Luminaries
Allied Solutions Center’s weekday speaker series, Luminaries, meets at 2 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every other month for presentations about the performing arts. Tickets for the presentations are just $10 and can be purchased online or by calling the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at 317.843.3800.
Tickets for the 2026-27 season will be available soon!
2026-27 Schedule
Americana and Jazz Collide with Sam Butler and Garrett Fasig
Sept. 29, 2026 | Robert Adam Room in the Payne & Mencias Palladium
Sam Butler and Garrett Fasig, leaders of the Indianapolis-based Visions Jazz Ensemble, discuss the origins and techniques behind their new project, Of the People. Blending two unique American art forms in recognition of the nation’s 250th birthday, the album features classic songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky” in inventive new jazz arrangements. Commissioned by the Timeless Music Project, the genre-bending collection is set for release in 2026.
About the Presenters
Sam Butler is a professional jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger and educator based in Indianapolis. He has performed nationally with ensembles including Sammy Miller and The Congregation, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, Sean Dobbins and the Modern Jazz Messengers, and the Visions Jazz Ensemble, which he co-leads with saxophonist Garrett Fasig.
Garrett Fasig is an emerging composer and saxophonist based in Bloomington. He has written several original jazz ensemble compositions that have been recorded by the Brent Wallarab Jazz Ensemble and has been commissioned for both jazz ensemble and orchestral works by the New York Youth Symphony and Brianna Thomas, respectively.
The Visions Jazz Ensemble is dedicated to delivering fresh, modern interpretations of both original compositions and timeless jazz standards. Their debut release, Across the Field (Patois Records), garnered critical acclaim, earning a feature in DownBeat Magazine and worldwide radio play for its inventive jazz arrangements of college fight songs and collaboration with esteemed trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.
Carmel's Lost Composer with Eric Salazar and David Heighway
Nov. 17, 2026 | Robert Adam Room in the Payne & Mencias Palladium
Classical composer Frederick Hunt was born and raised in Carmel and drew inspiration from the area for his music. Although virtually unknown today, he corresponded with Jean Sibelius and worked with other mid-20th century classical musicians including Howard Hanson and Roy Harris. Along with learning Hunt’s biography, you will hear clarinetist Eric Salazar perform two of Hunt’s pieces, “Southern Pine” and “White Moon.”
About the Presenters
Eric Salazar is The Clarinet Guy, a performer, composer and educator who plays the music he loves to play and wants to share it with as many people as possible. He performs as a soloist and as a chamber musician, mixing classical music with spontaneous improvisation. He also composes music for film and stage, merging inventive electronic sounds with familiar instruments.
Hamilton County Historian Emeritus David Heighway is a native Hoosier with a master’s degree in history from Utah State University. He is the author of the book Hidden History of Hamilton County, Indiana and has worked at museums around the United States, including Utah, Pennsylvania and Conner Prairie in Fishers. He currently works at the Hamilton East Public Library and serves on the board of directors of the Hamilton County Historical Society.
Soulful Journeys of Women: Making a Historical Connection with Donnice Robinson and Tracey Wynn
Jan. 26, 2027 | Robert Adam Room in the Payne & Mencias Palladium
Soulful Journeys of Women (SJOW) is dedicated to educating, inspiring and entertaining audiences through powerful portrayals of resilient women of color overcoming extraordinary obstacles on their journeys toward freedom and independence. In this dynamic presentation, SJOW’s founders will share the story behind the organization’s creation, drawing meaningful connections to iconic African American women and exploring issues that continue to impact women today. The storytelling will be enriched with live performance excerpts featuring some of SJOW’s most compelling characters, including legendary figures such as Madam C.J. Walker, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells and Sojourner Truth, sharing timeless lessons of courage, perseverance and determination.
About the Presenters
Donnice Robinson is an actress at two local museums and the co-founder of Soulful Journeys of Women. Portraying both composite characters and prominent historical African American women, she enjoys bringing history alive to all audiences, empowering them to learn from the past and to improve the future.
Tracey Wynn is an actor and storyteller who shares African and African American folktales with school groups and performs historical interpretations of famous African American women with her theater group, Soulful Journeys of Women. Her goal is to ensure that the historical cultural contributions of African American women live on and continue to be a source of inspiration.
After the Applause – Legendary Mothers of Jazz with Laura Gabriele
March 23, 2027 | Robert Adam Room in the Payne & Mencias Palladium
Marking Women’s History Month, jazz vocalist and educator Laura Gabriele will present an intimate musical and historical exploration of iconic women of jazz who were also caregivers, community builders and working artists. Drawing from her own experience, she will highlight the often unseen realities behind some of jazz’s leading women — the sacrifices they made, the livelihoods they built, and the challenges of balancing artistry with the drive to nurture, while maintaining identity. The inspiring presentation blends personal reflection and cultural history with live performances of selections made famous by influential artists such as Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday.
About the Presenter
Laura Gabriele is a jazz vocalist, composer, educator and leader of The Jazz Mamas, an Indianapolis-based women’s jazz ensemble dedicated to celebrating women’s voices in jazz through performance, education and community connection. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., she has studied with acclaimed artists across the country and performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, the Bellagio, the Indiana Roof Ballroom and The Jazz Kitchen. Her work combines jazz traditions with storytelling and community engagement to create meaningful artistic experiences that connect generations.
Seven Wonders of Indiana Music History with Rick Wilkerson
May 25, 2027 | Robert Adam Room in the Payne & Mencias Palladium
Rick Wilkerson of the Indiana Music History Project will share fascinating insights into Indiana’s surprisingly rich musical legacy and the state’s profound impact across generations and genres, shaping music on an international scale through its influence on recording, performance, manufacturing and artist development. From Richmond’s pioneering Starr-Gennett record company and Indianapolis’ influential Indiana Avenue jazz scene to Gary’s world-changing Jackson 5, the state has produced groundbreaking musical movements and artists. Indiana also became a national hub for record production, fostered gospel innovation through Bill Gaither’s empire, helped launch major R&B talent through WTLC-FM, and influenced punk and new wave music through independent artists and labels that inspired future generations.
About the Presenter
Rick Wilkerson is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Indiana Music History Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Indiana music. IMHP’s work includes an Indiana music history museum, the world’s largest archive of Indiana music recordings and memorabilia, digital preservation, external exhibits, oral histories, a streaming Indiana music radio station, a documentation website and Indiana music trading cards. Wilkerson is a journalist, musician and longtime record store owner with experience in music production, recording, distribution and broadcasting. He is a partner in the HQ Books and Records shop at the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis and holds a master’s degree in telecommunications from Indiana University.
For more information on the series, contact Julia Shildmyer at 317.819.3516 or JShildmyer@TheCenterPresents.org.
