Fort Wayne Rocks as Potential "Top 10 Music City," Part IV

This concludes a four-segment article by C.J. Woodring, a long-time HSWN  resident. CJ discusses Fort Wayne’s past role in music, how hundreds of individuals at all levels continue to support local music, and why many city leaders believe we should be nominated as a “Top 10 Music City.”
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By CJ Woodring
Read Part I • Part II • Part III

Downtown Fort Wayne kicked off January in “grand” style when the Grand Wayne Center hosted the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) at a Professional Development Conference, the largest and most diverse professional development event for Indiana’s music educators. The three-day symposium included performances by area choirs and bands, featuring members of all ages, while music teachers at all levels accessed more than 100 sessions and meetings with nearly 100 clinicians.

THE VENUES
Fort Wayne's musical offerings draw followers of every age and genre, ranging from the ABCs of acoustic, blues, classic/classical to honky tonk, jazz and rock. And from DIY karaoke to productions and eclectic concerts by top-name performers. Venues are nearly limitless in the city, where a majority are locally owned and operated, and many are free or at little cost.

Throughout the past year, Fort Wayne was alive with music in conjunction with annual  festivals. The Fort Wayne Music Festival hit Headquarters Park in May, highlighting regional and national performers. Also that month, the Fort Wayne Cherry Blossom Festival presented Japanese folk dance, traditional Koto music and modern Classical Japanese music at the downtown Allen County Public Library. In June, the Foellinger Theater Campus hosted the

Middle Waves Music Festival. July, August and September rocked with the popular downtown Three Rivers Festival, Taste of the Arts and Johnny Appleseed Festival, held in Johnny Appleseed and Archer parks, respectively. And in October, Korea Festival featured the popular K-Pop while also celebrating traditional music using the gayageum, a Korean harp.

Depending upon the time of year, music lovers can also catch a concert in a covered outdoor pavilion or open-air amphitheater or cheer a concert at Parkview Field. Visit a historic downtown theater or a renovated southwest central theater that presents local bands six nights a week, attracting fans from more than 25 states. Enjoy a winery and vineyard with a view. Check out an avant-garde destination on the edge of downtown. Discover the romance of music and fine dining in smaller, intimate settings, including various pubs, clubs and lounges. Or attend a musical theatrical production at the Civic, historic Embassy or First Presbyterian theaters.

This weekend, the 36th annual Fort Wayne FAME Festival is highlighting student performances, including vocalists, dancers and dramatists, along with showcasing student art displays. Workshops will feature guest musicians, dancers and visual artists. It all takes place at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 18 and under; participation in most activities is free. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

THE SUPPORTERS
Last, but certainly far from least, Summit City residents contribute their talents in supporting musicians as financial donors and/or community volunteers. In July 2020, the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne honored three of these individuals. They are:

• Chuck Surack, Sweetwater founder and now chairman of the company's board. As owners of the historic Clyde Theater, refurbished as a premier music, arts and entertainment venue in the city's '07 district, Surack and his wife, Lisa, are major contributors to communitywide efforts, and have established the Chuck and Lisa Surack Endowed Scholarship for Music Technology at the University of Saint Francis. More recently, the couple made a significant contribution for a music technology building to benefit Purdue Fort Wayne students.

• Graphic/mural artist/program host Julia Meek. For more than 40 years, the popular Meek has interviewed musicians, artists, poets, writers, photographers and foodies on public radio WBOI, 89.1-FM—as a community volunteer. On “Meet the Music,” Meek hosts regional musicians of all genres Thursday and Monday nights on WBOI Podcast Café.

• Marshall White, CEO and founder of Unity Performing Arts Foundation. White uses music to build character and change lives in a positive way, serving a dual role as director/life coach for Voices of Unity Choir. The group was named one of the top 50 arts- and humanities-based programs in the country serving youth beyond business hours. White led members to international competitions and two gold medals in the 6th World Chair Games in China in 2010.

As a longtime player on Indiana's musical stage, Fort Wayne continues to contribute an impressive and versatile array of performers to the scene. The City of Fort Wayne, theater and club owners and restaurateurs continue to provide a wide array of venues in which to enjoy music nearly daily throughout the year. Along with the local newspaper (fortwayne.com), Visit Fort Wayne (visitfortwayne.com) and other event calendars, Whatzup (whatzup.com) distributes a free arts and entertainment weekly overview of the best events while Input Fort Wayne (inputfortwayne.com) introduces arts, artists and venues from a more unique and in-depth perspective.

It is for these reasons, and many more, that Fort Wayne residents—whether or not they reside in the HSWN or in the 46807 zip—and regional aficionados are invited to support the city's designation as a "Top 10 Music City." Please join in applauding, encouraging and supporting local and regional musicmakers of all ages, sizes, colors and faiths as they proudly continue to strike up the band, make their own kind of music, march to their own drum—and teach the world how to sing!