This fall, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, one of Central Indiana’s longest-standing arts organizations, begins a 90th year milestone season that celebrates where it has been, who it serves today, and the community it hopes to inspire for generations to come.
The choir’s 90th anniversary season whose theme is “Then, Now, and Always,” is moving beyond a single stage or musical tradition, with performances ranging from jazz and beloved holiday repertoire to contemporary commissioned music and some of the world’s greatest choral masterworks. The season also celebrates an extraordinary milestone: Artistic Director Eric Stark and Assistant Artistic Director Michael Davis are each marking 25 years with the organization.
“Then, Now, and Always is about the people, music, and community that have made 90 years possible,” said Executive Director Jennifer Cooper. “This season is a chance to celebrate where we’ve been, look ahead to where we’re going, while also looking ahead and inviting more people to discover what choral music can be and to experience it with us.”
For 90 years, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir (ISC) has brought people together through music.
Founded in 1937, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir is one of Central Indiana’s enduring arts organizations. Through contemporary and commissioned compositions, educational programming, and community engagement, the choir’s mission is to bring singers and audiences together through the transformative power of choral music.
According to their website, ISC is committed to artistic excellence, meaningful collaboration, and ensuring extraordinary choral music remains an accessible and vital part of Central Indiana.
The celebration begins in September not with a concert, but with service. Through Sing It Forward, the choir will mobilize singers and supporters to give back to Central Indiana, benefiting Dayspring Center this year. The initiative culminates on September 20 with Community Sing at Blind Owl Brewery, bringing service and song together in an informal community setting.
On Oct. 10, ISC moves to the historic Madam Walker Legacy Center for Mood Indigo: Celebrating Musical Traditions, a free community concert honoring Davis’ 25 years of leadership. Led by Davis and rooted in jazz-inspired repertoire, two free performances will welcome new and longtime audiences with a fundraising goal of $25,000 in honor of his 25th anniversary to invest in the choir’s future.
In December, Festival of Carols celebrates both an Indianapolis holiday tradition and Stark’s 25th anniversary with ISC. This year’s program pairs familiar favorites with something entirely new: the world premiere of “We, At Last,” commissioned from composer Dominick DiOrio, alongside orchestra, Spotlight Choirs and guest soprano Kim Kenny.
The ISC continues its anniversary season in January, joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, a work known for its orchestration and soaring wordless chorus.
On April 3, ISC will transform its anniversary celebration again with Resonance: 90th Season Celebration at Newfields. The immersive fundraising experience will place singers throughout the museum’s galleries, pairing intimate performances with visual art and music spanning the choir’s nine decades. Rather than asking audiences to experience the anniversary from a concert seat, Resonance will invite them to move through it.
The season concludes with Voices of the Spirit, featuring Berlioz’s Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem). ISC will join musicians from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and acclaimed tenor Tom Cooley for performances April 23 at The Payne & Mencias Palladium and May 1 at IU’s Musical Arts Center in Bloomington.
Season subscriptions are on sale now through September 30. Individual tickets went on sale August 17.
For more information visit indychoir.org.
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
