WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Even more children will benefit from Purdue University’s award-winning Purdue Athletes Life Success Program this summer as the camp, its activities and its support keeps growing.

More than 400 children will attend the June 18 through July 17 program also known as PALS. Last year more than 350 children attended, and this year’s program has a waiting list. The camp, for children 8-14, is free for the participants, who are selected based on referrals from local schools.

“This program began seven years ago as a way to encourage children to embrace a healthy lifestyle through sports and athletics, but now it is about much more,” says Bill Harper, camp director and professor and head of the Department of Health and Kinesiology.

“Fitness is still the foundation of our program, and that’s why we space activity stations apart so campers are guaranteed 70 minutes of walking a day, and this year we will be using pedometers as well. But we also want these youngsters to be successful in all areas of life, so we offer a range of activities including units on computers, stress management, nutrition and financial literacy. We also are adding orchestra, specifically a violin unit, to this year’s program.

“But, the beauty of what we can offer these children has evolved because the local funding base and community support keeps growing. For example, Alcoa is providing pedometers for the children, and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra is sharing its violins and instructors.”

PALS, formerly the National Youth Sports Program, changed its name last summer, thanks to support from Drew Brees’ The Brees Dream Foundation and Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, which is known as PEFCU.

The former Boilermaker All-America quarterback, current quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and PEFCU spokesperson, has visited the camp annually since 2003. His visit to the camp this year is sponsored by PEFCU as part of its emphasis to support local youth.

PEFCU also supports the camp unit on financial literacy. PEFCU employees, who work with many classrooms during the school year on financial wellness topics, teach this course.

Before the name change, the national program honored Purdue’s camps for its achievements, including being named best new program in 2002 and special recognition for its 2004 and 2005 programs. This year the American Heart Association will honor Harper with the Cor Vitae Award for enhancing the community through innovation, philanthropy, vision and leadership.

The National Youth Sports Program began in 1969, and in 2005 there were more than 200 programs nationwide. However, the program’s federal funding was reduced, and in 2006 Purdue’s program was one 56 in the nation to receive partial funding. Federal funding was withdrawn from all National Youth Sports Programs in 2007, but Purdue’s camp successfully continued through university and private donor support.

More than 1,000 children have attended since the camp began in 2002. The students, in teams of 15, rotate through activity stations that include basketball, swimming, soccer and volleyball. The older campers get to participate in yoga, flag football, judo and table tennis.

Purdue researchers in the Department of Health and Kinesiology also are studying how participation in the camp benefits children by measuring their physical fitness, academic achievement and social relationships year round. Harper says many children often lose weight during camp, and anecdotal evidence from the local schools shows that participation in the camp has a significant positive effect on education, attitudes and sportsmanship.

The Department of Health and Kinesiology is housed in the College of Liberal Arts. The camp also has received assistance from Purdue’s Office of the Provost, Recreational Sports Facilities, Residence Halls, Information Technology at Purdue, Purdue University Student Health Center and the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fifteen Lafayette-area string musicians, including four who are home-schooled, are winners of this year’s McPherson String Scholarships to advance their musical training, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday (April 28).

The 2009 McPherson Scholarship recipients are Daniel Choi, Agustina de la Fuente, Joseph Frank, Mark Timmerman, Amy He and Bryce Wang of West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School; Kaleb Emery, Adrian Escobar, LeAnn Hackerd, and Dillon Miller of Frankfort Middle School; Kayla Newcomb of Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High in Lafayette; and Nathan Davis, Christina Doerr, Clara Loisch and Gabriella Loisch, who are home-schooled.

Winners receive $300 each through the Dr. and Mrs. Richard C. McPherson String Instrument Scholarship Fund. This year, 54 scholarship applications were submitted. The Greater Lafayette Community Foundation distributes the annual scholarships on behalf of the Lafayette Symphony.

Ken Bootsma, executive director of the LSO, said the McPherson scholarships are designed to encourage interest in string instruments such as the violin, viola, bass or cello among the many young musicians in local and regional communities.

“The $300 individual awards, made possible for the 12th straight year through the generosity of the McPherson family, can be extremely helpful, especially during these tough economic times, for private lessons or music camps to foster a love for music for all ages,” Bootsma said.

Musicians who were nominated by local and area music instructors were asked to submit an application along with a 100- to 300-word essay about how the scholarship would help them advance their musical interests. An ad hoc committee of three LSO musicians recommended the 15 recipients to the LSO’s Education Committee for final approval.

“The McPherson scholarship program pays particular attention to those students whose interest in string playing proficiency is limited by financial constraints,” said LSO musical director Nicholas Palmer. “It also is a key part of the LSO’s outreach mission into our local and regional communities and to help these young musicians and their families grow their love of performance.”

The program was created in 1998 by the McPhersons in honor of their children, Gregg A. McPherson and Kimberly McPherson, to encourage and stimulate interest in string-playing proficiency.

Applicants for yearly scholarships must be enrolled in school in grades 7-12, which includes the summer following the 12th grade. They must be permanent residents of Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren and White counties.

The deadline for the 2010 McPherson scholarships is mid-February. Application forms can be picked up at the LSO offices on the second floor of the Long Center for Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, IN, 47901. Prior scholarship applicants are eligible to reapply, and recipients from the last three years are not eligible to reapply.

Launched in 1950 as a nonprofit organization, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra is focused on enriching the cultural life of the Lafayette-West Lafayette community, which includes Purdue University, and 14 surrounding counties through excellence in orchestral music and educational experience.

About 80 percent of the Lafayette Symphony’s patrons live in Lafayette, West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County, while the remainder resides in the surrounding counties of Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tipton, Warren and White.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In their final performance of the 2008-2009 season, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra presents “Spanish Fiesta” on Saturday, April 25th. Spanish Fiesta is a celebration of the Latin rhythms by composers like Gershwin, Rodrigo, Galindo and more. Classical guitarist, Jason Vieaux, is the guest artist and will perform the solo during Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.

Vieaux is expanding the definition of “Classical Guitarist” with over 50 performance dates internationally this season. He has eight recordings to his credit and many more to come. Vieaux is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of American International Competition, and was honored as the Artistic Ambassador of the U.S. to Southeast Asia. The LSO will be performing a variety of symphonic works from Cuba and Mexico, while Vieaux joins in with a work from Spain.

Join the LSO for a fiesta after the show with complimentary appetizers and a chance to meet Jason Vieaux in person.

Tickets: Adults $17-35, Senior (65+) $15-32, Students $8-15
Location: Long Center for Performing Arts, Downtown Lafayette, Indiana
Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 2009. 7:30p curtain.

Program:
GERSHWIN - Cuban Overture
RODRIGO - Concierto de Aranjuez (Jason Vieaux, guitar)
GALINDO - Sounds of the Mariachis
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio Espagnol
RAVEL - Bolero

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright, and Karl Scully celebrate the music of the Emerald Isle with sparkling voices and Irish charm, performing traditional Gaelic folk songs, ballads, and medleys with lush accompaniment by our very own Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Since their debut in 1998, The Irish Tenors have performed to enthusiastic audiences in the finest venues around the world. Their eight chart-topping albums include legendary Irish standards like “Danny Boy” and “Molly Malone,” as well as stirring interpretations of pop hits, folk tunes, and sacred hymns. Their worldwide success has spawned many imitators, but there is only one trio with the impeccable harmonies, sweeping orchestration, and international following of The Irish Tenors.

“The luck of the Irish may be legendary, but there’s a lot to say for the skill of the Irish, as demonstrated by The Irish Tenors’ blending of traditional and modern songs.”
–The Washington Post

The Irish Tenors
Friday, March 6th at 8:00p
Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

This performance is a collaboration between Purdue Convocations and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Call 765-494-3933 for tickets. LSO patrons with questions about ticket purchase options should call 765-494-9712.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Long Center Theater in Downtown Lafayette will host the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra’s next concert on January 10, 2009.

The concert, “The Splendor of Vienna”, will feature guest pianist, Peter Vinograde, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major. Mozart completed this concerto in December of 1786, and it is the last of the twelve great piano concertos written in Vienna, and currently regarded as one of his greatest works. Dr. Vinograde teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and according to the New York Times, listeners will be “instantly impressed with his big technique, lively mind, and passionate commitment to the music”.

Featured Works:

• STRAUSS - On the Beautiful Danube
• MOZART - Piano Concert #25 in C Major, Peter Vinograde, piano
• BEETHOVEN - Symphony #6 “Pastorale”

Featured Performer: Peter Vinograde, piano
Conductor: Nicholas Palmer
Curtain: 7:30 PM Saturday
Date: January 10, 2009
Location: Long Center for Performing Arts, 111 N 6th St, Lafayette, IN 47901
For Information: (765) 742-5664