Our Mission.
Orkestra Projekt is dedicated to helping people discover the unexpected treasure inherent in classical and contemporary music combined with other artistic disciplines.
Orkestra Projekt creates and presents these innovative, eclectic musical events in an informal atmosphere to enhance the Indy music scene and encourages the engagement of people who are currently interested in but no experiencing classical music and people who want more from their classical experiences.
Our History.
Orkestra Projekt is the culmination of the efforts of a diverse group of young, creative Indianapolis people who saw there was an opportunity to put together classical music events that would appeal to many people.
Jose Valencia, the founding music director, floated its first chamber orchestra concert in 2003 at the North United Methodist Church. That concert was the first step.
The response was overwhelming with audience members and musicians asking for more. So, for the rest of the summer of 2003, Maestro Valencia and others organized to realize this dream.
The organization moved to a more intimate venue, The Old Centrum, where they could set up the orchestra in the middle of the hall and surround the musicians with the audience in a casual atmosphere with café tables, stools, and even beanbags.
Orkestra Projekt events are unique in that the audience members are invited to eat and drink during the performances and to share their experiences with the music director and musicians.
In 2007, Music Director, Jose Valencia, was awarded a Creative Arts Renewal Fellowship by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, for his contributions to expanding the boundaries of the classical music scene in Indianapolis.
Our five seasons have seen us become comfortable in our favorite home at The Old Centrum. Unfortunately, The Old Centrum has closed its doors, forcing us to seek new performance space and try to do things even more differently.
Also, at the end of our fifth season, Orkestra Projekt has passed the Advance Ruling Period and has been formally classified as an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code.
Orkestra Projekt wants you to be involved with the music, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. Hence, our motto, “Touch It; Feel It.” We invite you to try it and experience the wonder of our music. Follow us to our new performance spaces as we continue our journey into the next five years.
Let us hear from you. Contact us here.
Our Board of Direktors.
Carla Hartman - President - Carla joined the Orkestra Projekt board in 2006 before she had even attended a performance. With thanks to the great artistic director and fabulous musicians, she's proud to continue to serve as a board officer. Aside from her work with OP, Carla is a former private practice attorney, currently serving as an associate state director for AARP's Indiana state office. She focuses on building advocacy networks to advance AARP's social impact agenda, and she's delighted to work with wonderful volunteers who make her work possible. A word to the wise: watch out - she's always recruiting!
Rob Everetts - President-Elect - Rob joined the Orkestra Projekt board in 2008 after being introduced to the group in the fifth season by friends of one of the regular musicians and deciding that he wanted to volunteer in whatever capacity he could. He is very passionate about making the arts scene in Indianapolis vibrant and modern, and his values mesh perfectly with the OP mission. By day, Rob is an IT Business Analyst for the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and as a second career, he is a REALTOR® with Baldwin Brothers, Inc. In his spare-spare time, he enjoys traveling, cooking and shuttling his partner Jeff's 4 children to and from all of their activities--or having the recently-permitted 15-year-old shuttle him...yikes!
Laura Edwards - Secretary - Laura is the Secretary and Communications "Gofer" on the Orkestra Projekt board, where she has been since 2006. She works in advertising for the membership magazine of the American Legion. She is no music expert, but she knows what she likes, and she likes what OP plays.
Jeff Hopper - Treasurer - Jeff was excited to discover Orkestra Projekt in its fifth season and joined the board for its sixth season in 2008. He is a life-long music lover and musician and really appreciates OP's eclectic repertoire and vision to bring relevant orchestral music to new audiences. Jeff is an independent software developer, having incorporated as Hopper Consulting, Inc. in 2007. He loves to cook, to be involved in all the many activities of his 4 kids, and to travel with them and his partner, Rob.
John Harrington - John is corporate counsel at Firestone Diversified Products and is a relative newcomer to Indianapolis. He first learned of Orkestra Projekt through OP President Carla, thoroughly enjoyed the first few performances he attended, and joined the OP board in 2008. John cherishes OP's diverse musical repertoire, but sadly is unable to carry a tune in a bucket himself.