CARRYING THE TUNES
THE SHOWS GO ON AT THE AVON HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT Fair Game
The Complete Guide to the Indiana State Fair
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CARRYING THE TUNES
THE SHOWS GO ON AT THE AVON HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DEPARTMENT
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographers / Amy Payne & Performing Arts Photography
von Community School Corporation is known for many positive features, but perhaps none more so than the music department.
Many of the students and various groups are known across the state, region and even the nation, and the success is due to students from every walk of life, supportive parents, and staff.
“Avon has a fantastic support for the performing arts through
our administration and the community,” said Leah Trigg, director of choirs. “There are so many different facets of performance, from the musicians behind the risers to the lighting and design. Choir is a very visual project that represents all areas of performing arts in one.”
The official choir season is January through March but Trigg said the work is yearround. With seven choirs in all, the approximately 250 students involved can choose between concert choirs with a variety
of music and competitions, or show choir with dance numbers, costumes and visual effects. Some students simply do both.
“The show choirs still do our fall and Christmas concert,” Trigg said. “Then they also compete at the state level. Last year, Attraction, our all-female show choir, were state runners up, and Accents, our male and female choir, placed third. We’ve been successful in the past few years and it’s growing in Avon. Eight years ago I don’t think anyone would have
thought we’d be placing that high at the state level.”
Drew Stainbrook, associate choir director, has just completed his first year at Avon. With 25 years of teaching under his belt, he saw the impressive program and believed the role to be a great opportunity.
He’s helping to create opportunities for the students too.
“We put students in the group they’ll be most successful, but we’re challenging them to grow
from there,” he said. “Some students come in and don’t feel ready for an advanced choir, and through the audition process we can help them embrace that growth.”
Regardless of skill, both Trigg and Stainbrook feel there’s a place for everyone in choir.
Many believe it’s a talent you either have or don’t have, but these choir directors disagree.
“Anyone can join our freshmanlevel choirs like the Oriole or Black and Gold,” Trigg said. “We do hear everyone sing so
we know where to place them. Could you show up for the first time and make the show choir?
Yes. But if you’d like to be in an advanced choir and you’re not there yet, you can work and achieve that goal.”
The ample opportunity makes a large school small, according to Trigg.
“These kids are best friends,” Trigg said. “It can be intimidating to come to Avon High School, but once you get plugged in, students are able to find their niche.”
Leah Trigg & Drew Stainbrook
The choir department works with other groups throughout the school too, adding some flexibility for those students interested in more than one extracurricular activity.
Many of the choir students are also involved in theater, a parallel to their love of music and performance, but some are in clubs, sports, band and more.
Sometimes the choir one chooses depends on the amount of time a student wants to commit. For example, there are high-level concert choir options such as the Allegros, an all-women’s choir, or Chamber Singers, a men’s and women’s concert choir; these don’t require additional practice time, but if
one is interested in more time commitment, the show choirs start rehearsing in the fall for the competitive season. They utilize choreographers, designers and custom musical arrangements, and the students perform a 20-minute show with costume changes, dance and song.
“We start with a couple of times per week in the fall and they meet during a class period too,” Trigg said. “During our competition season, the number of rehearsals increases. We’re hiring choreographers that aren’t local, so it requires a few weekends where we come in and just learn the show. By mid-November we have the show down and now we’re practicing for competition.”
“WE SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY AND WE REACH OUT TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL, SO SOMETIMES EVEN LONGER. WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE STUDENTS AND WITNESS THEIR GROWTH MUSICALLY AND AS A PERSON. IT’S A SPECIAL ROLE FOR US TO BE A PART OF THAT JOURNEY.”
- LEAH TRIGG
Once the show choir season is over, concert choirs enter the competitive season in April and May, but they’ve been performing all year long.
“Throughout the year we have a fall concert, holiday concert, Madrigal Dinners, spring concert and then competition,” Trigg said. “Events like the Madrigal Dinner involve all choirs.”
A Madrigal Dinner is an evening of entertainment during the holiday season. Students dress up in Renaissance-era costume, perform music and theater, and serve dinner.
Although there is much focus on competitions and results, Trigg said there’s a lot more to the music department than simply earning a trophy. They collaborate with the Avon orchestra program to host an annual concert, and music department staff work to give students as many musical experiences as possible - 25 shows throughout the school year on average.
“It’s a special thing about the choir department,” Stainbrook said. “There really is a place for everybody, and it’s well-rounded and full of opportunities with whatever interest level there is. There’s such a collaborative nature among staff and throughout the entire performing arts department at Avon.”
Choir students perform in the community at local business events, retirement homes and tree-lighting ceremonies. They share their gifts outside of the school walls as often as possible.
The community is supporting them at every turn.
“Our parent support and our choir boosters are critical to the success of the program,” Trigg said. “All of the financial support and hours of volunteering - these are the folks that are helping load trailers and helping get the stage set. We have our principal and superintendent attending
competitions and rooting us on. The support is invaluable.”
Whether the teens go on to major in music and sing in college, or they complete their musical ambitions at the high school level, for Trigg and Stainbrook, it’s more about watching the growth and development in their students, often over the course of several years.
The young teens become leaders, volunteering for show choir summer camp, mentoring incoming choir students and learning how to work together to get a job done.
“It’s the biggest blessing,” Trigg said. “We see them throughout their entire high school journey and we reach out to the middle school as well, so sometimes even longer. We get the opportunity to guide students and witness their growth musically and as a person. It’s a special role for us to be a part of that journey.”
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FAIR GAME
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE INDIANA STATE FAIR
Writer / Devon Dean
Gird your loins, grab your sunblock, antacid, and a few friends and head to the Indiana State Fair August 2-18. While there’s plenty to explore, the food competition is always a huge attraction.
This year, the “Taste of the Fair” offers a literal smorgasbord of food and drinks to try out. Definitely bring an empty stomach and an open mind. Fairgoers are encouraged to vote for their favorite new food items by visiting any of the information booths around campus or by scanning the QR code that will be available at the concession stands.
The annual competition is for more than just bragging rights. The winning food stand will receive a $2,500 cash prize, followed by the second place receiving $1,000, and third place receiving $500. In addition, for the first time our partners at the World Food Championships will award the top three winners a Golden Ticket entry to the World Food Championships event taking place in Indianapolis this fall for the first time in history at the State Fairgrounds.
FAIRGOERS CAN HIT UP TO 43 DIFFERENT STOPS ON THEIR TOUR DE EATING. THE EXPANSIVE MENU INCLUDES:
• A Bloody Mary topped with a mini corn on the cob, cheeseburger slider, fried mac and cheese, fried pickles, waffle fries, hotdog slider, and a mini apple pie
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch funnel cake
• Strawberry cheesecake funnel cake
• Pickle-flavored pale ale
• Deep fried golden Oreos
• Amish peanut butter pretzels topped with a peanut butter and marshmallow spread
• Dill pickle Dr. Pepper
• Dill pickle lemon shake-ups
• Peanut butter & jelly chicken wings
• Ultimate steak nachos
Yes, pickles and fried delights once again are playing a large role in this year’s competition.
OTHER STATE FAIR ATTRACTIONS
The State Fair is always held during what is traditionally one of the hottest months of the summer. To offer a respite, the MHS Family Fun Park will include an all-new splash pad for folks of all ages to cool off.
The Olympic Games in Paris are happening at the same time as the State Fair. WTHR will host the Olympic Zone to celebrate the Hoosiers competing for Team USA. This experience promises to capture the spirit of the games even from a continent away.
The Fair is also celebrating a historic moment - 60 years ago, a small group from Liverpool called The Beatles played at Pepsi Coliseum. Fair officials are celebrating the Fab Four’s legendary stop in the Circle City on August 3 with Beatles-themed entertainment all day, including a performance by tribute band A Hard Day’s Night and a celebration of the music of Paul McCartney.
If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck. Not only is $2 Tuesday back on the schedule, but the $5 value menu offers a variety of options for everyone in the family.
Finally, the concert line-up for the fair is a mix of all genres of music. Gladys Knight, Buddy Guy, Bell Biv Devoe, Lita Ford, and Dogstar are just a few of the artists playing the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage. If you are not familiar, Dogstar’s bassist is best known for his role as John Wick.
Discounted tickets and the complete schedule are available at IndianaStateFair.com. Don’t forgetthe fair folk need their rest too and are closed on Mondays.
If you hit up the Indiana State Fair, be sure to share your photos on the Towne Post social media Facebook pages.
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POWERFUL PATH
CHAD LUNSFORD AUTHORS SUCCESSFUL
BOOK ON EMBRACING
TRUE PURPOSE
Writer / Jamie Hergott
Photographers / Peter Bick & Jason Van Curen
Chad Lunsford’s new book is a call for people to live bigger. But this book doesn’t read like a typical self-help book. It comes from Lunsford’s own life experiences, risks and all. “Made For More” recently hit number one on two Amazon bestseller lists twice.
“This book is really a guidebook to show
what it looks like to have a purpose, to live a great story, and then what to do when you hit obstacles,” Lunsford said. “I don’t just want to inspire them; I want to guide them through those obstacles.”
Lunsford grew up in Indiana and considers himself a Hoosier. He is a pastor by trade, having planted a church on the west side
of Indianapolis. After living on various coasts of the United States, he noticed a stark difference in the cultures of the east and west coasts versus Indiana. He decided he wanted to inspire people, particularly Hoosiers, to live with more purpose.
“People living in places like L.A. or North Carolina have a sense they were made for
Chad at recent book signing
more and for going after their dreams,” Lunsford said. “It seems like Hoosiers have an innate sense that we’re supposed to play it safe and dream small, blend in more and settle for less. What I want to do is change those lies we believe.”
But Lunsford isn’t just sharing inspirational quips in his book. He writes from a place of having made major moves in his own life.
In 2008 he and his family were leading a church in Terre Haute. They developed a vision for something new in their lives, and he decided to take a ministry residency in Los Angeles and attend graduate school at the same time. After two years and completing both endeavors, he and his family moved to North Carolina for a post-graduate opportunity at Duke University. After completing the postgrad work at Duke, Lunsford was invited to lead the largest church in Mississippi. While they loved it there, they then felt called to start a new church in Indy and sold their dream home.
The constant reassessing, changing and moving showed Lunsford that there is so much life and growth that comes from embracing new things.
“It was trust beyond comfort,” Lunsford said. “It helped me asked the question, ‘How far are you willing to trust?’ God gave us such good gifts. We said we’d gladly give it back and run after what he had for our lives.”
Lunsford went on to plant a church on the
west side of Indianapolis that eventually merged with Connection Pointe Christian Church to launch the Avon Campus.
Lunsford feels his book stands out among self-help books for a few reasons, one being its accessibility.
“The book comes out of the reality of my own challenges,” Lunsford said. “I grew up in the Midwest, farmlands all around me and the biggest city being Terre Haute. Everything around me screamed play it safe, risk less and dream smaller. But as I followed God, everything in me was saying I was made for a purpose.”
couldn’t relate to people in the Bible. Then I realized I was missing the point. They were imperfect just like me, and God still met them where they were and wrote a great story with their lives. God does the same with each of us.”
The book is also highly story driven. Lunsford truly feels he has walked the walk that he is asking others to do, and he wants people to know they aren’t alone.
“My hope is that people find themselves in the story,” Lunsford said. “I want them to think, ‘Yes, I’ve had those feelings, thoughts, experiences, and I get it.’”
This book isn’t just for people of faith; it’s for all people. Lunsford himself did not grow up in the church, so he understands why some may be hesitant to pick the book up.
“If you feel defeated, like you don’t belong and don’t fit in, welcome to the club,” Lunsford said. “For years I assumed that I
One takeaway Lunsford drives home is to step out of the comparison game. Every single person is different, with unique gifts and dreams. Everyone’s story will take different twists and turns.
“I’m not writing this as someone who has arrived,” Lunsford said. “I’m just a fellow runner, running alongside you. Your purpose isn’t some mystical thing out in the future. If you live your life rightly today, you’re living your purpose. The only way God can build your character is through challenges. If you keep running away from those, you’ll never become who God wants you to be.”
For more information, visit Lunsford’s website at madeformore.life.
PREVENTING ELDER FRAUD
Join us for an enlightening seminar series on combating elder fraud, scams, and abuse. Learn from experts how to identify, prevent, and address these critical issues affecting our seniors. Together, we can make a difference and ensure the safety and dignity of our elder community. Don't miss this opportunity to empower yourself with knowledge and protect our loved ones.
THURSDAY AUG 22ND 2:00PM - 4:00PM
IS A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME FOR YOU?
Writer / Claire-Anne Aikman
Iwas visiting with a friend the other week who is navigating living under one roof with her kids, her mom and her aunt. Three generations. Under one roof. As a normal, day-to-day living arrangement.
I loved the thought of this but had so many questions! I knew this was a family that loves being around each other, but I was curious about what made them decide this was the best plan for everyone. Essentially it came down to several levels of economics (mortgages, utilities, child care and meal planning, to name a few) and a desire to help each other in other areas.
Once they determined this might actually work for them, they needed to determine how much space they truly needed. To do this, they took short vacation trips and stayed in Airbnbs to get a feel for how they would all live in houses of various sizes. Once they determined the needed size, they started to look at homes that matched their needs and budget. When they closed on the new home, one by one they each sold their homes. After each sale, they moved only the items they felt went best with the new home, and sold and donated the rest (this made my heart smile
because you know I love a good cleansing of “things”).
I was amazed, intrigued, and could not wait to hear more. Everyone is loving the new arrangement, especially her kids, who get to hang out with their Mimi and aunt more than ever. With the adults’ work schedules, someone is always home. All adults pitch in with the kids and get them to their activities when needed. A surprising bonus was when my friend was sick; kids were effortlessly brought to school, the house remained in order, and she got her mom’s chicken noodle soup hot off the stove. They are now working on accommodating some health care matters for her mom, and the kids are helping with her recovery care.
I marveled at the level of detail for so many moving parts, and while I was excited for all the possibilities, I was also skeptical for what seems like the obvious concerns of privacy, noise level and other factors. That’s when I was shown the binder.
The binder had all the house rules that everyone signed off on: picking up after yourselves, the designated day for laundry, a rotating chore list for everyone
to participate in (including planning and cooking meals), and how many rooms will have TVs. When is quiet time, so that studying can get done and quiet can be enjoyed? What are the expectations for bedtime and even shower/bath time? There was a section for what the kids could and could not do, so that the parenting was consistent among adults.
Every week the binder gets taken out and a family meeting is conducted. They discuss what went well and what needs to improve, and they take notes; it is almost like a mini business. It was all in there, spelled out, and signed off in agreement. It was a work of art.
I left wondering who I would choose to live with in this manner…more importantly, could I live this way? What about you - is this something you would consider doing? If so, I would love to hear about it!
Life happens, home needs change. We understand. Real Estate For Real Life, that’s the Point
Claire-Anne and her team have skillfully helped hundreds of local families make their home dreams a reality and they would be honored to help you too, call them today!
TOWNE POST LAUNCHES NEW HYPERLOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR
Writer / Devon Dean
The Towne Post Network of publications is proud to announce the launch of a new, hyperlocal community events calendar - online.
Using an aggregating software partner, the Towne Post Events Calendar includes information from more than 200 sources across the regions the company serves. This includes LiveNation, VisitIndy.com, various chamber of commerce websites, and a wealth of other community calendars to give a complete rundown of fun things to do in your area.
As a user, you can filter by date, time, city, proximity, and even by event type. If you are hosting a local event, this is a free service with additional paid opportunities for expanded visibility starting at just $2 a day. As the Towne Post Events Calendar expands, an email will go out every Thursday to give subscribers the scoop on what’s going on around town each weekend.
“Summer is a busy time and it’s hard to keep track of everything that is happening,” says Towne Post CEO and Founder Tom Britt. “Our goal is to create another point of connection between people and the communities they live in by highlighting all the great local events coming up.”
See what’s happening at townepost.com/calendar. To subscribe for weekly emails, subscribe at TownePost.com and click the “Email Newsletters” button at the top of the website.
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Writer/ScottWyndham,ACSCSuperintendent
am so excited to welcome your child back to school for the 2024-2025 school year.
While students and staff have enjoyed summer break, the team in our Administration Center and schools has been busy preparing for the 2024-2025 school year. So many great things happened last year, and I’m confident this will be yet another school year where ALL belong, learn and grow in Avon schools.
Here are just a few of the big things you can expect:
• Student enrollment should eclipse 11,000 this school year as more families continue moving into our community.
• We’re busy making room for more students in our schools without an increase to taxpayers or the use of referendum funds. The renovation and expansion at Pine Tree Elementary wraps up this summer. You’ll see projects continuing at Avon High School and Avon Middle
School West, as well as new projects underway at Avon Middle School North and South, Avon Intermediate School East and West, Cedar, Maple, and River Birch.
• Your children will get to know several new principals and assistant principals at AHS, AMS North, AMS South, AIS East, AIS West, and Cedar Elementary.
• We will welcome a host of new educators, support staff and bus drivers who are beginning careers here in Avon schools at the start of the school year.
• We will work together to plan for next year. During the first semester of this school year, parents and staff will have a chance to help us prepare for next year’s kindergarten through eighth-grade redistricting. If you’d like to learn more or participate in the effort, sign up today!
As superintendent, I get just as excited for the
start of a new school year as I did when I had my own classroom.
I am looking forward to seeing your children in their classrooms, in action at performances and athletic competitions, and enjoying the wide variety of extracurricular activities in and around Avon schools. Whether this is your first year with a child in Avon schools or your 15th.
I’m certainly Avon proud, and I hope you feel that same sense of pride in our schools, our students, our educators, our staff and our community.
I look forward to another school year of working together to ensure ALL belong, learn and grow in Avon schools.
