Winona Lake — Community Arts Program is hosting the 5th annual Java, Jive & Pie event at Rodeheaver Auditorium, 901 Park Ave., Winona Lake, on Saturday, Oct. 24.

A dance lesson will be offered from 6 p.m., followed by the musical program beginning at 7 p.m.

This year, the program, “The Village Canteen,” will feature songs to evoke a feeling of the 1940s when swing was king and USO shows supported the troops across the globe.

Attendees are invited to dress in period apparel and enjoy the dance floor.

This year we welcome Matt and Cindy Smith, dance instructors of “Art of Dance Warsaw," who will offer dance instruction to all levels of dancers.

Ticket holders are encouraged to come early for a dance lesson to learn some basic steps and to give you the confidence to take a chance and dance. Don’t miss this fun opportunity to learn some new moves.

Vocal Vibes adult vocal jazz ensemble will sing a selection of songs from the period. Wally Brath and “The Village Canteen Band” will also perform instrumental music from the era. In addition to live musical performances, attendees are encouraged to dress in the style of the 40s and 50s.

During the evening, patrons will enjoy charcuterie, coffee, pie, and the dance floor.

A silent auction will feature a variety of unique items donated by community individuals and businesses. The evening will close with an exciting live auction of significant and interesting items.

Vocal Vibes director, Dr. Ardis Faber, eagerly anticipates this annual event and encourages the community to attend. “You won’t want to miss this evening filled with dance music, familiar ballads, up-tempo vocals from the swing era, and the easy-listening jazz from Wally Brath and The Village Canteen Band!” Dr. Faber continues, “What better way to relax than to enjoy an evening out with friends while listening to some great jazz!”

“This is our fifth year conducting the Java, Jive & Pie fundraiser. We are growing it into a premier event.” Lori Widman, Community Arts Program President, states. “We want to fill the Rodeheaver Auditorium this year.”

“This will be an evening to enjoy good company, listening and dancing to live jazz music within the Winona Lake town limits, all while supporting our artistic programs; you won’t want to miss this opportunity.”

Tickets are available at the Community Arts Program website and are $40 for an individual and $300 for a table of eight. Corporate sponsorships and donations are also welcome.

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WINONA LAKE — The Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County invites young singers in grades 2 through 10 to audition for Vocal Vision Youth, our community’s premier children’s choir.

The season begins Monday, September 8, with rehearsals on most Monday evenings from September through April.

The Vocal Vision Youth singers can expect a rich and rewarding choral experience, with quality performance opportunities alongside other youth singers, adult choir members, and professional orchestral accompaniment.

Dr. Judie Meulink, Artistic Director for the Vocal Vision Youth programs, invites young singers to participate.

“We are so excited for our upcoming season! Lots of fun music planned for our ‘Whimsical’ and ‘Fantastical’ concerts, as well as the chance to perform with Celtic musicians and dancers at the Christmas concert. Where else are young singers going to get the opportunity to sing with a live orchestra? Come join the choir,” Meulink said.

Final auditions for new singers will be held on Monday, Aug. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church (210 S. High St., Warsaw). Please enter through the door marked N1.

No preparation is needed. The auditions will be conducted as a group in a fun and relaxed environment.

The audition registration form and additional Vocal Vision Youth information can be found by clicking here.

You can learn more about the Community Arts Program by clicking here.

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WINONA LAKE — Community singers are invited to sign up and join Vocal Vision, the adult choir of the Community Arts Program, for our upcoming 2025-26 performance season.

The Vocal Vision choral ensemble of men and women from our community shares a love for music through singing in harmony. Members include men and women from the surrounding community as well as graduates of Vocal Vision Youth. We collaborate with the Lancer Chorus from Grace College and the Symphony of the Lakes orchestra. We strive to bring  quality choral music to Warsaw / Winona Lake and the surrounding communities of Kosciusko County.

This year’s performances include a special Choral Fest weekend titled “Requiem for Hope” with guest conductor, Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, and will feature Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest. Dr. Shangkuan, Director of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Chorus, is an internationally sought-after choral and symphonic conductor.

Dr. Shangkuan will work with local singers to prepare the lovely and stirring Requiem.

We are inviting all local singers to take part in this amazing experience! You will not want to miss the opportunity to sing and learn under Dr. Shangkuan's expert teaching and conducting.

Combined rehearsals with Dr. Shangkuan will take place Oct. 23, 24, and 25. The Requiem for Hope concert will occur on October 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake.

Two Pre-season singing rehearsals have been scheduled, specifically for Requiem for the Living. Join us for these two sessions to get acquainted or reacquainted with this beautiful work. Those include Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Vocal Vision Thursday evening rehearsals will begin on Aug. 14.

To sign up for the Choral Fest with Dr. Shangkuan and other season events, please visit the Vocal Vision page of the Community Arts Programs website.

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WINONA LAKE — The Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County invites young singers in grades 2 through 10 to audition for Vocal Vision Youth.

The Vocal Vision Youth singers can expect a rich, rewarding choral experience and quality performance opportunities.

Auditions will be held on Monday, April 28, and Tuesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church (210 S. High St., Warsaw). Please enter through the door marked N1.

No preparation is needed. The auditions will be conducted as a group in a fun and relaxed environment.

The sign-up form and additional Vocal Vision Youth information can be found at:
capwarsaw.com/vocal-vision-youth.

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WINONA LAKE — On Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m., the Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County presents “Celebrate & Sing: Synergize!”

This spring show will be held at the Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake.

“It will be a “Grand Night for Singing” with different styles and genres — live visual art and dance creations on stage, as well as the drama of poetry through music!” said Dr. Ardis Faber, Artistic Director for the Community Arts Program.

Ensembles joining the Community Arts Program Vocal Vision include Vocal Vision Youth, Vocal Vibes, the Bremen Children’s Choir, Grace College Lancer Chorus, and members of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts Symphony of the Lakes.

The concert's highlight is a 10-movement piece by British composer, Howard Blake. Each movement of this special work features a different animal, with music and poetry depicting their various characteristics and moods.

[caption id="attachment_105856" align="alignright" width="250"] Haylee Voogt[/caption]

Special guest Haylee Voogt will join the musicians to showcase her interpretation of several Howard Blake musical movements through dance.

Haylee Voogt was born and raised in Burton, MI, and began training in dance at a young age. Her training included jazz, classical ballet, contemporary, and
tap.

Haylee continued studying ballet, jazz, Horton, and Graham techniques while attending Eastern University in Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in dance. During her time at Eastern, she attended Wesley Institute of the Arts in Sydney, Australia while in a study abroad program, where she continued her dance technique and performance training.

Haylee moved to Houston after graduating where she performed with two contemporary companies, Ad Deum Dance Company until 2009 and Psophonia Dance Company for three seasons. Haylee traveled abroad in 2011 to the Netherlands and South Africa to use dance as a ministry, one of her greatest passions. Moving to Lansing in 2015 with her family, Haylee performed with a professional company Velocity for one season and taught in local area studios for the next 6 years.

In 2019, she presented her original choreography at the Dance Lansing festival. She moved to Warsaw with her husband and children in 2021 and continues to teach, perform, and choreograph while staying home with her two-year-old.

[caption id="attachment_105857" align="alignright" width="250"] Allison Mroczek[/caption]

Local artist Allison Mroczek will create an artistic interpretation of the musical program.

Allison’s artistic creation of the live performance will be brought to life as the music unfolds; rendering images of the animals represented in the performance. “Ever since I was five, people asked me what I liked to draw. People have always captured my heart and my sketchbook and canvas” states Allison. “I love to delight in who people truly are and capture them through strokes of oil.”

Additionally, community artists have been invited to prepare works of art to accompany the program. Watercolors, digital art, and other craftwork will be on display and available for purchase at the concert.

Tickets are available for purchase online by clicking here.

Prices range from $15 for adults to $12 for seniors, students, and active military, with children 5 and under free.

All proceeds benefit the Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County as the group works to fulfill the mission of providing creative, collaborative experiences that allow people in Kosciusko County opportunities to discover, develop, and share their musical and artistic gifts.

Visit our website at www.capwarsaw.com to learn more about the organization.

If you would like to join one of these performing groups or for more information, contact Lori Widman, President of the Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County Board, at
lwidman@classicartsprograms.com.

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WINONA LAKE — Community Arts Program will host its annual Java, Jive & Pie event to raise much-needed funds for the organization.

The event will be held at Rodeheaver Auditorium (901 Park Avenue, Winona Lake) on Saturday,  from 7 to 9 pm.

Story link: CAP has been on a roll and expanding

This year, the program will feature songs from around the Midwest.

Vocal Vibes, a select group of singers from the Community Arts Program Vocal Vision group, will perform. A live instrumental jazz quartet will support the vocalists and perform throughout the evening.

The Vocal Vibes director, Dr. Ardis Faber eagerly anticipates this annual event and encourages the community to attend. “You won’t want to miss this evening filled with dance music, familiar ballads, up-tempo vocals from Cole Porter, W. C. Handy, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, and other jazz writers from the Midwest.

And of course, the easy-listening jazz from Wally Brath and Friends!” Dr. Faber continues, “What better way to relax
than to enjoy an evening out with friends while listening to some great jazz!”

In addition to live musical performances, attendees are encouraged to dress in the style of the 40s and 50s.

During the evening, patrons will enjoy charcuterie, coffee, pie, and a dance floor. A silent auction will feature items donated by community individuals and businesses. The evening will close with the annual pie auction, featuring famous and fresh-baked Dan Bauer pies!

This year, local businesses have generously donated items for our silent auction, including regional sports memorabilia, jewelry from Bower’s Jewelry, a YMCA membership, salon and spa packages, home decor, and culinary items.

The live auction includes cabin packages in Tennessee and Michigan, items from Bower’s Jewelry, and JB Furniture. A helicopter and a hot-air balloon ride are also up for bid. This promises to be a night for making dreams come true.

“This is our fourth year conducting the Java, Jive & Pie fundraiser. We are growing it into a premier event.” Lori Widman, Community Arts Program President states. “We have outgrown all previous venues and hope to fill Rodeheaver Auditorium this year. This will be an evening to enjoy good company, listening and dancing to live jazz music within the Warsaw city limits, all while supporting our artistic programs; you won’t want to miss this
opportunity.”

About:  The Community Arts Program of Kosciusko County's mission is to provide a variety of creative, collaborative experiences that allow people of all ages in Kosciusko County the opportunity to discover, develop and share their musical and other artistic gifts.

Visit our website at www.capwarsaw.com to learn more about the organization.

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