Carmel Monthly-December 2023

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Insights On Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s Visionary Future

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MONTHLY

20 COVER STORY

Carmel Symphony’s Visionary Future: Insights from New Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain Our cover this month introduces our readers to Anne Marie Chastain, who was appointed as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s executive director last August. Chastain holds a degree in clarinet performance from IU Jacobs School of Music and a master’s degree in arts administration. Her previous symphony orchestra experiences include working with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In our conversation with Chastain, we discussed the adjustments made to the ongoing 2023-24 season and explored her perspectives on forthcoming seasons and programming. Carmel Monthly, a steadfast supporter of the CSO, is pleased to feature Chastain on our latest cover as a token of our enduring commitment to the orchestra.

Cover Story Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photo // Laura Arick

CARMEL MONTHLY

6 Form & Function of The Stratford Living 10 Center Presents: Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro:

PUBLISHER / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

12 Actors Theatre of Indiana Proudly Presents: Route 66 14 Immerse Yourself in Musical Excellence with the Carmel

PUBLISHER / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418 DIRECTOR OF SALES / Lena Lucas lena@collectivepub.com / 317-501-0418

Symphony Orchestra in 2024!

17 Kevin Sievert: Shaking Up Happy Hour with the Bloody

HEAD WRITER / Janelle Morrison janelle@collectivepub.com / 317-250-7298

Mary and Margarita Mixes

22 The Center for the Performing Arts Relaunches Quest for New Naming Partner

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DECEMBER 2023

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Form & Function of The Stratford Living

The living spaces are different. The lighting, the visual cadence transitioning from one area to the next, the high ceilings, and the thoughtfully placed reflective materials in the elegant décor have meaning.

It’s different from what you’re used to, which is by design. The Stratford, located in Carmel, Indiana, is senior living’s answer to luxury retirement living.

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ooks and crannies, lighting variations and continuity, the grand dining room’s depth and layout, recreational spaces, underground parking, outdoor water features, and fitness rooms are very specific to The Stratford for a reason. They don’t look or feel the same as a local franchised gym, YMCA, or boutique spa, and it’s not supposed to be. What Members experience at The Stratford is an immersive lifestyle designed and crafted to make each day feel special.

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CARMEL MONTHLY

6

DECEMBER 2023

accessory to combat winter’s force. No more ice scraping, defrosting, or snow shoveling. And no more summer’s punch of a sun-roasted car interior that scorches uncovered skin and causes instant perspiration to overwhelm the fresh scent of clean clothes.

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The Stratford is here for a purpose: to support every Member in their daily journey to live their happiest life, which is quite a plan.

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CENTER PRESENTS:

ALAN CUMMING AND ARI SHAPIRO: OCH & OY! A CONSIDERED CABARET THE PALLADIUM // SATURDAY, FEB. 3, 8 P.M. Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

with each other. I know that’s what Ari and I both love about this show—that connection that you get. Never mind what we say; it’s the act of coming out and being in a group of people, ready to experience live theater happening right in front of you. That is an important, nurturing kind of thing to do together.

I feel, more and more nowadays, we are so isolated in our homes, phones, screens and pods.

Ari Shapiro: One of the most satisfying things about this show has been getting messages from strangers and audience members after the show who reach out on social media, and they say, “I didn’t realize how much I needed to laugh” or “I didn’t realize how much I needed to forget about what’s going on the world for an evening and just have a great time.” Our show has meaningful moments, but I think the best thing we can do for people right now is to allow them to exhale, sit back, and have a great time.

Alan Cumming (Cabaret, The Good Wife) and Ari Shapiro (Pink Martini, NPR’s All Things Considered) are both known for transporting audiences to other worlds through their stories. Now, they’re joining forces in song. Witness the Palladium debut of their new evening of tunes and tall tales, with musical direction by Henry Koperski.

Don’t miss this collaboration of talent!

Get your tickets at thecenterpresents.org.

Janelle Morrison: Thank you both for carving out time to speak with me about your upcoming show! Getting right into the meat of it, how important is it for people to come together in their communities and come out to support shows such as yours?

Alan Cumming: It is really important for us to come together as human beings in a room, all listening to the same thing, all laughing, and sort of reconnecting

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JM: I read that after a few interviews and encounters between you two, Alan approached you, Ari, about collaborating on a show together. Each of you comes from what on the surface appears to be polar-opposite backgrounds, and yet there is a powerful and authentic chemistry between the two of you, which resonates with your audiences.

Ari: One of the reasons why I love doing the show is because I have a great time with Alan. The two of us have a ball on the stage. We make each other laugh, and we surprise each other every night. We create something new with the audience every time, even though the show follows the same arc from night to night. If we can give people a chance to just be silly and enjoy themselves, I think that’s the best possible use of our talents.

Alan: It’s a very fun evening, but we also talk about serious things, and we come from different points of view.

The show’s called “Och & Oy!” because one of us is Scottish and one is Jewish.

I think the authenticity and vulnerability of our storytelling [are] what people connect to most. It’s two people sharing their lives and experiences, and it’s very heartening. It’s been great and so fun for both us and the audience.

JM: What was the process like when deciding what the show would look like and how you would showcase the myriad of talents you both possess?

Alan: We are sort of an oddball couple because we seem very different, and it was kind of a, “Let’s do a show about opposites and then show people that we have a lot more in common than people think.” We’ve gone through a lot of the same things, and we’re storytellers who tell their stories in different ways. The start of it [creating the show] was us singing songs, throwing out some ideas, and then we got our musical director Henry [Koperski] involved. We’re very different and very opposite in many ways, but that’s what makes the show fun because we are kind of a kooky duo.

Ari: Alan and I have each developed a name for ourselves in different worlds. People tune into NPR, expecting me to deliver an authoritative account of what happened that day, and people go to an Alan Cumming show or watch him in a movie, expecting to be transported someplace else. What we’ve realized is that fundamentally, the two of us are doing the same thing, which is [that] we are telling stories and creating connections. Our show contains the best kind of deep, thoughtful and insightful moments that you might get from public radio, along with the entertaining, escapist musical numbers that you might hope to get from a great Alan Cumming show. When put together, I’ve never seen a show quite like this, and that seems to be what audiences resonate with.

In this show, Alan and I show up as our full selves. We don’t censor ourselves or fade into the background the way that he might fade into a character that he plays or I might take a backseat to the news in my journalism. It is a show for grown-ups, and there are jokes that are not very child-friendly.

JM: Alan, in addition to this show, what are some things you are working on or would like to do that you haven’t done yet?

Alan: I don’t have a bucket list. If you really want to do something, just go, do it, in case you die tomorrow. I think it’s a waste of time if you’re yearning for something in the future. It’s like you’re looking ahead and you’re missing what’s in front of you in the present. So, I don’t look at life like that. I know I’m very eclectic, and I stay open to stuff to see what comes up.

JM: Ari, you have these two lives: entertainer and journalist. You have a serious side to your work, but then you have this creative side where you get to let loose.

How do you balance those?

Ari: Each one feeds into the other. The journalism that I do informs, and the performances that I do with Alan or Pink Martini [refill] the gas tank for me to go back into the newsroom and cover the news every day. They’re different forms of storytelling and connecting with the audience. And even though they seem different on the surface, fundamentally, I think they’re the same project of helping people understand themselves, each other, and the world that we live in.

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Actors Theatre of Indiana Proudly Presents:

Route 66

Take a dollop of Grease, mix in some Pump Boys and Dinettes, and add a generous dose of Forever Plaid, and you’ve got the high-octane fun of Route 66! Beginning with the sounds of 1950s Chicago and traveling along the “Main Street of America” to the California coast with the surf music of the 1960s, this exciting musical revue features 34 of the greatest “Rock ‘n’ Road” hits of the 20th century. Songs include “Dead Man’s Curve,” “King of the Road,” “Six Days on the Road,” “Little GTO,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and many more. Get your kicks on with this coast-to-coast hit musical!

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of ATI

D

on’t wait! Put the pedal to the metal and get your tickets at atistage.org.

ship, the Carmel-based theater company things that will attract new people while has shifted into high gear and is cruising remaining true to our patrons. We open into the new year with gusto, already our doors to everyone and hope to increase planning its next full season. We spoke with our attendance going forward.” two of ATI’s cofounders, Judy Fitzgerald While it’s exciting to jet off to New York ATI’S COMMUNITY-WIDE IMPACT and Cynthia “Cindy” Collins, about how ATI City to see a show, Hoosiers are fortunate Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI) is a is part of Carmel’s economic engine that to have the Center for the Performing professional, not-for-profit theater orgaattracts people and companies to the city, as Arts campus in Carmel and its resident nization of local and national artists dediwell as an integral contributor to the local companies, including ATI, to see extraorcated to excellence in theatre production arts and culture. dinary talent and equity theater. for a diverse patron base in Carmel ATI Artistic Director Judy For example, patrons of ATI may recall and central Indiana. ATI enriches Fitzgerald shared her thoughts when the company produced Stephen the culture of the community on going into the new year and Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical and uses theater as a tool for the upcoming season.

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet educational engagement.

“Finally, in 2024, ATI’s going Street in February of 2020.

Please join us in continuing back to the way it used to be,” Fitz“I think that was a turning point for to support local arts organizaATI because it showed people who we are tions such as ATI, which play a Judy Fitzgerald gerald shared. “The support has been overwhelming, and the community and what we do,” Fitzgerald said. “We sold pivotal role in shaping and enhas been behind us. We’ve seen that out the two nights at the Palladium, and riching the cultural landscape of [support] since the beginning of that show was something to be proud of.” a community and contribute ATI and even more now, getting Collins added, “Richard [J. Roberts] significantly to the vibrancy through this transition. It feels directed that for ATI. He’s brilliant and of arts culture and education. like we’re getting back to ‘normal’ one of the best directors that I’ve worked Organizations such as ATI while we’re freshening things up, with anywhere in the country. The serve as the lifeblood of creative especially with our 2024-25 season. collaboration between the director and expression, fostering an environWe are doing exciting the musical director, the choreographer, ment where artists can thrive and Cynthia Collins and the actors is what made that audiences can engage with diverse [production] great.” artistic experiences.

When asked how Collins Beyond entertainment, local arts switches hats from actor to direcinitiatives often play a crucial role in edutor so effortlessly, and how the cational outreach, providing valuable rerelationship changes between sources that enhance learning in schools her and the cast as the director, and communities. The impact of ATI she replied, “Anytime you are directreaches far beyond the stage or gallery, Brett ing or choreographing, it is a different leaving an enduring legacy that nurtures dynamic when you are not a performa love for the arts, fosters cultural pride, er. You’re not in that little troupe of and stimulates a dynamic and interconactors [who] are in a show; you’re nected community spirit. on the artistic team. So, you’re talking with the stage manager PRODUCING “HIGH-OCTANE” more and collaborating with the PRODUCTIONS musical director more. As a director, In the wake of ATI’s announceyou really have to know your stuff ment and transition of leaderCraig

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going into rehearsal and begin staging [by] the accordion, and another who’s playing working through all of the bits and pieces the cello.” going through the entire production.”

The music performed throughout Route Collins shared that the four actors 66 goes with the times, featuring classic in Route 66 will only be using their first songs from a variety of genres such as names. The original four actors in the “King of the Road,” “Dead Man’s Curve,” stage production of Route 66 used “Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” only their first names: Scot, Andy, “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and many more.

Brandon and Michael.

Patrons are sure to take a trip Collins said, “The guys are down nostalgia lane with this playing themselves, using only smash-hit musical revue! their first names and bringing Collins and Fitzgerald empha[to the stage] their personalities, sized the importance of audience which is always fantastic. They all and cast engagement during the Eric have incredible personalities. We’ll have show. For them, it’s not only about the a band feature, and the guys will ticket sales, but the experience for join them, playing instruments, the cast, crew and audience. [which is] a little different [from] “Route 66 is written in a way how that section is usually that makes it more engagdone.” She added, “Another fun ing and fun,” Fitzgerald said. aspect of Route 66 is the old “There’s something about the commercials that come with the way the show is written that’s just Kieran show. There are old Chevy and Texaso funny, and you feel like you really co commercials, and there is great music! know the performers and their personaliThese guys are four powerhouse singers, ties. They all have different personalities, and there are some really pretty songs and and all four of them are incredible and ballads in this [show], too. We wanted the funny.” She added, “I’m really excited for guys to be more engaged instrument-wise 2024. We’ve been in full rehearsal mode with this production, [so] there’s one actor and full production meetings, and it’s like, who’s playing the guitar, one who’s playing ‘Okay…let’s go!’”

Brandon Vos Musical Director

Cast List

Brett Mutter Craig Underwood Eric Olson Kieran Danaan

Director/Choreographer Cynthia Collins

Musical Director Brandon Vos

Scenic Design

P. Bernard Killian

Lighting Design Quinten James

Sound Design Zach Rosing

Costume Design Alexander Stearns

Artistic Director Judy Fitzgerald

Associate Artistic Director Darrin Murrell

Artistic Director Judy Fitzgerald

FEB. 2-18

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Center’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office at the Palladium, call 317.843.3800 or visit atistage.org.

13

Immerse Yourself in Musical Excellence with the

Carmel Symphony Orchestra in 2024!

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Provided by CSO

As we stand on the threshold of a promising new year, anticipation builds for an exhilarating second half of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra season. The air is charged with the promise of captivating performances, melodic enchantment, and the shared joy of musical exploration.

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s the orchestra embarks on this musical journey, patrons can look forward to a symphonic experience that transcends expectations, ignites the senses, and leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of all who join us in celebrating the power of orchestral artistry. Get ready to be swept away as we usher in a dynamic and unforgettable chapter in the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s extraordinary musical odyssey.

CSO NAMES COMMANDAY AS MUSIC DIRECTOR David Commanday was recently named CSO’s Music Director, and his initial appointment will continue through the

2024-25 season. Maestro Commanday captured the hearts of CSO audiences and musicians upon his arrival, which is a testament to his brilliance and leadership.

CSO Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain is pleased with the momentum that has been and continues to be generated by the organization since Commanday filled the vacancy.

“We are extremely honored and pleased to have made this appointment,” Chastain stated. “The musicians of the CSO fell in love with Maestro Commanday at their first rehearsal, and the results of this positive engagement have resonated at our Palladium performances. Audiences are responding, and we can’t wait to see how the Carmel Symphony Orchestra evolves

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under Maestro’s Commanday’s leadership.”

Renowned on three continents, Commanday has earned a reputation as a remarkable conductor with his ability to elevate his musicians in each of his performances. Commanday currently serves as Artistic Director/Conductor of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, an innovative ensemble now celebrating its 15th season, as well as Director of Orchestral Activities and Instructor of Cello at Eastern Illinois University.

Commanday expressed, “I am deeply honored by this appointment and the opportunity to work with the wonderful musicians of the CSO in the seasons ahead. Carmel has a treasure in this orchestra and in the Palladium, the truly world-class concert hall that is their home. I can’t wait to get to work!”

EXPERIENCE THE EXCEPTIONALISM THAT IS CSO Witness the convergence of two art forms that will leave you inspired and uplifted when CSO performs with the talented performers throughout “Cirque Goes to the Symphony,” a Jan. 27 concert at the Palladium. In this thrilling program, six members from Cirque de la Symphonie, a touring group based in Athens, Georgia, will perform magic, strong-man acts, ribbon dancing, juggling, spinning shapes, cyr wheel and hula-hoop artistry while Commanday leads the orchestra through music by Bizet, de Falla, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Strauss, Rimsky-Korsakov, Sibelius and John Williams.

“The idea was to bring a group to Carmel [who] would showcase lighter symphonic repertoire and be community and family-friendly, as well as provide a great date-night experience,” Chastain said. “The Palladium is a majestic theater, and bringing this kind of act to the stage really takes advantage of the show-stopping atmosphere of the hall.”

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are extremely limited and available at carmelsymphony.org.

“STAR-CROSSED LOVERS”: A VALENTINE’S WEEKEND CONCERT Mark your calendars and be sure to purchase your tickets for CSO’s “Star-

Crossed Lovers” concert on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. This concert will be a treat for classical fans and romantics of all kinds. The Romeo and Juliet story, told musically by Sergei Prokofiev and Leonard Bernstein, is paired with Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto, played with passion and virtuosity by guest soloist Francisco Fullana.

Come early to enjoy the pre-concert romantic surprises in the Palladium side lobbies and atrium from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.! “’Star-Crossed Lovers,’ of course, fits and resonates with Valentine’s Day,” Commanday said. “We have two pieces on this program [that] have lots of meaning for

me. [First is] the Romeo and Juliet Suite by Prokofiev. If people haven’t had a chance to see or hear this music, they will be blown away by its power and its romanticism. I think this is one of the greatest scores ever written for the stage…bar none. I’ve had the privilege of performing the entire ballet at a world premiere in Boston, and I adore this score. The psychology and everything that goes into it musically and emotionally is fabulous.”

Commanday continued, “Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Dances, I’ve performed many times and always with great joy. It is so brilliant, and it’s

always a delight to come back to it. And then the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto is such a romantic, gorgeous piece, and it all fits into the overall aesthetic. I won’t give it away now, but we also have an additional musical treat that will be a delight on that program, too!”

Guest soloist Francisco Fullana included his thoughts on the upcoming program and performing with the CSO. “I am so looking forward to my trip to Carmel very soon,” Fullana shared. “It is extremely exciting to perform alongside my friend Maestro David Commanday, and we are thrilled to share the stage.

Mendelssohn is not just only a classic of the violin repertoire, but a piece that I am sure will bring energy and move the audience at the Palladium with its amazing melodies and virtuosic passages. Truly one of my favorites to share, alongside a great group of talented musicians from the CSO! See you very soon, Indiana!”

Tickets for these upcoming performances are selling quickly, so don’t wait to purchase yours! Visit carmelsymphony.org for more information.

Welcome Maestro David Commanday to the CSO! BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY

1.27.24

Cirque Goes to the Symphony

2.10.24

“Star-Crossed Lovers” over Valentines Weekend

3.16.24

Bohemian Masterpieces & The Firebird

Drama & Opera: Verdi’s Requiem 4.13.24 www.carmelsymphony.org

COME HEAR THE CARMEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S NEWLY APPOINTED MUSIC DIRECTOR | LIVE IN CONCERT | AT THE PALLADIUM 15

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Kevin Sievert: Shaking Up Happy Hour with Bloody Mary and Margarita Mixes Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and submitted

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Having sampled the entire Bloody Point liquid mix collection, we are providing an honest endorsement of these products and invite you to experience the layers of flavor firsthand. The blends truly speak for themselves.

A COLLECTIVE OF EXPERTISE IN RELATED INDUSTRIES Sievert detailed his extensive background in the grocery industry and food product manufacturing while describing Banyan’s multifunctional team as individuals leveraging their core competencies and skill sets to provide their customers with services from product ideation to consumption. Sievert also expressed how each individual brings vast connections and resources to the “party.”

“My background has been in the grocery industry, on the periphery or otherwise,” Sievert said. “I have been on staff with the largest of grocery retailers based in Cincinnati. I have been with the largest sales agencies, the largest manufacturers of food products, and also the largest North American ingredient supplier and formulator, and that’s why my resume looks a little different than most people’s. I retired approximately four years ago and became bored within six weeks, [though] I do volunteer for the SBA and SCORE programs.”

After retiring, Sievert decided to jump back into the food and beverage game but in a smaller and more intimate capacity

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than his former positions. He started Banyan Brands, which boasts award-winning product lines that include Bloody Point mixes and Bella Sun Luci mixes.

Sievert said, “We are lucky enough that our bloody mixes have won international awards every time we introduce them. We produce [what] other [authoritative bodies] are validating [as] high-quality products.

Under Banyan Brands, we have a large portfolio and have introduced a margarita [Daisy Point Margarita Mix] and a tropical drink mix [Limonita Point Tropical Mix].”

Having relocated from Hilton Head, SC, to Carmel, IN, Sievert’s head mixologist Justin Johnston is the renowned and award-winning formulator for the majority of Banyan’s mixes.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY AND BOASTING WITH FLAVORS Sievert explained that he and his team are competing at a very low level against infinitely resourced larger companies, and that’s where they are comfortable.

“This is no David and Goliath battle where we have any premonitions about suddenly beating the big boy,” Sievert stated. “We want our niche [to be] a quality one, and we want to be in specific demographic areas. We’ve only highlighted about 18 markets around the country to penetrate in, and they tend to be the resort communities where affluence comes in and leaves, carrying the message [of our products] with them, and they tend to purchase [our products] online or somewhere else. We are in Phoenix, AZ;

southern California, New Orleans, LA; Florida, New York, both coasts, and up the eastern coast to Maine. We’re also in Michigan and, just out of vanity, Indiana because I live here.”

In addition to the website, Bloody Point can be purchased in Carmel at Market District. Sievert shared that they are finalizing an agreement with selective Costco stores throughout the U.S., in which they will be selling their Bella Sun Luci mixes.

For a complete list of distributors, resorts, retailers and distilleries, visit banyanbrandsllc.com.

Banyan Brands also offers delectable accoutrements such as pickles and pearl onions under the Grateful Gourmet label that feature three levels of heat: spicy and sweet, fire, and inferno. These products are available for purchase through the company’s website.

“Our Bella Sun Luci Chipotle Bloody Mary Mix has a very distinct chipotle flavor, and that won the ‘Best New Item of 2023,’” Sievert revealed. “We also have

a [Bella Sun Luci] salsa mix that is a little spicier and a little more viscous. We have our Limonita Point, which is also all-natural, is 40% coconut, and is meant for things like piña coladas and tropical drinks like that. We use a special agave that is grown between the border and Tucson. It has a flavor profile that is a point of differentiation.”

Sievert continued, “People ask, ‘Why Daisy? Daisy translates to ‘margarita’ from English to Spanish. We were all surprised that nobody had ever leveraged that, so we went with Daisy Point Margarita Mix, and it’s something fun for people to think about.” He added, “Bella Sun Luci is the largest brand of sun-dried tomatoes in the country currently in grocery stores, and they are based in California. The sun-ripening process brings a certain sweetness to the tomatoes that you wouldn’t get [through] normal processing. We also buy a packet of sundried tomato powder from them to mix into the formulation to ensure that it

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not only has the tomatoes that are sweet to begin with, but also the sweetness associated with the byproduct of their products. You won’t see [the sun-dried tomatoes] at Market District, but you can find [them] on our website.”

Sievert concluded by saying, “We have a reconstituted version of our Bloody Point Original Mix called Evolution. It is in powdered form and an exact copy of our original formula, which is our best-selling formula by a wide margin. We’re the only ones on the market [who] have that, and it’s another point of distinction for us.”

Elevate your cocktail experience with the bold flavors of Banyan Brands and indulge in a range of delicious, all-natural blends while taking a journey into mixology excellence!

For more information, visit banyanbrandsllc.com and bloodypointmixingco.com.

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Carmel Symphony’s Visionary Future:

Insights from Executive Director Anne Marie Chastain Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and CSO

It has become evident that since her appointment as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s executive director last August, Anne Marie Chastain is living her passion while leading the organization further into the 21st century.

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hastain holds a degree in clarinet performance from IU Jacobs School of Music and a master’s degree in arts administration. Her previous symphony orchestra experiences include working with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

In our conversation with Chastain, we discussed the adjustments made to the ongoing 2023-24 season and explored her

perspectives on forthcoming seasons and programming. Carmel Monthly, a steadfast supporter of the CSO, is pleased to feature Chastain on our latest cover as a token of our enduring commitment to the orchestra.

BUILDING UPON AN ESTABLISHED FOUNDATION Chastain shared some more about her personal background and musical journey.

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“I come from a musical family, and [music] has always been a part of my life,” Chastain said. “Classical music, Broadway and jazz…it’s ingrained into who I am.

I ended up at Indiana University and studied music [there], and I have a history degree as well. I love performance…[it’s] changed my life. [Going] into the business side of the arts and helping to promote the arts in our community is exciting and incredibly rewarding.”

Chastain spoke about the synergy between her and the CSO Board of Directors.

“I was introduced to one of our board members at a sister city event last February,” Chastain said. “We talked about symphony orchestras, and I think the board was looking for new ideas and directions on how to make CSO even more relevant to the community. We already have a fantastic product and a wonderful orchestra playing in a world-class hall. The Carmel community is so sophisticated and supportive of the arts. It’s a fun and exciting challenge to take this jewel and promote it, [to] get the story out to people who haven’t experienced it yet.”

Chastain continued, “There [are] a lot of opportunities and space for members of the community to get involved in a number of ways. We have our volunteer league and advisory groups. We are building out our education programming and even leadership programming as it relates to the arts. The arts are a great feeder for developing leaders, CEOs and such. CSO wants to become even more visible and relevant to the Carmel and Hamilton County communities and provide opportunities for people to be engaged in the arts, not just through the audience but through these volunteer and leadership opportunities as well.”

A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE Over the last handful of years, CSO has welcomed people from outside of the 46032 zip code and has made a concerted effort to diversify its programming.

“One of my goals as executive director is to help make the symphonic experience more accessible to audiences,” Chastain pledged. “There is a love of the live musical experience, and I would like for people to have the experience of coming to the Palladium, hearing beautiful music, and being part of an ‘event.’

We are building out our programming before a concert starts and having more [pre-concert] events in the atrium and lobbies at the Palladium. People can come early, grab a drink, settle in and enjoy some chamber music or other artist events.”

Another major pre-concert initiative that Chastain has been pushing is promoting the guest artists and repertoire on Spotify through CSO’s social media so that patrons can become more familiar with them.

“I want the [CSO] experience to be more fun and engaging,” Chastain expressed. “If you would like to come dressed up along with a date or your family and make a special night out of it, or if you’d like to come and enjoy the symphony orchestra and be more casual, I want people to know that you don’t

have to be formal or do anything special to come and enjoy CSO. I want to encourage audiences to feel comfortable coming, as they are not to be intimidated.”

Chastain also encouraged people to come early or stay later and take in some of the immediate amenities within walking distance of the Palladium to make a day or evening out of the experience.

“The Palladium is a gorgeous space, and there are a variety of places to go for dinner or a drink,” Chastain said. “There are often many different events happening at Carter Green [in front of the Palladium], and many of our guest artists head over to Divvy or Adagio at Hotel Carmichael after concerts and rehearsals. Carmel’s just a wonderful place for making memories, and I want the Carmel Symphony Orchestra to be even more [of] a part of that community experience.”

To build out and revise new and existing programming, Chastain will collaborate more with local arts organizations such as the Indiana Ballet Conservatory and the Center for the Performing Arts’ other resident companies.

Chastain elaborated, “We are talking with IBC and other resident companies and arts organizations in Carmel to continue building on an already robust arts community. CSO can help be a leader in continuing the story of the arts for our community and Hamilton County. We’re

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also connecting with the county’s public and private schools. We want to be even more connected with supporting the schools’ arts programs, and we want to bring more of their students and families to the Palladium.

“We are reworking our youth concerto competition and sideby-side programs this season,” Chastain continued. “This year, we will have our top four finalists play, and the audience will have a chance to vote along with a panelist of judges. Additionally, instead of working with just one school, we will be inviting all of the area high schools throughout Hamilton County to submit some of their top players to play with us. That’s going to be super fun and bring more students and families to the Palladium to be part of the education experience.”

When asked what makes CSO unique from other symphony orchestras, Chastain replied, “What makes CSO so special is the community it resides in and its love of the arts. It’s the home that we have in the Palladium and in the city of Carmel, which is so supportive of artistic excellence and live music experiences. I feel the most recent administration of CSO did a fantastic job elevating the artistic level, and I feel like my legacy could be elevating the education outreach and helping CSO to be even more relevant to the schools and in supporting music education and their families. We want to elevate CSO to an even higher level by bringing in even more world-class soloists and performers. If you’ve heard Maestro David Commanday and CSO perform recently, they sound wonderful and have really gelled. So, I feel that we are taking something already beautiful, and we’re going to make it shine even more so that more people can see the beauty and experience the brilliance of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.”

For more information on upcoming schedules, events and how to support the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, visit carmelsymphony.org.

THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS RELAUNCHES

QUEST FOR NEW NAMING PARTNER Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of the Center

Undoubtedly, many arts organizations are grappling with the enduring repercussions of the pandemic. The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel faced a significant challenge during the pandemic with the loss of a major naming rights agreement.

H

owever, the Center has found renewed vitality amid the pandemic and is poised to recommence its pursuit of an exclusive naming rights agreement.

In a broader context, the Center has experienced a remarkable 45% increase in patrons in 2023, encompassing a 50% rise in first-time visitors and a 30% increase in returning visitors.

According to the American Association of the Arts, Carmel’s arts venues, with the Center for the Performing Arts being the largest among them, contribute a substantial $42.7 million to the local economy. The Center’s campus attracts over half a million people annually for a diverse array of events ranging from performances, educational programs and lessons to the Carmel Farmers Market, Christkindlmarkt and more.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND RENEWED OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HORIZON I spoke with Center for the Performing Arts CEO/President Jeff McDermott about the Center’s pursuit of a naming sponsor, the recent/current seasons’ success, and what the goals are for the organization now that we’ve turned the page to 2024.

“If you look at the success of a season by ticket sales—which is just one factor, of course—it’s been a great season,” McDermott said. “We’ve had eight ‘Center Presents’ holiday shows [this season], and seven of them were sellouts. The only [show] that wasn’t a sellout sold over 1,000 tickets. So, it was our best-selling holiday series ever.

Last year, we ended up having our best ticket sales ever, and this year, we’re on pace to do that or more. We’re really pleased

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with that, and I’m really pleased with the diversity of the programming in every sense of the word. From the diversity of the performers themselves and the diversity of the genres, there’s a little bit of something for everybody. I’m excited about Richard Marx, who’s coming up. It will be good to have him here!”

McDermott shared that the second half of the 2023-24 season is even stronger than the first half in terms of diversity of programming and the momentum of support from patrons, donors and representatives of the city of Carmel.

McDermott added, “As I look at the changing landscape with the new mayoral administration and the changes to the Carmel City Council, I’m grateful for everything former mayor Jim Brainard has done, and I’m also really excited about the future.

Mayor Sue Finkam brings a lot of new energy and ideas. I’ve had many conversations with her, and she’s a huge supporter of everything we’re doing and what the other arts organizations are doing. I’m sensing great support from her and the city council, so I think it’s just full steam ahead now.”

QUALITIES OF THE IDEAL NAMING PARTNER McDermott shared that just prior to the governor’s executive order in March 2020 due to the global pandemic that brought the world to a screeching halt, the Center was in the process of signing on a naming partner that matched the Center’s mission and values of integrity, inclusion, innovation, excellence and collaboration. As a consequence of the pandemic, the agreement never came to fruition. However, McDermott respects the prospective partner’s decision to focus their resources and energy inward, which is what the Center did as well.

It is hoped that the Center will find the same or even greater level of interest from prospective naming partners now that it has relaunched its search.

“That potential naming partner stepped back, and they did the right thing, in my view,” McDermott stated. “As a result, we put a hold on finding a naming partner throughout the pandemic, and we focused on our employees and our mission. We kept the engine running; we lowered the temperature of and turned down the engine, but we kept it running. That really allowed us to come [out] of the pandemic right out of the gate, and we didn’t have to rehire people, and we didn’t have to completely crank it and restart the engine.”

After last season’s success and the success of outlier events such as the farmers market and Christkindlmarkt (which, along with the Center’s and its resident companies’ shows, drew in 600,000 plus people to the campus), McDermott explained, “It just seems like a perfect time to go out and look [for a naming partner] again.”

“I think the [ideal naming partner] is a company [that] wants a long-term relationship,” McDermott described. “We’re looking at a minimum of seven years, but

we prefer 10 or more. We don’t want people to just dip their toe in the water; we want them to be committed for the long term and want [them] to be a partner that really shares our core values and mission. Those values and mission need to be at the heart [and] soul of the naming partner. Our mission is to engage and inspire the entire Indiana community with enriching arts experiences. So, the ideal naming partner should be looking for recognition and wanting to align their brand with ours, but [they should also understand] the importance of our mission. [The Center is] not just an economic driver; it’s a cultural driver, and great communities have great cultural offerings like this.”

McDermott emphasized the Center’s continued focus on expanding its educational offerings and programs as well as its accessibility by building up funds such as its transportation fund. This fund supports schools, mostly in underserved communities, that need transportation funding so that their students can participate in the Center’s educational programs and opportunities.

Additionally, the Center plans to continue hosting civic events, including its naturalization ceremony, where as many

as 100 individuals throughout the globe take the oath of U.S. citizenship on the Palladium’s stage.

“All of these events and performances that happen on our campus are what makes it pretty extraordinary,” McDermott said.

“With the announcement and [future] plans to build our Great American Songbook museum, which will be associated with our affiliate, The Great American Songbook Foundation—for which I also serve as the president and CEO—I think it just adds even more to the spotlight that is going to shine on the arts and campus here in Carmel. I think it also makes a great opportunity for the right naming partner to align their brand with ours, and ours with theirs.”

For more information on the Center for the Performing Arts, visit thecenterpresents.org. For more information on the naming partnership, interested parties can contact Jeff McDermott or Scott Hall at the Center at 317-660-3373.

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