Local bands showcase talent in concert series

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Performing Arts Summer Series, which over the years has invited the Bloomington community out to its parks to experience the talent of its local artists.\nThe Performing Arts Series was founded by Bloomington Parks and Recreation to not only expose local artists to their community, but to also expose the community to its local parks, said Jennifer Velasco, the Bloomington Parks and Recreation community events specialist.\n"We hold many of the concerts around lunch time to give people an opportunity to step out of their offices and enjoy lunch in the parks," Velasco said.\nTwenty years ago, Bryan Park was the first to host the Performing Arts Series. It quickly became a popular summertime attraction and encouraged Bloomington Parks and Recreation to gradually expose the venues at Third Street, Ninth Street and People's Park as well as the Courthouse Lawn and the Farmers Market near City Hall.\nEach venue plays a variety of music, ranging from classical to jazz to Celtic. Although the concerts are free, the local artists are paid for their performances through local business sponsors.\nCraig Brenner is a local jazz artist who has played at the Performing Arts Series for over 10 years and bears witness to its growth in both people and parks. \n"The Performing Arts Series is one of the things that make Bloomington a great place to live," he said. "You can count on a number of events going on in the parks over the summer."\nAs a performer, Brenner said, "Performing in the parks is more fun than anything else because it's outdoors in a very vocal environment, and I'm playing for people I know and not so much for my career." \nBut for others it's more about professional than personal growth. Groups like local non-profit jazz use the concerts as venues to distribute information and attract attention about them. Jazz from Bloomington in particular uses its own concerts to encourage and support all styles of jazz, encourage communication and cooperation within the jazz community and advocate increased artistic and financial health for the area's artists and presenters, according to its Web site, www.jazzfrombloomington.org.\n"The Performing Arts Series is a great opportunity to promote our organization," said Jazz from Bloomington All-Stars pianist Monica Herzig. "We hope every year we can have the same opportunity to help get people out to our other events." \nYou can catch Jazz from Bloomington All-Stars from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bryan Park, and Craig Brenner from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at People's Park, or online at www.craigbrenner.com. \nFor more information about the Performing Arts Series or concert schedules visit the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Web site www.city.bloomington.in.us/parks.\n-- Contact staff writer Benjamin Hsu at ybhsu@indiana.edu