Avon Magazine December 2023

DECEMBER 2023

MAGAZINE

Hot Rod Santa LOCAL RESIDENT AND AUTO ENTHUSIAST SCOTTY STEPHANY PROVES SANTA DOESN’T JUST DRIVE A SLEIGH

KEY POINTS Indianapolis Children’s Choir Nurtures Student Achievement Through Music Education PAIN RELIEF Should You Use Ice or Heat?

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Indianapolis Children’s Choir Nurtures Student Achievement Through Music Education

Should You Use Ice or Heat?

KEY POINTS

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PREPARING AND PROTECTING Hendricks County Leaders Focus in on Emergency Preparedness

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AVON MARCHING BLACK AND GOLD STATE CHAMPIONS

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KEYS TO SUCCESS

Local Resident and Auto Enthusiast Scotty Stephany Proves Santa Doesn’t Just Drive a Sleigh

Keyboardist Troye Kinnett Has Displayed His Talents Locally, Nationally and Around the World

KEY CONTRIBUTORS MELISSA GIBSON / ADRIENNE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY AMY PAYNE / KRISTA NEUENSCHWANDER PHOTOGRAPHY / DR. TREVOR CALL

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INDIANAPOLIS CHILDREN’S CHOIR NURTURES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH MUSIC EDUCATION

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

Since 1986, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir (ICC) has been inspiring youth and fostering a love for music throughout the city.

Despite their program name, throughout the past decade the ICC has been growing and expanding to areas beyond Indianapolis, and now leads several programs in Hendricks County.

They offer opportunities starting from 18 months old through seniors in high school.

Preparatory choir is for grades first through third, and no one auditions at this level. It’s considered an introduction to choral music and allows youth to explore their interest in singing.

Several auditioned choirs are offered for fourth through seventh grade, including beginning and intermediate levels. Lyric or intermediate-level choirs are designed for those students advancing in their skills, and include additional performances.

“In Hendricks County we have a Music at Play program for preschoolers in Danville,” says Leeann Starkey, director of the ICC. “We offer a preparatory choir in Avon and Brownsburg, two beginning-level choirs for fourth grade and up at Avon and Brownsburg, and a lyric or intermediatelevel choir in Brownsburg for fourth grade and up.”

ICC accepts singers on every level and the process is simple. While auditions are typically conducted in April, students can enroll any time throughout the year. For those who are nervous about the thought of an audition, Starkey says not to be.

“For the beginning level and intermediate levels, the auditions are really more about getting to know the child and putting them in the best choir for them,” Starkey says.

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The full season runs from August to May each year, and the time commitment is typically one evening per week for rehearsals and a few concert events throughout the school year. Rehearsals are held locally but the ICC groups across Indianapolis and surrounding areas join together for a few large concerts every year - a sight to behold for audience members.

When combined, the choir consists of 300 to 400 children of varying ages.

They have the opportunity to perform on stages like the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis, at a recent charity event at the airport, caroling throughout the holidays and much more.

Like many other children’s programs, it’s safe to say that they are getting more out of the experience than improving their vocals. They learn music reading skills, vocal techniques, and are exposed to several unique opportunities, but it

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may not be the music that participants remember the most.

“We say over and over again that this is so much more than singing,” Starkey says. “We’re a community that strives for musical excellence but we’re also learning teamwork, the benefit of working hard, accomplishing a goal together and even different cultures.”

The ICC gives children a community of others who also love music. They learn

responsibility, professionalism and how to share their personal talent, while appreciating others.

Starkey has seen children overcome crippling stage fright, forming a close friendship for the first time, and opening up after years of shyness and lack of confidence.

“Whether you’ve sung in the choir for one year or more, our teachers are so great at bringing in kids and nurturing

them through the process,” Starkey says.

“The programs have worked out very well and proven to be an effective way to bring kids together to sing.”

In addition to the school-year program, the ICC also offers a variety of summer and school break camps.

Hendricks County resident Owen Smith became aware of the ICC while attending one of their summer day camps in 2021.

“The first time I went to ICC summer camp I really liked it, and I thought I’d like to try it out,” Owen says. “My mom loves music, so I must have gotten that from her because I really love singing.”

Owen’s mom, Annette, says Owen’s enthusiasm and joy for what he had discovered was evident.

“He was begging to keep going and would come home from camp super excited,” Annette says. “They would not only sing, but he had been playing the drums and the xylophones. They make it really fun.”

This year the theme for the ICC choirs is World Showcase, music from around the world. It’s a unique opportunity for Owen and his peers to learn about culture, language and music they might not otherwise be familiar with.

They’ve already transported audiences to

8 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2023 / TownePost.com

the South Pacific for a concert featuring songs from India, China and the Pacific Islands.

The ICC will celebrate a European holiday with a candlelight performance and holiday classics in December. In March they are presenting “Crossroads of America,” beginning at home in Indiana and traveling through New York City’s Broadway scene, a jazz-filled New Orleans, and the Great Plains to include sounds of Native American music.

will travel domestically and internationally.

An intermediate choir from Brownsburg will travel to Washington, D.C., this year and some of our most experienced singers will go to Italy.”

Belonging to a world-renowned choir might give families the impression that the experience is out of their budget, but Starkey says the ICC doesn’t want money to stop anyone from joining. Scholarships are offered for any student who needs additional funds to participate.

In late May, the ICC will perform the music of Africa and the Middle East, exploring the rich, musical traditions and the universal language of music.

“We really want to make the programs available to everyone,” Starkey says.

“We provide scholarships and monthly payment options.”

In addition, as the children continue into advanced choirs in high school, their world traveling expands.

Annette agrees.

“I consider ICC very affordable and they do offer financial assistance,” Annette says. “I think it’s comparable to anything else Owen has done in the past like sports or other programs. They also allow kids

“We do day tours and trips throughout the year,” Starkey says. “The advanced choirs

to try it out once and see if it’s something they are interested in, because we know for a lot of kids, you might sign them up, but will they stick with it?”

Owen did stick with it, and has continued his journey with a love for music in school and through the ICC. “I really liked the Unity concert we did last spring because I just loved the songs we sang,” Owen says. “We do a lot of extra concerts too and I’ve made a lot of friends at ICC.” When asked if he would recommend the choir to others, Owen didn’t hesitate.

“I would say yes, give it a try, because there’s never a limit to what you can do,” he says.

To learn more, visit icchoir.org or call 317-940-9640.

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PREPARING AND PROTECTING HENDRICKS COUNTY LEADERS FOCUS IN ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

Do you know if Hendricks County is ready in the event of a large-scale emergency?

Leaders in the community have been working on emergency preparedness, particularly since September 11, 2001.

According to Jeff Corder, emergency preparedness coordinator for Hendricks County, when volunteers showed up in New York City on September 11 and the days after, there wasn’t an established way to organize them or utilize their various services.

In 2002, former President George W. Bush

approved a national Citizen Corps, with several different arms or departments under the main umbrella. One of the groups under that umbrella was the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), in which Corder also serves as coordinator for the county.

“The MRC is an emergency response team that supplements for medical first responders, but the name actually misleads people,” Corder says. “You don’t have to be trained in the medical field. Think about the pandemic.

We needed people helping with registration, people greeting, organizing, etcetera. We’re volunteers that supplement the health department staff so they can give vaccinations or dispense medication.”

10 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2023 / TownePost.com

The MRC was formed in Hendricks County in 2007, and just prior to COVID, the group belonged to a list of 75 volunteers. After COVID, that list grew to 215.

“Over two and a half years, [during the pandemic] we volunteered at clinics,” Corder says. “We have a lot of retired nurses and doctors, and veterans trained in the military, and COVID showed what we could do best staff the clinics or points of dispensing.”

As the pandemic waned, members of the MRC began looking for other ways to volunteer on a regular basis.

Educational and training opportunities are offered throughout the year and range

from STOP THE BLEED programs, CPR, psychological first aid and more.

Corder plans to host a training in 2024 for creating a family assistance center or shelter.

During a mass emergency, family members are transported to hospitals, pets are lost and located in another area, and there may even be fatalities. The assistance or command center would be a central place where residents could gather to locate and receive information about their loved one. All of that takes volunteers, and a lot of them.

Through a Leadership Hendricks County Capstone Project, the Crisis Response Team (CRT) was formed as a subgroup under the MRC. Bridgette Collins-George is the executive director of Hendricks County Community Corrections. She’s also a member of the MRC and CRT. “CRT is a group of trained volunteers in the

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Hendricks County National Organization for Victim Assistance model,” Collins-George says. “We’re like a second layer of first responders.”

The group’s goal is to meet the basic needs of individuals who have experienced a traumatic situation. For example, when an employer or superintendent says additional support has been brought in for those who need to talk about a recent suicide or drug overdose, the CRT could be one of those additional support units.

“We’re really there to bridge the gap, not only to give people a voice and chance to speak, but also to connect them to resources,” Collins-George says. “When you have a traumatic event, you can have trouble focusing and finding the right place to connect.”

The goal for Corder is to continue to add to the list of those he can call on in an emergency. However, there are many ways the MRC and CRT can help all year long. In the fall, Hendricks County Health Department representatives travel to schools and nursing homes to administer vaccines. Businesses

request free training for employees yearround, and there is a constant need to train new individuals as CRT or STOP THE BLEED instructors.

Volunteers can remain on the list in the event of a large emergency, or choose to attend the many opportunities in training and serving smaller but important needs in the community.

“It’s important that we have an organized system for our volunteers,” Corder says. “If there’s ever a large-scale event, we want to have a way to operate a reception center and shelter to check people in, park cars, serve as translators and organize information.”

For anyone who feels like they aren’t a people person, Corder is also working with a local animal shelter to create plans to care for pets during a large-scale event.

“There isn’t a specific time commitment,” Corder says. “Volunteers have to have a background check every two years. The most common question we receive is, ‘I don’t have a medical background. What 12 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2023 / TownePost.com

can I do?’ While there are a lot of untapped medical professionals out there, like dentists and veterinarians whose expertise could be utilized, we are really in need of just about anything people want to do that doesn’t involve a medical procedure.”

Anne Archer, community outreach coordinator for the Hendricks County Health Department, says staff relies on services provided by the MRC and CRT. “I think a lot of people aren’t aware of all the things we do at the Health Department,” Archer says. “For example, we offer vaccine clinics, monitor communicable diseases and strive to keep our communities healthy.”

When it comes to large crises, volunteers make a huge difference.

“Our COVID vaccine clinic response would not have been the same without them,” Archer says.

For more information, visit hendrickscountymrc.org.

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Hot Rod Santa LOCAL RESIDENT AND AUTO ENTHUSIAST SCOTTY STEPHANY PROVES SANTA DOESN’T JUST DRIVE A SLEIGH Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographers / Adrienne Nicole Photography & Krista Neuenschwander Photography

DECEMBER 2023

e grew up loving cars. But as an adult, racing his 1978 Mustang II coupe down the track at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, with a beard that had started turning white in his 20s, gold, wire-rimmed glasses, and a jolly disposition, Scotty Stephany found a new love later in life.

H

growing my beard out and I thought, ‘Maybe doing this for the community is something I should pursue,’ ” Stephany says.

“Playing Santa used to be a family thing over the holidays, but about seven years ago I started

“There were about 150 other Santas, Mrs. Clauses or elves,” he says. “You learn a lot of

He didn’t take the job lightly. In fact, Stephany began looking into what becoming Santa entails, and attended a five-day training session at Northern Lights Santa Academy in Atlanta.

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“My greatest happiness is watching people smile. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when Santa is around and it keeps me on my toes too.

You know people are watching you. If I can change someone’s day for the better in two minutes at a stop light, I’m game.”

- Scotty Stephany

DECEMBER 2023

interesting things, like working with kids who have special needs, dressing differently for different occasions, and improv skills.”

That’s right - it makes a difference what Santa wears if he’s attending a Christmas in July event with a Hawaiian Santa shirt on, or the red and white coat we love in Christmas photos. For this particular Santa, it’s not uncommon to see him in his red “Hot Rod Santa” T-shirt and dark sunglasses, which are sure to catch your eye.

The improvisation training comes in handy too. According to Stephany, Santa can hear a long list of well-thought-out questions in his short visit with a child, and some of those questions require some seasoned improv practice.

At the Santa Academy, attendees learn how to hone their craft, and also find a network of similar-minded people who love giving back to their community. Through the school, the Navy veteran befriended a fellow Coast Guard

mentor. They both became Santas in recent years.

in to share something new. It’s kind of like a car club, but everyone has white beards.”

Back home, Stephany joined the Indiana Santa Claus Society, a nonprofit spreading Christmas cheer all year round, and the Hoosier Santas, a private Facebook group of local Santas who enjoy trading stories, talking about costume updates and more. The two groups serve the community in different ways.

Most importantly, our local Hot Rod Santa just wants to spread joy in his community.

For example, when attending an Indiana Santa Claus Society event, Stephany and other local Santas are traveling to towns within the state that have been ravaged by natural disasters, and delivering a trailer full of toys to children in the area.

While giving back is something Stephany loves to do, he also continues to hone his skill to be the best Santa possible.

“The Hoosier Santa guys meet about once per month to practice,” he says. “We build off of each other and even have guest Santas come

“My greatest happiness is watching people smile,” Stephany says. “It’s hard to be in a bad mood when Santa is around and it keeps me on my toes too. You know people are watching you. If I can change someone’s day for the better in two minutes at a stop light, I’m game.”

Whether sitting in his red Ford pickup with the words “North Pole Edition” on the back at a stoplight, or interacting with families at our favorite holiday events, chances are you have encountered or will encounter Stephany throughout the season.

Santa fans will likely see Stephany lighting the tree at Danville’s annual Christmas on the Square event, visiting with guests at the train station during Ellis Park’s Winterland Holiday

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Light Show, and sharing the Christmas spirit at Red Curb Comedy in Avon during their Santa photo sessions.

In addition, Stephany offers “neighbor knocks.”

“It’s something I started doing during the pandemic,” he says. “If you can get 10 of your neighbors together, I’ll stop by, house by house. It’s $25 per house and you get about 10 minutes with Santa. It’s a fun time. The kids are in their PJs and usually surprised by the visit.”

He has to cover expenses, but Stephany is all for giving back too. After all, special situations call for special people, and aside from his work with the Indiana Santa Claus Society, his goal is to donate 30 hours per year for those who need him the most.

Stephany visited his uncle as Santa toward the end of his cancer battle late this year, and it’s not uncommon, he says, to receive calls about children in sad circumstances.

“I got a call about a young girl who was losing her eyesight,” he says. “They wanted to know if I would go visit her and how much would I charge. That’s not a charge thing. That’s something we do because of who we are as people.”

It’s not just Stephany who has embraced the Christmas spirit. His family is hooked too. It’s not uncommon for Santa to arrive with a group of elves, the Grinch or other popular holiday characters, giving back to the

community with that infectious holiday spirit.

“The family are full participants,” Stephany says. “I’ve picked up my grandson at high school partially dressed as Santa, and even the grandkids serve as photo props for me. When they get old enough they know I’m Santa, and they love to get involved.”

With all the good he’s doing with his family and in the community, Stephany’s never forgotten the guys at the track. His first passion keeps him coming back to racing year after year - only now, the guys are competing against their childhood icon.

“I have Hot Rod Santa T-shirts that I wear regularly, and I’ve got a custom-made, red driver’s suit. I’ve also got a helmet that looks like Santa’s hat and beard. Up next, I’ll be wrapping my race car. It’ll look like Santa’s sleigh and my grandkids will be elves hanging on the back.”

Patches on that special suit reflect organizations close to his heart, including the Indiana Santa Claus Society, The United States Navy and a fun image of a Santa on the back, driving a hot rod with his sack of toys over his shoulder.

Of course, it’s fun and entertaining, but in Stephany’s typical fashion, his new racing gear also shows his support by adding the

DECEMBER 2023

Indiana Santa Claus Society’s logo to the car and spreading the word every chance he gets.

His racing buddies are all in.

“Even the guys at the track put ’S. Claus’ at the top of the race ticket,” he says. “How mad can you be when you got beat by Santa Claus over the weekend? I tell everybody, you can laugh at me or with me, but we know your day changed because you stopped to laugh.”

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For more information, visit redcurbcomedy. com/santa.

For more information about Stephany, you can find him on Facebook @ScottyGClaus, or on Instagram @TheHotRodSanta. If interested in a visit or a “neighbor knocks” event, email Stephany at thehotrodsanta@ yahoo.com.

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PAIN RELIEF: SHOULD YOU USE ICE OR HEAT? Writer / Dr. Trevor Call, Orthopedic Surgeon at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

No matter how careful you are, injuries happen. Though orthopedic specialists are always ready to help, slight to moderate pain does not always require a trip to see your doctor. In certain situations, an ice pack or heating pad can help quickly. It is important to know which to use, to prevent further pain or even injury.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE COLD THERAPY? Cold therapy, such as a cold compress, should typically be used for recent injuries that have occurred within the last 48 hours and cause swelling. Apply the ice pack or frozen item to the injury. Make sure to wrap the frozen item

be used on smaller areas of pain, but for larger in a towel or some kind of cloth. Applying a very cold item directly to your injury can cause areas you can use a larger heating pad, heat wraps or even a heated towel. damage to the skin and tissue. Make sure you use cold therapy as quickly as possible after the injury occurs, but stick to around 10 to 15 WHAT SHOULD YOU minutes at a time to prevent damage to your DO IF THE TREATMENT nerves, tissue and skin. For best results, elevate DOESN’T WORK? the injured area as well.

If cold therapy or heat therapy does not work or makes your pain worse, a visit to your WHEN SHOULD YOU physician to discuss other treatment options is USE HEAT THERAPY? appropriate.

Heat therapy can be used if you have pain or stiffness in your joints or muscles. Applying If you have severe or persistent issues with heat for 10 to 15 minutes can help relieve your upper body including the shoulder, muscle soreness and minor pain. Moderate to elbow, wrist or hand, or the lower body severe stiffness or tension can be helped with including hips, knees, ankles or feet, an a longer session. For this level of pain, you orthopedic or sports medicine specialist can can apply an appropriate temperature of heat help you decide on a treatment plan. therapy for 30 minutes. Small heat packs can DECEMBER 2023

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AVON MARCHING BLACK AND GOLD STATE CHAMPIONS Provided by Avon Marching Black & Gold

The Avon Marching Black and Gold was crowned at the culmination of the recent Indiana State School Music Association marching band state finals competition at Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the program’s 16th state championship.

“I could not be more excited, happy and proud of our directors, design team, staff, parents and, most importantly, our amazing students,” says Director Matt Harloff.

“The Avon Marching Black and Gold students and staff work so hard and are great representatives of our school district bringing pride to the entire Avon community,” says Scott Wyndham, Avon Community School Corporation superintendent. “I’m so proud of their success this year and their tradition of excellence.”

In addition to competing this fall and preparing for winter competitions, the Marching Black and Gold students, staff and supporters are already busy raising funds and preparing for their trip to New York City to perform in the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Learn more by visiting avonband.com.

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KEYS TO SUCCESS KEYBOARDIST TROYE KINNETT HAS DISPLAYED HIS TALENTS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2023 / AVON MAGAZINE / 25

H

and TV spots for commercials, and performed voiceovers. He’s returned to New York City to play on stages like Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall.

His early days in Muncie, Indiana, and He’s worked with artists such as Bruce attending a high school of 500 students might lead one to believe his options were Springsteen, Little Big Town and T Bone Burnett, and performed live with Keith few. The high school didn’t even have a Urban, Stephen Stills and Kenny Wayne football team, but Kinnett remembers Shepherd. plenty of opportunity.

ave you ever attended a concert featuring local Indy musicians Jennie DeVoe or Doug Henthorn? How about The Nauti Yachtys with the winner of season six of NBC’s “The Voice” Josh Kaufman, Grammy winner Sandi Patty, or perhaps one of Indiana’s most famous musicians, John Mellencamp?

the Storm Out’ by REO Speedwagon. It was just a lot of fun.”

What you may not know is that on the stage behind each one of them is local resident and keyboardist Troye Kinnett.

“We performed in the Macy’s Day Parade as a marching band,” he says. “I really found New York City inspiring.

By the time I was a teen I was playing keyboard at weddings, and I think all the opportunities that were in front of me kept me in music throughout my life.”

With each step, he’s living out the dream of a marching band high school student from a small town in Indiana.

And the opportunities kept coming.

“I think Sandi is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever worked with, in terms of what she can do with her voice and how she’s able to communicate what she wants,” he says. “She covers a lot of

“I started taking piano lessons as a kid and just stuck with it,” he says. “In high school I got into electric keyboard, the xylophone in the high school marching band, and started playing in garage bands.

At our basketball games I’d gather all the amps I could muster, chain them all together, and when the team was coming out I’d do the big siren you hear on ‘Ridin’

Kinnett has met and played with musicians all over the world. He’s worked for recording studios, created radio 26 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2023 / TownePost.com

Outside of his “regular job” working with recording studios, Kinnett toured with Christian artist Sandi Patty.

different styles and is just incredible.

She’s had quite the career, and for me it was a thrill.”

One of the exciting parts of being a musician, Kinnett says, is having the ability to do different genres with different musicians, leading to different challenges over the years.

In 2005, one musician’s call changed his career forever.

“Right after Hurricane Katrina, my brother-in-law and I had plans to go down to New Orleans and move the grandparents back up to Indiana,” Kinnett says. “I got a call on Thursday to record with John [Mellencamp] on Monday morning. They were recording for the Stephen King musical ‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County’ and at the time were working with two guitars, a violin and an accordion.”

Though Kinnett knew how to play the accordion, he sat in the back seat of the moving truck and practiced for hours.

“Everything went great and six months later I got the call to start touring,” Kinnett says.

His road to playing in the band for one of Indiana’s most popular residents is a testament to the hard work Kinnett put forth for years.

Like in most professions, band members know each other, play together and often call on each other when someone needs a specific musician.

“I’ve worked with everyone in John’s band in some way or another,” Kinnett says. “Dane Clark [the drummer for Mellencamp’s band] is who I’d call in for a recording session if we needed a drummer. We’ve done lots of sessions together. In the same way, when they’re looking for a keyboardist, they call me.”

In fact, Clark, Kinnett, bassist John Gunnell and violinist Miriam Sturm all

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have roots in Indiana.

Compared to Kinnett’s Christian tour with Patty and the instruments used in her softer sound, the six-month Mellencamp tour earlier this year was on the other end of the spectrum - 77 shows between February and June with a plan to resume the tour in March of 2024.

Kinnett plays harmonica, organ and keyboards for the band, and it’s safe to say that Mellencamp fans have heard a different sound on the star’s recent albums, giving audiences - and the band members - an eclectic list to choose from.

“John’s style has changed over the years,” Kinnett says. “He’s stretched into areas like jazz piano on ‘Strictly a One-Eyed Jack.’ That album has three songs with Bruce Springsteen and, for example, the song ‘Gone So Soon’ has a cool, dark, jazz vibe.”

A darker tone is emerging on albums such as “Orpheus Descending” and tracks like “Amen,” which Kinnett says deals with gun violence in America.

Still, Kinnett and the band have a blast playing Mellencamp classics like “Jack and Diane” and “Hurts So Good.” It’s the variety that Kinnett enjoys the most.

“My dream gig would be to play for ‘The Voice,’” he says. “Imagine all of those singers from all different genres of music, with all the different styles.”

On his journey, the husband and father of

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one son has had the opportunity to see the world - at least many stages around the world.

With Mellencamp alone, Kinnett has traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada, not to mention every state in the U.S. with the exception of Alaska.

“It sounds very exciting and romantic, but I’ve seen the back of a venue or theater and the inside of a tour bus quite a bit,” Kinnett sats. “You miss a lot of that beautiful scenery but we do try to catch as much as we can while we’re there.”

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He’s missed birthdays and sporting events, and other times with family.

He’s also shared a Thanksgiving meal in Australia with catered food, alongside Mellencamp, Sheryl Crowe and the band members for each musician.

“It’s strange at times,” he says. “You are on the other side of the world from your family and you have to work to stay connected and communicate, yet experiences like that allow the band to bond, so you make the best of wherever you are.”

1/2 PAGE (ISLAND)

Despite his travel and mingling with some of the world’s most popular musicians, Kinnett is very much rooted in Indiana and enjoys sharing his skill with others.

When not on tour, we can still catch the keyboardist on stage at local events or venues.

“We just finished Farm Aid at Ruoff Music Center with John, and I got to see all the sets with Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and Bob Dylan among many more,” Kinnett says. “That was a great event. This winter I’ll be out locally, with several artists throughout the holidays.”

Visit troyekinnett.com for an updated schedule and more information.

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