FREE Musical storytelling programs that spark curiosity in learners of all ages!
Each year, the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra curates a unique musical
storytelling program for children and their families.
Past Programs
Run, Little Chaski!
For the 24-25 season, IBO violinist Sarah Cranor has teamed up with award winning Peruvian children’s author Mariana Llanos to present a bilingual telling of “Run, Little Chaski!” We invited the young and young-at-heart to take an exciting musical storytelling journey to 18th century Latin America with us. Listeners heard the tale of Little Chaski running the Inca Trail, accompanied by descriptive language, bold illustrations, and 18th century musical selections, all while experiencing first hand a diverse and vibrant musical cultural tradition through a lively 45-minute program. Musical selections were chosen from the Codex Trujillo del Peru, an amazing encyclopedia of life in Peru in the 1780s, Mission archives transcribed by Jesuit priests and played by local musicians, and in Cathedral archives across the Americas, which protected these fragile pieces of paper for hundreds of years. Some of this music was heard for the first time again since the 1700s! The program concludes with everyone singing and dancing to the theme song to “Run, Little Chaski” written by Mariana and transcribed for our unique ensemble of instruments.
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning
The Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra held three performances for a special telling of St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning in 2024. Children and their families to attended our annual musical storytelling program, Growing Up Baroque! at three local libraries. IBO musician and multi-instrument specialist Keith Collins curated a short program of Irish Baroque and folk music to accompany the beloved children’s book “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning” by Eve Bunting. In addition to presenting music, the quintet of musicians introduced their instruments and their special features to the audience.
Don Quixote and Windmills
In February 2023 IBO partnered with the Indianapolis and Johnson County Public Libraries to present Growing Up Baroque to more than 230 kids and grownups! The event included instrumental introductions, selections of Telemann’s Don Quixote Suite played by members of the IBO, as well as a reading of the children’s book “Don Quixote and the Windmills” by Eric Kimmel. Then, in October 2023, we presented this program in a bilingual English-Spanish program to fourth grade students at Indianapolis Public Schools #105 Fairbanks, an elementary school with a significant Spanish-speaking student population.
Listen to My Trumpet!
In May 2022 members of the IBO presented Growing Up Baroque at the Central Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library. Featuring IIBC laureate Dominc Favia, with selections of music highlighting the Baroque trumpet, were played as well as a reading of Mo Willems “Listen to My Trumpet!”
Getting a Handel on Messiah
In connection with our Messiah performances, we designed an interactive, family-friendly introduction to Handel’s Messiah! You’ve heard the famous Hallelujah Chorus – now learn about the rest of Handel’s masterpiece and the compositional tricks he used to make Messiah such a feast for the ears. Hear the music played on historical instruments and look forward to a special appearance by Handel himself! Chat with orchestra musicians after the performance and take home a themed gift bag including color-by-number pages of Baroque composers and instruments, a noise-maker or instrument to played during the program, and a Bibliocommons reading list to continue learning at home!
