For Lyndsay Moy, the Indianapolis Opera’s “Opera in the Park” is always special and this time it has a special meaning.
Moy, director of education and community engagement for the Indianapolis Opera, will star alongside Ganson Salmon in a free concert at Opera in the Park in Garfield Park in Indianapolis on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
“Since this is our 50th anniversary season, we really wanted to highlight Hoosier talent, so (general manager) David (Starkey) graciously asked me to sing because I grew up in Indianapolis,” Moy said. “I attended the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. I was in show choir and I got my bachelor’s degree from DePauw University.”
After earning her master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, she returned to the Indianapolis Opera for her residency in 2015.
“I’ve been here with the company ever since,” she said. “It’s just been a great joy for me. It’s really fun to showcase local talent. It’s always a great concert. It draws people from all walks of life. It’s a free event. It’s wonderful for people from all walks of life to enjoy the same fabulous music.”
Moy, a Brownsburg resident and Pike High School graduate, will perform the Italian version of “Gabriel’s Oboe/Nella Fantasia” with oboist Pam Ajango. She also sings “Alto’s Lament.”
“There’s a lot of musical theater and a lot of comedy, that’s my daily bread,” said Moy. “I’ve played three musical roles with the troupe, most recently Nettie in ‘Carousel’.”
Some pieces will be played from “The Barber of Seville,” which the Indy Opera will perform in November.
Salmon performs at Opera in the Park for the first time since 2021.
Salmon will sing “Nessun dorma” from “Turandot” and a piece from “Rigoletto”.
Salmon, a graduate of Heritage Christian School, grew up in the Lawrence area and returned during the COVID-19 pandemic when theaters in New York City were closed.
“As a tenor from Indiana, it feels right for me to be a part of this 50th anniversary season,” said Salmon, who lives in Whitestown. “I think Opera in the Park is one of the best events in all of opera because it’s so fun and informal. I think all opera companies should have an event like this. I’m just so excited to just sit and listen or participate. I think it’s one of the best ways to introduce opera to people new to opera and a way to sit together and enjoy each other’s company and listen to great music.”
For more information, visit indyopera.org.
