The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) under Artistic Director Janna Hymes will once again light up the stage at the Palladium this Saturday with its Masterworks 4 performance.
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $18 and are available by calling the Palladium Fifth Third Bank Box Office at (317) 843-3800 or at CarmelSymphony.org. Save 20 percent off your ticket purchase by using code CSO20.
An International Women’s Week salute
Renowned for her inspiring performances, musical depth and energetic presence both on and off the podium, CSO salutes its Artistic Director Janna Hymes during this week of celebrating exceptional women.
Hymes
Hymes joined CSO in 2017 and immediately set about taking the orchestra from good to great, bringing a new level of professionalism to the stage. During this landmark five years, she has nearly doubled the number of annual performances, established pay equity for the musicians, initiated multiple education and outreach programs, inaugurated collaborations with other area arts organizations, lent her hand to marketing and development efforts, and assisted the orchestra in successfully navigating the rough and uncertain COVID waters over the past two-plus years.
She has helped take CSO from a “community orchestra” to an “orchestra for the community.”
“I’m grateful to have wonderful artistic freedom here,” Hymes said, “with a supportive board of directors and an administration that works as a tight-knit team. That makes all the difference, especially during the past couple of years.”
Hymes noted that she has concentrated on working with CSO musicians on detail, elevating the level of artistry, instilling finesse, clarity and professionalism. Word is getting around to the Indiana music community: Now, when CSO auditions are announced, she said, it is not uncommon for 30 to 40 musicians to show up to compete for one position.
As for the future, her goals are clear.
“There still are a lot of people out there who do not know about us. We want and need to change that. We want more diversity in our orchestra and the programs we perform. We’re working on the establishment of a Diversity Fellowship right now, hoping to entice musicians who are not in a position to advance their career,” Hymes said. “I want to get the musicians out into the community, playing at different venues, sharing their talents with everyone. We have a plan to bring small ensembles into the schools so that we can get young people interested in and excited about the incredible power of music early on.”
“CSO is on the map a little more right now,” Hymes said, reflecting on her first five years with the orchestra. “We intend to continue to build on the progress and successes we’ve experienced, and make sure an even wider audience knows about us, is eager to come to our concerts, and wants to sponsor and support us.”