TIPPECANOE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY founded in 1997
The Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society was founded in 1997 by two musicians, pianist and radio personality Greg Kostraba and cellist Konstantin Jakimow. The Society was designed to fill a niche for chamber music lovers and serve as a platform for musicians from Greater Lafayette to perform chamber music. A successful preview concert at Thomas Duncan Hall in January of 1997 served as a springboard for the organization. The Society was formally chartered as a 501(c)(3) organization and a Board of Directors was elected with Dr. Kostraba serving as the first President and Artistic Director. TCMS thrived with a growing patron base and successful fundraising.
When Greg transferred from the community in 2001 the Society needed a new Artistic Director and pianist Verna Abe agreed to take on the job. Ms. Abe’s main contributions were to expand the reach of the TCMS into outlying communities like Frankfort and to begin paying the performers an honorarium. Each performer received a professionally recorded CD of the performance. In addition, she and the Board started an annual fund-raising outreach
Beginning with the 2003-2004 concert season, the clarinetist, Sharron Howard, took on the task as Artistic Director and brought her musical acumen to the position. Ms. Howard focused on broadening the concert’s repertoire. She brought in a wide range of instrumentalists. It was during her tenure that the Board of Directors decided TCMS had developed to the point that the Artistic Director position should be compensated.
During the summer of 2005, cellist Margot Marlatt took on the role of Artistic Director. Ms. Marlatt created free educational programs called Concert To Go! A chamber ensemble goes to elementary schools in Tippecanoe County and presents music, information and demonstrations for the students at no cost to the schools. Margot also created an annual performance for High School students called High School Showcase. In an effort to highlight the talents of blossoming artists, Margot programs a "Young Artist" concert every other year.
In January of 2009, Margot Marlatt was appointed Executive Director of the organization. The appointment was part of a strategic plan developed by TCMS to increase its community presence and educational outreach and provide a more sustainable administrative structure. Through an endowment campaign with the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, TCMS successfully reached a $25,000 goal adding to its endowment. The endowment helps to fund the educational programs of TCMS.
Margot stepped down in 2021, and Greg Kostraba returned to serve as Executive Director, guiding TCMS throughout pandemic recovery during our 2021-2022 season. In 2022, Caitlin Cotten Benner served a year-long term as Program Administrator alongside Artistic Director, Amy Brandfonbrener. Throughout our 2022-2023 season of in-person concerts themed around “Art Endures: a Celebration,” our robust audiences underscored how hungry we’ve been to listen to music in person after the tough years of the pandemic. We had a successful 2023-2024 season with “Friends and Family: Connections through Music,” which explored generations - parents and children, old and young, mentors and protegés - in music.
