10/11/2026
NWI Rusty Strings Orchestra Opens 26-27 Concert Season
Fire! Wind! Rain! A Musical Odyssey!
After the devastating derecho that hit this summer, the Northwest Indiana Rusty Strings Community Orchestra, led by music director Carrie Ann Carlson, has put together a program to help our community heal through the power of music. This musical adventure, called “Fire! Wind! Rain! A Musical Odyssey!,” has a mix of different musical genres, including pop songs like “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor (with Carolyn Rodea on guitar), “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by B. J. Thomas, “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas, “Windy” by The Association, and “Firework” by Katy Perry. There are also classical pieces like “Water Music Suite” by G. F. Handel, “Carmina Burana/O Fortuna” by Carl Orff, “Summer” from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, and “Finale” from Firebird by Igor Stravinsky. A beautiful contemporary piece by composer Celisse Tan, “Whispers in the Wind,” is also included. Louis Foster will play the oboe in “Gabriel’s Oboe” from The Mission, and the guitar duo of Carolyn and Pancho Rodea will play a special guitar selection. Overall, this musical journey promises to be a transformative experience of healing and encouragement.
Two performances will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Concert #1 will be presented at Pines Village Retirement Community (3303 Pines Village Circle, Valparaiso) at 2:00 p.m. CDT. Concert #2 will be presented at 6:00 p.m. CDT at Anderson’s Winery and Vineyard (430 E U.S. Hwy 6, Valparaiso, IN). Food and beverages will be available for purchase during the Anderson’s concert. Both concerts are free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be appreciated as a means of supporting the orchestra.
The NWI Rusty Strings is a non-auditioned community orchestra serving string musicians of varied skill levels (ages 18 and up) who are interested in resuming their playing in an inviting, supportive musical environment. The orchestra is primarily comprised of musicians who played in their high school or college orchestras and are looking for a performance ensemble where they can maintain their skills or resume playing and rekindling the passion found through shared musical experiences. There is a $40.00 membership fee for each concert series, which includes seven/eight rehearsals and two concerts. There are five scheduled concerts per year. All rehearsals are held at Pines Village Retirement Community, 3303 Pines Village Circle, Valparaiso, IN., typically on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:45 p.m. Musicians must provide their own instrument in working condition and a music stand (stand light if desired). Music is sent digitally in PDF format, so musicians will need to download and print off their own music for each concert series. Musical styles range from traditional classical to alternative styles, contemporary pop/rock and folk arrangements. Typically, literature falls within the advanced high school level of difficulty.
Openings for the 2026-27 concert season are still available in all sections. The orchestra is particularly in need of bass player for the holiday concert. Musicians who are interested in more information or who wish to join the group may contact the director, Carrie Ann Carlson at [email protected] for more information. The first rehearsal for the next concert series, “An All Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” is on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Pines Village Retirement Community 3303 Pines Village Circle, Valparaiso, IN from 7-8:45 with the concerts to be held on Saturday, December 5, 2026
