• Cole Porter Festival •
June 9-12, 2011
Artists
Encore
Vocal Arts
www.encorevocalarts.org The mission of Encore Vocal Arts is to
inspire and enrich our community through innovative,
professional-quality vocal music and performance. Encore Vocal Arts is
an auditioned chamber choir founded by Elise Marshall, as the
Indianapolis Arts Chorale, in 1972 as an outreach project of
Indianapolis Central College, now University of Indianapolis. From
performing for 25 to 40 people, Encore has grown over the years to reach
audiences numbering 400-500. From Ragtime to Carmina Burana, Sting to
Leonard Bernstein and Ella Fitzgerald to Verdi, Encore has earned the
praise of many for the quality, accessibility and variety of its
programming. Chris Ludwa, the current Artistic Director, believes in
using the power of music to educate and inspire. Since joining the
Encore in 2002, he has led the group through music that challenges,
creates controversy, and brings social awareness to issues. Encore’s 32
auditioned singers represent some of the finest talent in the state.
While some of the members are professional musicians, many are
vocational musicians. Singers range in age from just out of college to
retirees. Homemakers, realtors, teachers, ministers, executives,
doctors--all are represented in our membership, and all are brought
together by a love for choral literature and a commitment to its
performance and promotion. Encore performs about four times a year with
a concert subscription series and numerous appearances at other venues
around Indianapolis. It has performed at the Penrod Arts Fair, Hannah
Arts Day, WSYW Classic Fest, Indy Parks Summer Concert Series, Holocaust
Remembrance Day and the Artsgarden, and now the Cole Porter Festival.
Past collaborations have included the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church,
Indianapolis Ballet Theater, Eastern Star Baptist Choir, Jennie DeVoe,
Dance Kaleidoscope, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and Cathy Morris.
Recoil
www.recoilkick.com
One of the hardest working and hardest rocking bands in Indianapolis.
Recoil puts on a complete rock and roll show that you will not be
disappointed in. Christopher Saunders, Scott Allen Huff, Jef Conn, Jason
Culley, and Peru native Darrell Mitchell will be playing their first
Cole Porter Festival.
Triphammer
- Peru natives - always a great show!
Jerome
Mills Band - When the Jerome Mills Band hits the stage you are
guaranteed two things: some really great music, and a really good time
with Kevin Bean (Logansport, IN) on the guitar and vocals, Jerome Mills
(Indianapolis, IN) on bass and vocals, Wes Beam (Kokomo, IN) on piano
and harmonica, and mad man Dave Humphrey (Indianapolis, IN) on the drums
and vocals. They come out to entertain you like no other. The Jerome
Mills Blues Band has been performing all over the state for years, and
most recently (close to home) opened for BB King at the Honeywell Center
earlier this year.
Zak Tschiniak
A 2006 graduate of Peru High Schol and the 2006 Cole Porter Scholarship
recipient, Zak recently graduated from Butler University where he
studied music education. Last year he was named one of the top 10 men at
Butler University. Zak has played the piano since 1995. He began lessons
with Mrs. Nancy Spahr. Zak studied piano with Mrs. Jenny Mobley and
trombone with Mr. Jared Rodin at Butler University where he was a member
of the Butler University Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band,
Marching Band, and Basketball Band. Zak is currently teaching music for
Peru Community Schools. Zak has enjoyed playing at the Cole Porter
Festival for several years and is looking forward to performing again
this year.
Mark
& Troy
No Identity - Voted best local band by the readers of the Peru Tribune in 2007 and 2010. No Identity is comprised of Jeremy Hall (vocals), John Kirk (drums), Josh Kirk (bass), and Matt Kirk (guitar). They have been playing in north central Indiana since 2005 covering all your rock and power pop favorites.
Tom
Kraft has been an entertainer, singer, songwriter, poet
and guitarist since he was 14 years old. In 1964, he formed a musical
pop group, The Teen Tones, who made a cutting edge single record that
did well for its time. After the group disbanded, Tom played in rock
bands while continuing his musical pursuits in Hollywood, where he cut
another single record that received airplay in Michigan, New York, and
parts of Europe. Before a major label could sign him, Tom moved back to
Jackson, MI to be near his family. Tom has become a dedicated Christian
and released a self-produced CD, “On the Way to the Dance.” He has
played numerous church concerts and serves in his hometown church,
playing guitar.
4PZ- At 12 years old, 4PZ (also known as Zak Mitchell) is already writing his own lyrics and beats. This up and coming hip hop artists will be the first hip hop act ever to perform at the Cole Porter Festival.
Relentless
Michael Booth
is a student from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, IN studying
Liturgical Music with and emphasis on choral conducting and vocal
performance. Mr. Booth is originally from Logansport where he has been
involved with music his whole life. He has conducted the pit orchestra
in the local civics’ production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat. He also taught vocal music and accompanied for their
production of Finians Rainbow. Recently he sang in the opera, The Cask
of Amontillado for the Indy Fringe Festival. He also is the principle
pianist at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Kentland as well as
organist for St. Joseph’s Chapel. When not performing, he is writing and
preparing for his own opera.
Mary
and Ruth Berkebile, both with M.M. in Piano Performance
from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, M.M. in
Violin Performance from Butler University and four years of operatic
study with Lyda-Betti Brown of Indianapolis, have been music teachers in
the Peru area since 1968. The sisters run their own studio for private
classes in piano, organ, strings, and voice. Mary and Ruth have a string
quartet and use their diverse knowledge of music to entertain others.
Ann
Scheuer
is a self-taught local pianist who has been playing for seventy-six
years. She is the mother of three
and grandmother of two. Ann has
performed in
Join us!
Downtown Peru, Indiana