The KalHaven Strings are Michiana’s premier event musicians. Highly adaptable and versatile, they are skilled a variety of styles - Vivaldi to the Beatles, classic cinema to Tchaikovsky, Bach to Queen. They founded their ensemble in 2014 as graduate students and now perform with symphony orchestras from South Bend to West Michigan.
Soo Han will share stories from his interesting life journey, from his childhood in Korea to his appointment as conductor of the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Dr. Han is the director of orchestra studies at George Mason University, a Conn-Selmer educational clinician, and a contributing editor of Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements for Strings.
What makes this group “New Image”? Sure, they have the classic Barbershop Quartet sound, with a history of performances in our area that’s led to constant demand. But they go beyond the usual, including songs in their shows that are updated takes on quite recent releases.
Dr. Elliot Engel is an expert on the life of author L. Frank Baum and the reasons for the enduring and endearing fame of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” With anecdotes, analysis, and large doses of humor, Engel brings to life this most fascinating of fairy-tale writers.
Larry and Julia Marpel perform a delightful, first person glimpse of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt, revealing their personal lives, their beliefs, great stories, and some of their contributions to American history. The Marpels perform in full period dress.
The virtuosity of the Kennedy’s Kitchen musicians paired with their songs and storytelling is an authentic slice of Irish Americana. They are great at any time of the year, but they especially enjoy the holiday season. This program includes the annual election of officers for the Four Arts Club.
Chef Darren McGrady served as personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the family of, Diana, Princess of Wales. Five presidents have enjoyed his food. Now a speaker, culinary consultant and event planner, he delights audiences with his with his wit and charm. His first cookbook - “Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen" - is now in its sixth printing, with all proceeds donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Sure to bring spirit and sizzle to the season, Epic Dance Studio students are ready to share their talents. In previous years, Holidaze performances at places like The Lerner have included jazz, ballet, hip hop, and top, including selections featured in Duke Ellington’s “Harlem Nutcracker.” Stephanie Pairitz leads Epic Dance Studio.
A native of Germany and a graduate of Concord High School, Evelyn Theinert lets her light shine through the strings of her harp. She is finishing her work as a student at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and her goal is to keep performing. “In real life performance, you only have one chance. I think it’s better that way. You give your best for that one chance.”
For decades on Main Street in Downtown Elkhart, Brian Byrn has taken care of the 6,000 items in the Midwest Museum of American Art’s collection. He’s also one of the Four Arts Club’s favorite presenters. For this talk, Brian will focus on the renowned collection of hand-signed lithography by famed artist and illustrator Norman Rockwell.
Robert Wittman, considered the most famous art detective in the world, has risked his life returning stolen treasures. He founded the FBI’s elite Art Crime Team and recovered more than $225 million worth of art works and antiquities during his 20-year law enforcement career. Notable recoveries include a Rembrandt valued at $36 million.
The author of seven books, Tom Santopietro has been hailed by Booklist as “fun to read … perfect for musical-lovers, aspiring moviemakers, and film buffs.” He has written on Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand, as well as the ultimate look inside the making of the Julie Andrews classic, “The Sound of Music.”
Elkhart High School’s premier jazz vocal ensemble is under the direction of Jeff Reinert. The group has competitive auditions and consistently places among the best in Indiana, earning Top 8 rankings at the Indiana State School Music Association’s jazz festival.
Nicholas Roth has been a recording artist, a Beethoven fellow of the American Pianists Association, and a performer on stages throughout the United States and Europe. The Elkhart native is coming home again to showcase his talents for the Four Arts Club.
Sometime during the pandemic, Abbie Thomas came to a critical point in her fast-developing music career. The singer-songwriter made the move to go “all in” and chase her dreams. Whether she’s solo or with her talented band, the Crazy Hearts, Abbie delivers soulful pop reminiscent of great 1970s sounds. She is the 2023 Josie Music Awards female artist of the year.
“Professor Pski” knows modern and vintage fashion, and delivers her knowledge in funny, opinionated and useful ways. She wants to help people bring back style and tasteful beauty to everyday looks. In her day job, she teaches several classes in the history department at the University of Notre Dame.
Add a white suit and red carnation to a talented high school choir teacher, and you’ll get an afternoon with the legendary Cole Porter. Dr. Jason Gornto teaches at Peru High School and plays in a number of jazz bands. His tribute to his town’s favorite son is testament to the strength and enjoyability of the Great American Songbook.
A favorite of the Four Arts Club, Brian Byrn is the executive director and curator of the Midwest Museum of American Art. His talks are as dynamic as the works inside his Main Street destination. He’ll be talking about the upcoming 46th annual Juried Art Regional.
This program has changed from the original listing. The Calabogie Road bluegrass band is unable to perform as scheduled.
The author of seven books, Tom Santopietro has been hailed by Booklist as “fun to read ... perfect for musical lovers, aspiring moviemakers, and film buffs.” He has written on Frank Sinatra, Doris Day and Barbra Streisand. He also has been a tennis pro and a manager of Broadway shows.
The Starlights are the award-winning, all-female show and concert choir of Middlebury Community Schools. This elite group competes around the country, showcasing knowledge of music theory, history and advanced techniques. The group also incorporates movement.
Tom Toro has had more than 200 of his drawings published in the New Yorker since 2010. A cum laude graduate of Yale, he also is an author of short stories and filmmaker. His work also has appeared in Playboy, the Paris Review and American Bystander.
These ambassadors of string music are dedicated to raising the level and reputation of the Indiana University South Bend programs. This performance will showcase seasonal and secular selections.
Challenged by an entrepreneurship class at Notre Dame, Zach Dubois wrote a business plan to become a songwriter. With inspirations from John Denver to John Steinbeck, his music has made its way to CMT video countdown shows.
Sean Hartley directs the musical theater division of New York’s Kaufman Center. He is the host of the Broadway Close Up concert series, and has writing and song credits for several musicials and Disney television series.
It was a political rivalry that shaped a nation - Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton, two imperfect men seeking a more perfect union. Louis Masur is a distinguished professor of American studies at Rutgers University.
Tina Rivers Ryan is an Ivy League-educated curator, art historian and critic. Her focus is art since the 1960s, and she has worked with the world’s leading institutions - The Met, MoMA and Artforum - on their exhibitions,
Based at Elkhart’s Lerner Theatre, Premier Arts is regional leader in providing diverse and professional performing arts entertainment and education. This special presentation will showcase Broadway favorites.
A Four Arts Club favorite, Bob Milne has long been considered the best ragtime and boogie-woogie pianist in the world. In fact, the Library of Congress has declared him a National Treasure, and he is a musical ambassador for the State Department.
The author of 22 books and a best-selling essay series, Phillip Gulley has been a finalist for the cherished Thurber Prize for American humor. The values of the Quaker way bring equity, peace, healing, and hope.
Brian Byrn, the executive director of the Midwest Museum of American Art, is no stranger to the Four Arts Club. His talks provide education and inspiration, and this program will focus specifically on the accomplishments of female artists in the 20th Century.
Ruby Jazayre was a YWCA youth director who didn’t like being at a desk. She saw a belly dancing program and thought she would never do that. From the first lesson, though, she’s been hooked with the movement and the music - and now she teaches classes of all ages across Michiana.
Mary Ann Moran reprises her fabulous one-woman show honoring the iconic Katharine Hepburn. Mary Ann doesn’t perform as an imitation or caricature, but simply with the spirit of the woman as she faced vulnerable moments in her life. Moran’s interpretation was first presented at South Bend Civic Theatre in 2013.
April Lidinsky is women's and gender studies professor at IUSB, as well as director of the master’s program for liberal studies. She’s an expert in feminist activism and advocacy, using her knowledge to bring together both historical and contemporary issues in theoretical and practical ways.
Please note the location change for this event to the Aria Ballroom at the Hotel Elkhart.
Andrew Och started documenting the lives of America’s First Ladies for a 2013 series on C-SPAN. The immense project has made him the foremost expert on the lives and accomplishments of history’s best known women. Andrew will be making his long-awaited trip to Elkhart after postponements in 2020 and ‘21.
Nicholas Roth has been a recording artist, a Beethoven fellow of the American Pianists Association, and a performer on stages throughout the United States and Europe. The Elkhart native is coming home from his current position at Drake University to showcase his talents for the Four Arts Club.
Marc Lapadula, an award-winning film producer and university lecturer, returns to the Four Arts Club stage to examine the works of Alfred Hitchcock. While everyone knows the master for his six decades of suspense on the big screen, Hitchcock deserves more credit for his sophisticated artistic ambition.
