By HAYLEY BEAUCHAMP
The Honeywell Foundation

WABASH — Celebrating its 6th Quinquennial Monster Concert, the Honeywell Center will present “A Grand Time: Piano Extravaganza” in the Ford Theater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 under the direction of John Kozar, with select pieces directed by guest conductor Norma Meyer. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 years and younger.

A total of 12 grand pianos will accommodate pianists in a variety of age levels including students in elementary, middle and high school, as well as 44 adults. What once was a production of the Wabash County Arts Council, the organizers of this year’s monster concert is comprised of Wabash residents Carolyn Eppley, Minda Lehman and Eileen Dye, who are working in collaboration with the Honeywell Foundation.   

The beginnings for what is known as the “Monster” concert in Wabash County came about by a suggestion from Marilyn Ford, former member of the Wabash County Arts Council, after attending an arts fair in Indianapolis.  There she met pianist and music director, John Kozar who was sharing his idea to establish monster concerts to interested organizations. Liking the idea, and having had participated in a similar concert as a youth, Marilyn became excited about the prospect of doing a monster concert in Wabash.

After convincing the council on the idea, Mrs. Ford enlisted the help of Mr. Kozar and soon the monster concert was established in Wabash County.  One could say that Mrs. Ford was ‘instrumental’ in seeing the idea take fruition. As a result, the monster concert series was launched in Wabash County with its first concert at the Honeywell Center in 1990. Being a ‘quinquennial’ series, the subsequent concerts have taken place in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. This year will mark the 6^th concert in the series.

Music selections for “A Grand Time Piano Extravaganza” will include the following pieces; :Die Fledermaus Overture” by Johann Strauss, “Sicilienne” by Johanne Sebastian Bach, “Night in the Tropics” by L.M. Gottschalk, “Sound of Music” by Rogers and Hammerstein, “Carmen” by Georges Bizet, and “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein to name a few.

Conductor John Kozar is the founder of Piano Productions, Inc., which is the leading producer of multi-piano concerts internationally. He has graduate degrees from Indiana University in piano performance and conducting, and is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music, and American Keyboard Artists.  Norma Meyer is a pianist-conductor and has an active performing career. She is a founding member of Piano4 and has toured with Mr. Kozar since 2001. She has a lifelong commitment to music education in outreach programs as accompanist and collaborative coach.

Performing in the concert are: Sarah Andrews, Tiffany Ball, Wes Ball, Bryan Banister, Bethany Biggs, Lois Bricker, Diana Bucher, Renee Chenault, Connie Doud, Eileen Dye, Carolyn Eppley, Lisa Fadil, Emily France, Kathy Geible, Jason Gornto, Michael Griffith, Pamela Haynes, Brenda Hegel, Tim Hickman, Jean Hobson, Susan Keaffaber, Susan Keefer, Minda Lehman, Barb Lochner, Betty Martens, Mary Ann Mast, Norma Meyer, Betty McClain, Bettie Miller, Kenny Miller, Mackenzie Niccum, Juanita Rapp, Deb Schenkel, Stephanie See, Stephanie Shultz, Rita Slater, Marilyn Speicher, Kris Stephens, Ann Unger, Susan Vanlandingham, Patricia Ann Walters, Judy Ward, Jane Wilmert and Luvernia Wilson.

Tickets to the piano concert are $10 (adults) and $5 (students), and may be purchased at the Honeywell Center Box Office, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, by calling (260) 563-1102 or online atwww.honeywellcenter.org.

The Honeywell Foundation seeks to provide artistic, social, cultural and recreational opportunities for all. The Foundation operates the Honeywell Center, Honeywell House, Eagles Theatre, Charley Creek Inn, the Dr. James Ford Historic Home and the 13-24 Drive In. All programs and activities are supported by gifts from individuals, businesses, the Indiana Arts Commission (a state agency) and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency).