Bicentennial Celebration Concert to Inspire Hoosier Pride
WINONA LAKE — Kosciusko County will celebrate the Indiana Bicentennial with a Hoosier-themed concert on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (MOCC), 610 Wooster Rd., Winona Lake. The event is free; however, general admission tickets are required and seating will be limited. Tickets are available at county high schools, the Grace College Campus Store (located in the Gordon Recreation Center), the Grace College Athletic Office (located in the MOCC), and at Latte Lounge, 108 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw.
The Indiana musical event is coordinated by Martin Becker with Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip, Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert, and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer participating. The Warsaw High School JROTC will present the colors and county bicentennial torchbearers will be introduced. Local photographer Al Disbro will present a photographic slide show of Kosciusko County.
More than 1,000 student and adult musicians will perform in the Bicentennial Concert. Participating schools include Warsaw High School, Wawasee High School, Whitko High School, Triton High School, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Lakeview Middle School, Edgewood Middle School and Lakeland Christian Academy. Joining the student musicians will be the Lakeland Community Choir, Lakeland Youth Chorale, Warsaw Optimist Singers, Kosciusko County Extension Chorus, Lake Area Community Band, Grace College Wind Ensemble and area church choirs.
“The event has been eight months in the making,” said Martin Becker, Bicentennial Celebration Concert coordinator. “I’m not aware of another county in the state that has an event of this magnitude planned. It’s been a joy to work with the diverse school and community groups to make the Kosciusko County celebration a memorable event and great tribute to our state,” he said.
Martin Becker, Dr. Ardis Faber and Thomas Stirling will share the conductor’s podium. Walter Brath, assistant professor of worship arts at Grace College, will perform “The Old Rugged Cross.” Other musical selections will include “Beyond the Sunset” by Winona Lake natives Virgil and Blanche Brock, “Lake Land March” by Nilo Hovey, a medley by Hoagy Carmichael and Cole Porter, “I Love Indiana” arranged by Dale Mock, “Back Home Again in Indiana” by James Hanley and “America the Beautiful.”
For more information, contact event coordinator Martin Becker at (574) 551-3550.