Wabash Valley Youth Symphony performs at Lafayette Farmers Market, Saturday June 21

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Members of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony will be performing at the Lafayette Farmers’ Market on Saturday, June 21st from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. The Wabash Valley Youth Symphony (WVYS) is a local non-profit organization that gives young musicians in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties the opportunity to challenge themselves and grow as musicians by playing in a full symphony orchestra. WVYS students play symphonic works as they were originally composed, not abridged or simplified versions often given to youth orchestras, but the same full scores performed by top orchestras around the world. The WVYS is made up of 75 youth ages 12-18. There is also a smaller chamber orchestra made up of some of the group’s more advanced students. WVYS is led by conductor Carlos Carrillo. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Carrillo is currently a professor of music at DePauw University.

In addition to the WVYS performance, the Market is currently featuring fresh strawberries, asparagus, honey, maple syrup, Traders Point Certified Organic Whole Milk, Fair Oaks Cheeses, perennial flowering transplants, gourmet pet treats, meats, kettle corn, free range farm fresh eggs, herbs, and baked goods. Arts and crafts are also available from a number of vendors.

The Market, managed by the Downtown Development Council of the Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation, is open on Tuesdays from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm, Thursdays from 4-7 pm, and Saturdays from 7:30 am – 12:30 pm through October. The Market is located in Downtown Lafayette on Fifth Street between Main and Columbia Streets.

For more information, contact Jane Ness at the Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation at 765/742-4044

Musical Delights at Frank Lloyd Wright’s SAMARA 2008 Garden Party

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The John Christian Family Trust, administrators of the Frank Lloyd house SAMARA, in cooperation with Wabash Valley Youth Symphony will host Musical Delights at Frank Lloyd Wright’s SAMARA Sunday, June 1, 2008. The Garden Party will run from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm EDT with outdoor performances by members of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony scheduled throughout the afternoon. The event is being sponsored in cooperation with Bison Financial Group and Plan It Events.

Guests will experience the home with a guided tour as be able to enjoy hearing several Beethoven pieces performed in the valley by the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony. Refreshments will also be available from Snowbear Frozen Custard and Bea One.

SAMARA is the name of the Usonian-style home Frank Lloyd Wright designed in 1955 for Dr. and Mrs. John E. Christian in West Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Wright designed the home, the furniture and the landscaping. One of the last designs of this kind, it has been magnificently maintained as Wright intended.

The Wabash Valley Youth Symphony was founded in 1999 and is Greater Lafayette’s first and only youth symphony. The symphony provides youth from Tippecanoe and surrounding counties the opportunity to perform in ensembles with other musically talented youth. Beethoven is known as Mr. Wright’s favorite composer and it is fitting that the Youth Symphony will be performing Beethoven in the valley at SAMARA throughout the afternoon. The featured performance will be Beethoven’s 7th Symphony.

Tickets will be available at the entrance to SAMARA. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $5 for students, 18 and under. Adult admission includes refreshment tickets. Additional refreshment tickets will be available for purchase on the grounds. SAMARA is located at 1301 Woodlawn Avenue, West Lafayette, IN. Directions as well as additional information are available on the website www.samara-house.org. Proceeds will benefit the John Christian Family Trust and Wabash Valley Youth Symphony.