Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra facts for kids

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (ICO) is a special group of musicians. They play classical music together in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their main home is at Butler University. In 2019-2020, they celebrated their 35th year of making music!

History of the Orchestra

The orchestra was started by a music expert named David Urness. He first called them the "Musicians of the Cloister." This name came from a peaceful garden at a church in Indianapolis. David Urness wanted the ICO to be like another famous orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

The group officially became an organization in 1985. They changed their name to the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra in 1987. In 2004, they joined with the Indianapolis Youth Wind Ensemble. This was part of their plan to reach more young people.

In 1985, the orchestra played concerts at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. For the 1986-87 season, they performed at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Then, in 1988, the orchestra moved to Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University.

Today, the orchestra performs at the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts.

Kirk Trevor became the music director in 1988. He led the orchestra until he retired at the end of the 2014-15 season. In July 2015, Matthew Kraemer was chosen as the new Music Director. He is also the Principal Conductor.

What the Orchestra Does

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (ICO) shares music with over 30,000 people each year. They do this through their concert series, special programs, and radio broadcasts.

Besides Music Director Matthew Kraemer, James Aikman is their Composer-in-Residence. This means he writes music especially for the orchestra.

The ICO is the professional Orchestra-in-Residence at the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts. This place is perfect for the ICO. It has great sound and is a good size for their performances.

The orchestra has 34 professional musicians. They play and promote music written for smaller orchestras. They do this through concerts and educational programs. Each year, the ICO presents a concert series. These concerts feature famous guest artists and talented local musicians. They also show off the skills of young soloists. The ICO often plays new music by living composers.

The ICO has performed many world and American premieres. This means they were the first to play these pieces.

The orchestra also plays with other groups. These include the Indianapolis Opera and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. They also perform with the American Pianists Association and the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.

You can hear the ICO on the radio! A weekly broadcast on WFYI, 90.1 FM plays music from their concerts. It also includes interviews with the conductor and guest artists. In 2017, the ICO was on a PBS concert called “A Festival of Carols with Sylvia McNair.” Their 2016 piece, Peacemakers, became an Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary in 2017. In May 2015, the ICO released its first music CD, Momentum 21. This CD shows how the ICO has grown. It also highlights new music for chamber orchestras.

In 2018-2019, the ICO was the Orchestra-in-Residence for the Indiana State Contemporary Music Festival. This was their twelfth year! As part of this event, the ICO holds a competition. Composers from all over the country write new music for chamber orchestra. In 2016, the ICO worked with the American Composers Orchestra “EarShot” program. They were the first chamber orchestra to play new works by five rising American composers.

The ICO has many education programs for all ages. Their "FUNtastic Classics" and "Residency" programs bring ICO musicians into schools. They perform live or help students in music classes. "ICO Concert Connections" brings young people to ICO concerts.

Every summer, the ICO works with Indy Parks. They present a free, family-friendly concert in a park.

The ICO's offices are at Butler University. They get support from different groups and people. These supporters help the ICO continue to bring music to Indianapolis. A Board of Directors helps guide the orchestra.