After besting over 130 applicants for the job as music director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Maestra Janna Hymes has taken the helm as the CSO’s first female conductor. Her journey to the podium began as a teenager when a music teacher was t …

Hanna Benn’s exploration of what she calls “the gray area” evolved into a unique style of composing—one that included a taste for electronic beats mixed with new age synth, all built on a foundation of jazz rhythms and classical rules of musical compos …

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Joshua Thompson is known for his tremendous skill as a pianist and for spearheading unique programs that highlight works by composers of African descent. Joshua Thompson: Opening Indy’s Eyes Joshua Thompson is a classic …

What would life be without beer and music? One or both of them accompany our best moments. To that end, Dr. Nick Johnson has made a list to try, pairing these local beers with fantastic pieces of music. Decorate your day, and imbibe in some culture – b …

For over two decades, Ruth McArthur’s music conservatory provided a foundation for success among Indianapolis’ best-known musicians. Adapted from Classical Music Indy’s NOTE Magazine.  The Jazz Catalyst By Kyle Long During the mid-20th century, a small …

Jamie Barton is a current mezzo-soprano on the international rise in Opera. Barton grew up loving to sing and share bluegrass with her family. That love grew to exploring what else the music world had to offer. Cover Photo by Stacey Bode. Jamie Barton: …

Annie Fischer was a Hungarian-Jewish pianist of great renown. Although an unfamiliar musician to Americans, her passion for music and excellent performance ability were greatly admired by her contemporaries. Fischer left behind a wealth of recordings, some from the studio and many from her live performances.

Get ready to dance! Although an unfamiliar style to some, klezmer is a music that has an undeniable folk sound that is combined with rhythms of dance. This musical style uses instruments to imitate the laughter and/or weeping of the human voice and is most often heard during times of merriment. Read below to learn more, and to listen to some recordings at the end.

Violinist Jennifer Koh sat down with Michael Toulouse to talk about the concerto she’ll be performing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and why this composer’s music means so much to her.

Rebecca Clarke is a name many violists know. She was an internationally acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, and composer during post-Victorian Era England. Despite a controlling and abusive father, she was able to leave her mark on the world with her musical achievements. 

What better way to celebrate one of Indiana’s most-beloved state parks than by having a special piece of music written? Classical Music Indy has commissioned Indianapolis composer Rob Funkhouser to write Three Peacetime Images for Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park as part of the Indiana Arts Commission’s Arts in the Parks and Historic Sites program. We hope you will join us on April 28th at 2pm at the Sycamore Shelter of Fort Harrison State Park to celebrate the distinct aspects of the park!

When George Walker won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his work in 1996, famed conductor Zubin Mehta wrote in the Star Ledger, “this composer has finally gotten the recognition he deserves.” With an active career as a pianist and composer, Walker has made incredible contributions to the classical music world.

The F. Bruce Peck Jr. Music Library at Classical Music Indy contains a wealth of classical recordings, many what you would expect – Beethoven, Bach, Brahms. We are also thrilled to house a number of albums that feature works by outstanding women composers like Clara Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, Valerie Coleman, and Jennifer Higdon. See what music is in our library and why we love it!

Margaret Allison Bonds is an often-unsung master of classical music. Her first-rate works blend styles of African and European origin, and her compositions for voice and piano have profoundly moved audiences. Bonds is best known for her collaborations with the great African American poet Langston Hughes. Read below about Bonds’ life, career, and musical contributions to the American classical music world.

Anne Duthie McCafferty grew up in Indianapolis and has played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for 45 seasons. She never thought she would have the chance to have a performance job, but when the opportunity arose she took it. Since then, McCafferty has performed for millions of people, performed numerous fantastic pieces, and coordinates the local chapter of Classical Revolution. Read below about her life, career, and impact on Indy.