Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears. It is a remedy and a tonic; but for many, it is even more. It can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. Music is not a luxury, but a necessity. ~Dr. Oliver Sacks
Due to the Pandemic, the LCSO will be going into a 3rd year of our Music Director Search. We would like to thank all of our Music Director Candidates for their patience as we continue this search through March of 2021. For more information on all of our outstanding conductor candidates, please go to the “Brave, Maestro” tab at the top of this page.
Click on the link for a tentative schedule of concerts for the 2020-21 season.
Christopher Bendix
Acting Principal Double/Electric Bassist, Christopher Bendix, is a 22 year member of the LCSO. He began his career with the LCSO as a student apprentice at the age of 13 with the percussion section. Soon after, Chris developed his passion for double bass and then joined that section. Outside of the LCSO, Chris has performed most recently as a member of the jazz fusion/hip-hop group, Rhymer/Educator. Chris resides in Michigan City with his wife, Lindsay, who is an ICU nurse at Franciscan and they have two children, Ella and Jack. In addition to his musical life, Chris is the owner of Bendix Pro-Painters, a high-end residential and commercial painting contractor. The LCSO salutes Chris Bendix! The LCSO has the most awesome musicians! WWW.LCSO.NET
Twenty instruments were donated to Drew’s Gift on 5-15-2020. Pictured are LCSO Interim Music Director Chuck Steck, Roxy Staff and LCSO Board Member, Joan Davis and Roxy General Manager, Bill Heiss. Twenty instruments from generous patrons were delivered to Roxy Music. They were taken to Drew’s Gift of Music where they will be restored and repaired. After that, these instruments will be available to those elementary, middle and high school music students who otherwise cannot afford to lease or purchase an instrument. Our goal is to make sure that an instrument is placed into every pair of hands that wants to have music in their life.
Message from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte:
Kathleen Lang playing the bagpipes at the 2019 Holiday at the Pops:
TESTIMONIAL
The LCSO has been a tremendous gift to our family! Our children are growing up and appreciating the outstanding music and awesome experience of every concert. What a wonderful way of exposing our children to the joy of music!
~Tony & Jaime Oss
LCSO + Drew’s Gift of Music = INSTRUMENT DRIVE
The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is proud to partner with Drew’s Gift of Music with the goal of providing instruments to every student in La Porte County who cannot afford to either lease of purchase an instrument. Their love is music should not be thwarted by their desire to make music. The LCSO will be conducting an “INSTRUMENT DRIVE” for band and orchestra instruments (no pianos or guitars) beginning again in October of 2020 and culminating in our Opening Concert in November of 2020. Our sincere thanks to Roxy Music who is also partnering with us to serve as a deposit site for these instruments.
In exchange for donating an orchestra or band instrument, each person will receive two balcony tickets to our our opening concert of the 2020-21 season on November 7, 2020, at the Civic Auditorium. It is our way of saying “Thanks” for making it possible for our students to make music!