It was wonderful to see so many of you at the summer concerts and to welcome you, hear your comments and listen to your requests.

This coming season, we have some FANTASTIC programs to offer that are totally in line with what you ask of me.

Our season begins with a live production of America’s quintessential musical, “West Side Story.” This is a new version of the great Broadway musical created by the Leonard Bernstein Foundation. All the Sharks and Jets will be on stage with the orchestra – and all the ultra-romantic music from “Maria”, “Tonight”, “One Hand One Heart”, “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere” is there.

However, since this is our American “Romeo and Juliet,” there’s the jazz of Cool and the New York West Side violence of Rumble. We have two concerts at Crown Point and a special concert at Valaparaiso High School.

In December we happily have our Symphony Chorus back after the interim of the Covid break. Again I tried to program the parts you requested the most. Therefore, we will share with you “Hark The Herald Angels”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “The Lord’s Prayer” and also an African praise song, a Caribbean praise song and many happy and funny things like “Jingle bells”. “This concert has been a strong family and community tradition in Northwest Indiana and many of you have told me many times in the past, ‘Our vacation doesn’t start until we come to this gig!”

(In addition, our symphony will perform a tribute to veterans on November 13 at St. Thomas More Church in Munster.)

We have so many amazing Hispanic and Latino people in Northwest Indiana and we want to celebrate their culture, history and music more and more. For Cinco de Mayo, our concert will include music from Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Cuba in the first part and the orchestra will be joined by Mariachi Acero from Las Vegas in the second part. What’s extra special is that the frontman of this band, Erik Ramirez, hails from the east side of Chicago so it will be a homecoming for him and his family and friends during these performances. Please note that the performance dates for these concerts have been moved from April 27 and 28 to May 4 and 5.

Our last concerts of the season are full of movie bits that we have never been able to get in the past. Tracks like The Avengers, Young Frankenstein, El Cid, Lord of the Rings and James Bond’s Dr. No are some of the Hollywood compositions we now have to offer. Plus, we’ve got music from superstar composer Erich Korgold, the creator of swashbuckling pirate moves like “Captain Blood” performed by super-talented 16-year-old violinist Esme Kim.

I look forward to sharing these evenings with you and greeting each of you after the concerts in our new and improved COOKIES WITH KIRK fun!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 81st season with “West Side Story” in concert, Oct. 13-14 at Living Hope Church in Crown Point and Oct. 15 at Valparaiso High School. The Symphony Chorus returns to help celebrate the annual Holiday Pops on December 7, 8 and 9. Las Vegas’ Mariachi Acero will help celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 4-5. Our season will wrap up with Movie Magic on June 8-9. All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. at Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft Street, Merrillville/Crown Point (unless otherwise stated). Tickets range from $40 to $75, with student tickets at $10. Subscriptions are also available with a 5% discount. Our choir will also perform a Tribute to Veterans on November 13 at St. Thomas More Church in Munster. Seats are general admission, $25. For tickets or more information, visit nisorchestra.org.