Join former Ignite Studio Maker-in-Residence, Eric Salazar, "The Clarinet Guy", and learn how to set-up and record a short audio project using professional equipment.
Good Work is a five-act operetta by Landon Caldwell with music by Rob Funkhouser, premiering October 23 & 24, 2026 at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis. Its framework draws on Myrrdin Wylt, the Welsh folklore figure who would later inspire Merlin of Arthurian legend, moving through five acts for voice, movement, ensemble, and video, drawn from collective memory, vernacular, and the Midwestern psyche. It examines family objects, regional folklores, medieval Welsh prophecy poetry, and local oral history. Good Work asks what it means to dissolve into a place and to find yourself in service to others.
Caldwell is a multidisciplinary artist and composer based in Indianapolis, working primarily in and around the Midwest. His practice centers on sound experiences, using multi-channel installation, film and video, writing, improvisation, and performance to explore how people encounter sound in everyday life, and how regional identity is shaped by the sounds that surround it: industrial landscapes, rural quiet, community gatherings, and the small domestic moments that mark daily life. Good Work extends that inquiry into a new form, bringing his recurring themes of environment, family, and class into a large-scale performance work for the first time.
The piece began as an attempt to reclaim two inheritances: the lost American family lineage and a feeling for one’s own bioregion. Caldwell writes from the belief that people can only imagine futures they have the perceptual vocabulary to conceive and a place to build. Good Work is an effort to build that vocabulary out of both, reclaiming lost mythologies with inherited place. Structured as a work of abstract regionalism, the operetta treats folklore, family letters, and small-town oral history as source material of equal weight, layering them into a single performance built of asynchronous parts.
Roles are anonymized, objects stand in for characters, and the score itself is built to resist a fixed telling, improvised and reordered with each performance, so that memory in the piece is never settled, only carried forward. This mirrors Caldwell's broader practice: installations, performances, and recordings that evolve together, moving fluidly between gallery, performance, and broadcast contexts, always in search of what might be called the modern Midwestern psyche - how place, labor, and family history continue to shape contemporary life.
The score is the work of Rob Funkhouser, a recurring collaborator of Caldwell's across sound-based projects including the community project Sonic Potluck and the 48-channel sound sculpture Sound Field. That ongoing partnership carries into Good Work, where Funkhouser's score operates on its own timeline alongside the text, movement, light, and video.
Good Work is performed by an ensemble including Mark Tester, Jess Dunn, Hirotaka Inuzuka, Luke Garrigus, Jesse Lee, Eric Salazar, Rob Funkhouser, and Landon Caldwell.
Funded by the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, a program of Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
Good Work is a five-act operetta by Landon Caldwell with music by Rob Funkhouser, premiering October 23 & 24, 2026 at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis. Its framework draws on Myrrdin Wylt, the Welsh folklore figure who would later inspire Merlin of Arthurian legend, moving through five acts for voice, movement, ensemble, and video, drawn from collective memory, vernacular, and the Midwestern psyche. It examines family objects, regional folklores, medieval Welsh prophecy poetry, and local oral history. Good Work asks what it means to dissolve into a place and to find yourself in service to others.
Caldwell is a multidisciplinary artist and composer based in Indianapolis, working primarily in and around the Midwest. His practice centers on sound experiences, using multi-channel installation, film and video, writing, improvisation, and performance to explore how people encounter sound in everyday life, and how regional identity is shaped by the sounds that surround it: industrial landscapes, rural quiet, community gatherings, and the small domestic moments that mark daily life. Good Work extends that inquiry into a new form, bringing his recurring themes of environment, family, and class into a large-scale performance work for the first time.
The piece began as an attempt to reclaim two inheritances: the lost American family lineage and a feeling for one’s own bioregion. Caldwell writes from the belief that people can only imagine futures they have the perceptual vocabulary to conceive and a place to build. Good Work is an effort to build that vocabulary out of both, reclaiming lost mythologies with inherited place. Structured as a work of abstract regionalism, the operetta treats folklore, family letters, and small-town oral history as source material of equal weight, layering them into a single performance built of asynchronous parts.
Roles are anonymized, objects stand in for characters, and the score itself is built to resist a fixed telling, improvised and reordered with each performance, so that memory in the piece is never settled, only carried forward. This mirrors Caldwell's broader practice: installations, performances, and recordings that evolve together, moving fluidly between gallery, performance, and broadcast contexts, always in search of what might be called the modern Midwestern psyche - how place, labor, and family history continue to shape contemporary life.
The score is the work of Rob Funkhouser, a recurring collaborator of Caldwell's across sound-based projects including the community project Sonic Potluck and the 48-channel sound sculpture Sound Field. That ongoing partnership carries into Good Work, where Funkhouser's score operates on its own timeline alongside the text, movement, light, and video.
Good Work is performed by an ensemble including Mark Tester, Jess Dunn, Hirotaka Inuzuka, Luke Garrigus, Jesse Lee, Eric Salazar, Rob Funkhouser, and Landon Caldwell.
Funded by the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, a program of Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
You’re invited to a house concert featuring…
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Doors at 6 p.m. | Music and Silent Films at 6:30 p.m.
This Halloween-themed show will feature classic horror movies paired with original instrumental music and is a great event for film buffs and music lovers alike. Costumes are encouraged!
Join Forward Motion for an unforgettable 10 year anniversary concert! Since 2026 the group has advocated for the creation of new works for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion by presenting innovative performances in a variety of spaces. Forward Motion is an Indianapolis‑based ensemble that commissions, premieres, and records newly composed music and partners with local organizations to build community through adventurous musical expression.
Overview
An experimental creative showcase featuring the 2025-2026 Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund Recipients
The 2026 edition of Risky Business brings together nine artists across music, dance, literary, and visual arts for an experimental creative showcase. Recipients of the Herbert Simon Family Foundation’s Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, each artist situates themself in a unique personal and creative challenge, unearthing new ways to tell familiar stories, embracing vulnerability, critiquing the status quo, and undertaking risks that are both personal and political. They explore themes and experiences surrounding environmental sustainability, displacement, systemic racism, substance use disorder, disability, and anti-violence through fresh and innovative artmaking approaches, inviting audiences into a contemplative experience that both challenges and inspires.
A program of Herbert Simon Family Foundation, the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund provides funding to individual artists, artist collectives, and collaborations of individual artists to take creative risks and pursue experimental projects.
About Herbert Simon Family Foundation
Herbert Simon Family Foundation aligns the Herbert Simon family across generations to champion the people and ideas that move Indianapolis and Indiana forward.
Forward Motion performs newly composed piece, Sympathetic Resonance, by Sound Ecologies composers Luke Garrigus, Amanda S, Logan Purcell, Catherine Hoelscher, & Rob Funkhouser.
How often do you unplug from the digital world and pause to observe the plants, rocks, and animals around you? What Remains is a contemplative reminder that we are surrounded by wonders of the natural world, and these wonders are worth exploring. What Remains is part film and part performance, featuring a silent film created by Katelyn Calhoun of Calhoun Creative Consulting, and set to music co-composed by Forward Motion. Watch stunning visuals fused with adventurous music to thread together a story of nature’s beauty, and our place in it. This project is made possible by the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, a program of Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
How often do you unplug from the digital world and pause to observe the plants, rocks, and animals around you? What Remains is a contemplative reminder that we are surrounded by wonders of the natural world, and these wonders are worth exploring. What Remains is part film and part performance, featuring a silent film created by Katelyn Calhoun of Calhoun Creative Consulting, and set to music co-composed by Forward Motion. Watch stunning visuals fused with adventurous music to thread together a story of nature’s beauty, and our place in it. This project is made possible by the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, a program of Herbert Simon Family Foundation.
Graphic Scoring (or Graphic Notation) is a process where artwork often includes symbols for musicians - who perform the artwork. This is your chance to come receive a bit of guidance then spend some time creating art - and hear your artwork performed at the end of the session!
Consider how to visualize music.
Join members of Forward Motion to learn a bit about graphic scoring/notation, and then spend some time creating your own artwork. Before you leave - you'll be able to hear the musicians perform your artwork! Leave feeling calmer and refreshed after creating.
This program is great for people of all ages.
"It has been far too long since IndyFringe has had a purely musical offering, and its return is a celebration of innovation and joy. This show is a refreshing diversion from other fare." - Plays by John and Wendy
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Sympathetic Resonance takes the audience on a journey of individualism through the exploration of distinct musical styles. This new piece is comprised of 6 miniature acts, each written by a different composer and spotlighting a specific instrumentalist. The overall effect poetically demonstrates the bold uniqueness of each voice through the non-verbal aesthetic of music, and ultimately leads to the realization of how human expressions can be both an individual accomplishment as well as a contribution to the collective.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
For nearly a decade in Indianapolis, Forward Motion has advocated for the creation of new works by presenting innovative performances in a variety of spaces. The ensemble focuses on the performance of new works and free improvisations. Forward Motion’s core instrumentation consists of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion; the group's activity is fluid and involves many innovative combinations of this core instrumentation. The core members regularly compose for the group bringing about a wide-range of creative expressions.
The original music in this production was composed by Rob Funkhouser, Luke Garrigus, Cat Hoelscher, Logan Purcell, and Amanda S. This production features performers Jennifer Page (flute), Eric Salazar (clarinet), Angela Pulliam (violin), Maya Nojiri (cello), Ashton Vickery (piano), and Corey Denham (percussion).
CA: This production is recommended for all ages.
Hear your art come to life! Graphic scoring is a process where visual descriptions or marks (often abstract), are interpreted by musicians and turned into sound. Patrons in this workshop will be shown examples of graphic scores performed by Forward Motion, a contemporary Indianapolis-based group that performs and produces original compositions. Next, participants will be guided through the creation of their own pieces of visual art. These will be interpreted and performed by Forward Motion during the workshop. Registration begins two weeks prior. Ages 5 and up.
This program is great for people of all ages.
"It has been far too long since IndyFringe has had a purely musical offering, and its return is a celebration of innovation and joy. This show is a refreshing diversion from other fare." - Plays by John and Wendy
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Sympathetic Resonance takes the audience on a journey of individualism through the exploration of distinct musical styles. This new piece is comprised of 6 miniature acts, each written by a different composer and spotlighting a specific instrumentalist. The overall effect poetically demonstrates the bold uniqueness of each voice through the non-verbal aesthetic of music, and ultimately leads to the realization of how human expressions can be both an individual accomplishment as well as a contribution to the collective.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
For nearly a decade in Indianapolis, Forward Motion has advocated for the creation of new works by presenting innovative performances in a variety of spaces. The ensemble focuses on the performance of new works and free improvisations. Forward Motion’s core instrumentation consists of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion; the group's activity is fluid and involves many innovative combinations of this core instrumentation. The core members regularly compose for the group bringing about a wide-range of creative expressions.
The original music in this production was composed by Rob Funkhouser, Luke Garrigus, Cat Hoelscher, Logan Purcell, and Amanda S. This production features performers Jennifer Page (flute), Eric Salazar (clarinet), Angela Pulliam (violin), Maya Nojiri (cello), Ashton Vickery (piano), and Corey Denham (percussion).
CA: This production is recommended for all ages.
"It has been far too long since IndyFringe has had a purely musical offering, and its return is a celebration of innovation and joy. This show is a refreshing diversion from other fare." - Plays by John and Wendy
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Sympathetic Resonance takes the audience on a journey of individualism through the exploration of distinct musical styles. This new piece is comprised of 6 miniature acts, each written by a different composer and spotlighting a specific instrumentalist. The overall effect poetically demonstrates the bold uniqueness of each voice through the non-verbal aesthetic of music, and ultimately leads to the realization of how human expressions can be both an individual accomplishment as well as a contribution to the collective.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
For nearly a decade in Indianapolis, Forward Motion has advocated for the creation of new works by presenting innovative performances in a variety of spaces. The ensemble focuses on the performance of new works and free improvisations. Forward Motion’s core instrumentation consists of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion; the group's activity is fluid and involves many innovative combinations of this core instrumentation. The core members regularly compose for the group bringing about a wide-range of creative expressions.
The original music in this production was composed by Rob Funkhouser, Luke Garrigus, Cat Hoelscher, Logan Purcell, and Amanda S. This production features performers Jennifer Page (flute), Eric Salazar (clarinet), Angela Pulliam (violin), Maya Nojiri (cello), Ashton Vickery (piano), and Corey Denham (percussion).
CA: This production is recommended for all ages.
Join former Ignite Studio Maker-in-Residence, Eric Salazar, "The Clarinet Guy", and learn how to set-up and record a short audio project using professional equipment.
On the first Tuesday of every month, Classical Music Indy is proud to present, in partnership with the Indianapolis chapter of Classical Revolution, a diverse mix of classical music, hosted by the Chatterbox Jazz Club in downtown Indy.
Join us Thursdays from 1:30–2:30pm for an afternoon of storytelling, creativity, and community. Bring an art project to work on as you listen to stories shared by longtime Indianapolis residents.
Graphic Scoring (or Graphic Notation) is a process where artwork often includes symbols for musicians - who perform the artwork. This is your chance to come receive a bit of guidance then spend some time creating art - and hear your artwork performed at the end of the session!
Consider how to visualize music.
Join members of Forward Motion to learn a bit about graphic scoring/notation, and then spend some time creating your own artwork. Before you leave - you'll be able to hear the musicians perform your artwork! Leave feeling calmer and refreshed after creating.
This program is great for people of all ages.
Benefic Chamber Music Camp is an intensive learning experience designed to enhance the chamber music and collaborative skills of string, wind, french horn, piano, and organ students from high school through first years of college.
Students are instructed by artists and teachers of international renown, with extensive experience and expertise as educators, chamber musicians, and as members of major symphony orchestras.
Camp roster includes faculty and guest artists from the University of Cincinnati and Ball State University, Indiana University, Michigan State University, and the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras.
Join us Thursdays from 1:30–2:30pm for an afternoon of storytelling, creativity, and community. Bring an art project to work on as you listen to stories shared by longtime Indianapolis residents.
Join us Thursdays from 1:30–2:30pm for an afternoon of storytelling, creativity, and community. Bring an art project to work on as you listen to stories shared by longtime Indianapolis residents.
Graphic Scoring (or Graphic Notation) is a process where artwork often includes symbols for musicians - who perform the artwork. This is your chance to come receive a bit of guidance then spend some time creating art - and hear your artwork performed at the end of the session!
Consider how to visualize music.
Join members of Forward Motion to learn a bit about graphic scoring/notation, and then spend some time creating your own artwork. Before you leave - you'll be able to hear the musicians perform your artwork! Leave feeling calmer and refreshed after creating.
This program is great for people of all ages.
Graphic Scoring (or Graphic Notation) is a process where artwork often includes symbols for musicians - who perform the artwork. This is your chance to come receive a bit of guidance then spend some time creating art - and hear your artwork performed at the end of the session!
Consider how to visualize music.
Join members of Forward Motion to learn a bit about graphic scoring/notation, and then spend some time creating your own artwork. Before you leave - you'll be able to hear the musicians perform your artwork! Leave feeling calmer and refreshed after creating.
This program is great for people of all ages.
This special performance involves YOU creating artwork (supplies provided) and then musicians PERFORMING that artwork live. You won't want to miss this cool experience to hear your (or others) visual art brought to life in the Clowes Auditorium!
Graphic Scoring (or Graphic Notation) is a process where artwork often includes symbols for musicians - who perform the artwork. This is your chance to come receive a bit of guidance then spend some time creating art - and hear your artwork performed at the end of the session!
Consider how to visualize music.
Join members of Forward Motion to learn a bit about graphic scoring/notation, and then spend some time creating your own artwork. Before you leave - you'll be able to hear the musicians perform your artwork! Leave feeling calmer and refreshed after creating.
This program is great for people of all ages.
The Convergence is Indy Convergence’s namesake artists residency designed to foster artistic development and exchange in an intensive, interdisciplinary environment.
Join former Ignite Studio Maker-in-Residence, Eric Salazar, "The Clarinet Guy", and learn how to set-up and record a short audio project using professional equipment.
Join us Thursdays from 1:30–2:30pm for an afternoon of storytelling, creativity, and community. Bring an art project to work on as you listen to stories shared by longtime Indianapolis residents.
Sound Ecologies Chamber Orchestra performs world premieres under the direction of Elliott Lentz
Indiana Historical Society - Basile Theatre.
Doors open at 6:30pm.
Salazar will be a guest clinician at the Strings & Jazzy Things Music Camp.
Join us for a celebration of Latine cultures' music contributions to our country! Enjoy music composed and performed by local Indy musicians.
Join former Ignite Studio Maker-in-Residence, Eric Salazar, "The Clarinet Guy", and learn how to set-up and record a short audio project using professional equipment.
There are more generations simultaneously in the workforce than ever before. The world, in general, is increasingly polarized and fractured. There is conflict all around us. In order to overcome these challenges, leaders must be able to build collaborative environments and effectively guide teams toward shared goals. LEAD is the training ground for leaders who want to rise to the challenge. Are you ready to LEAD?
LEAD is a chance to spend 3 days learning new skills that will equip you to more effectively lead teams and create collaborative environments. Through a combination of workshops, discussions, and case studies, you will develop skills and learn strategies related to building teams, stakeholder analysis, conflict management, and other topics focused on collaborative community leadership.
At LEAD, you will:
• Experience interactive workshops, discussions, and case studies, designed to help you build your skills and increase your impact and effectiveness as a leader
• Explore issues related to building a team, stakeholder analysis, conflict management, strategic networking and other topics focused on collaborative leadership
• Connect and learn with emerging and established leaders in our community
Questions about LEAD? Contact Beth Outland at boutland@leadershipindianapolis.com.
On the first Tuesday of every month, Classical Music Indy is proud to present, in partnership with the Indianapolis chapter of Classical Revolution, a diverse mix of classical music, hosted by the Chatterbox Jazz Club in downtown Indy.
Choral Concert: Stabat Mater
Saturday, March 28, 2026 – 7:30 p.m.
Our Saint Bartholomew Concert Series marks the beginning of the Holy Week with a masterpiece of the sacred repertoire, the Stabat Mater (At the Cross Her Station Keeping) by Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868). A chorus combining singers from St. Bartholomew Catholic Church and Fairlawn Presbyterian Church in Columbus and from Roberts Park United Methodist Church and St. John United Church of Christ in Indianapolis, with professional orchestra and soloists perform the hour-long, ten-movement piece. It blends virtuosic bel canto arias, a cappella choral sections, and strict contrapuntal fugues. Please come enjoy this special event and support our musical projects! Free admission, donations are welcome.
