised of students and local area musicians until it became a semi-professional ensemble within a five year period. Mr. Del Vecchio was an Indiana University doctoral student when he joined the music faculty at Taylor University. Little did he know founding an orchestra would become a major priority. With the assistance of Dr. Edward Hermanson of Taylor University and a group of committed Marion businessmen, the orchestra quickly became a passion of Del Vecchio and together they developed the MPO.

The musicians of Orchestra Indiana include musicians from both the former MSO and MPO. They are professors, students, and professional musicians who hail from east central Indiana, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Cincinnati. Many of our musicians also have “day jobs” as farmers, teachers, EMTs, and executive directors. All are passionate about bringing live orchestral music to you!