Fort Wayne Insider Blog

When I moved to Fort Wayne from Ann Arbor, MI in 2015, I felt some trepidation. Most of my fellow graduates from the University of Michigan’s Master of Music program were moving to New York or Chicago, with their bustling arts communities; when I told them I was moving to Indiana to take a full-time singing position, they raised their eyebrows. Little did they--and I--know that I was walking into an arts goldmine.

What better way to get acquainted with The Clyde Theatre, Fort Wayne, Indiana’s movie theatre-turned concert destination, then to spend a weekend attending concerts there?

The Clyde Theatre is an old Fort Wayne, Indiana favorite, with a history dating back to 1951. It started out as a movie theatre, changed names, closed, became a church, and now rises from the ashes as an impressive concert venue with a capacity in the thousands. And national artists are noticing: in their first few months, The Clyde is hosting The Used, The Flaming Lips, B.B. King’s Blues Band, and more.

Summer is my favorite time of year. This is, partially, because I’m always freezing, but the abundance of summer concerts certainly doesn’t hurt. Plus, Fort Wayne is becoming sort of a music hub within the Midwest!

Music and food: what better pairing is there? If you’re planning a getaway to the great city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, it likely includes both tasty eats and catchy beats.

Dorothy Kittaka, the president of Sister Cities and one of the founders of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Fort Wayne, is my “Fort Wayne Mom.” She is on the board of Heartland Sings (my employer) and was my host during the audition process and for several weeks after I got the job. She is also a fourth-generation Japanese-American, and she was quick to tell me about Fort Wayne’s Cherry Blossom Festival.

It might still be chilly outside, but spring is in the air! (Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking). There’s no denying that the days are getting longer, and as the frigid months come to an end, Fort Wayne’s music scene welcomes the thaw with beguiling harmonies and triumphant trills.

Here’s what I, as a professional musician and Fort Wayne resident, am most looking forward to this spring.

When I moved to Fort Wayne a few years ago and my birthday rolled around, I naturally tried to find out what the local scene has to offer a birthday girl. And, for one of the few times in my life, the internet failed me. It turned out that no such guide existed for Fort Wayne. Why is that, I wondered? Are there no birthday freebies in this city? The answer to that question is a resounding no.

Fort Wayne local businesses are exceedingly generous. This city is an amazing place to spend a birthday when you know how much all the local businesses want to celebrate with you!

I’m originally from Ann Arbor, MI, which is where I first encountered a cool organization called Opera on Tap. This nonprofit, which has chapters all over the world, brings opera singers into bars for evenings of tasteful alcohol-fueled arias. This format allows opera singers like me to perform what they want in casual settings, introducing new audiences to the art form in a cheeky, fun way.

I’m a professional singer, but sometimes even I want to kick back and sing a couple o’ tunes in the laid-back environment of a karaoke bar. Luckily, Fort Wayne, Indiana has plenty of establishments to keep me (and other karaoke aficionados) occupied.