From Indianapolis city hall press release
July 26, 2004

Callers to city and county government offices at the City-County Building will now hear the music of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) during any hold time they encounter, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said.

Peterson requested the music as a part of his ongoing effort to enhance the arts and culture in Indianapolis, one of his key priorities since taking office in 2000.

"We hope that no citizen has to be on hold for too long when calling city hall, but if they are, they will at least get to enjoy the music of one of the world's great orchestras," Peterson said. "The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has graciously agreed to allow us to use their music, and this is yet another way for us to promote and support one of our city's greatest treasures."

Composers highlighted in the ISO's hold-time music include Hoagy Carmichael, Piotr Tchaikovsky, and Robert Schumann. For more information about ISA, go to www.IndianapolisSymphony.org. The Indianapolis-Marion County Information Services Agency handled the transfer of music to the system.

ISO performs 200 concerts each year to an audience of more than 400,000 people. In addition to the many concerts at its home, Hilbert Circle Theatre in the heart of the city, ISO is regularly heard in communities around Indiana and the nation.

ISO continues a long tradition of recording, currently issuing compact discs through Koss Classics, Ltd. Since 1994, the orchestra has been heard in over 250 radio markets covering 41 states across the country on a syndicated series of one-hour broadcasts titled "Indianapolis On-The-Air." In central Indiana, ISO is heard regularly over WFYI Radio 90.1 FM and WICR 88.7 FM.

Since taking office, Peterson proposed and secured a 75 percent increase in public funding for the arts, has used his office to display original artwork from local artists and significantly expanded cultural opportunities available in Indy Parks. In 2003, he received the top national award from Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors for mayoral involvement and leadership in the arts.