Festival March 14-15, 2026
Art Work Due - Dec 12, 2025
Date Dec 12, 2025
Artwork due to FAME office by 5 pm
300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne
Exhibitions
March 14-15, 2026
Fusion of Concert Colors Exhibit at the Fort Wayne FAME Festival
Grand Wayne Center
Sat, March 14, 2026 5 p.m.
Slideshow of Fusion artwork
highlight of Celebration of Youth Concert – Grand Wayne Center
U of St Francis Rolland Art Center
Opening reception TBD 5-7 pm
Exhibit dates TBD
First Presbyterian Church Gallery
Exhibit Dates TBD
FAME’s Fusion of Concert Colors promotes interdisciplinary arts understanding by encouraging students to draw connections between musical selections and the visual arts. FAME teachers guide students to create artwork as they listen to music from our current cultural arts focus. All northern Indiana elementary and middle FAME schools are invited to participate in this program.
Each year FAME partners with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic to select an orchestral work reflecting the year’s cultural focus. Students listen to this music and then create their own original artwork inspired by the music. The artwork is then displayed at the Auer Center for Art & Culture and one student’s artwork from each grade (K-9) is selected as the FAME artwork of the year and the artwork is used to promote the FAME Festival throughout the region. At the Fort Wayne FAME Festival, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestras perform the music that inspired the student’s art pieces and a giant slideshow displays all the selected art pieces behind the playing musicians. The honored students and families are guests at the FAME Festival Celebration of Youth Concert. The Fusion slide show will be on March 14, 2026, 5 pm.
Participating schools must submit their student’s artwork by date December 12, 2025, to the FAME office at 300 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.
All artwork will be available for pickup after the General Meeting in August/September, 2026.
This Year’s Musical Selection Is:
Dhyaana
by Manjula Ramachandran and Cooper Ford
You may listen to the music selection on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMOxWq9f330
About the Music Selection*
This is the perfect piece to introduce students to some of the unique sounds and basic techniques of Indian music. Authentically written and musically engaging, it features a strong melody and deliberate rhythmic drive.
Dhyaana is a Sanskrit word translated as contemplation or meditation. This is an aspect of Indian culture focused on cultivating serenity, focus, and self-awareness, often through music. Written in the Carnatic (South Indian) musical tradition, this piece, by Manjula Ramachandran and Cooper Ford, utilizes melodic patterns from the raaga Revathi as well as common rhythmic patterns often found in this style. Each part also includes appropriate fingerings.
*From Afred Music Dhyaana: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts: Manjula Ramachandran | Sheet Music
About the Composers
Website for Manjula Ramachandran: Manjula Ramachandran
Website for Cooper Ford: Cooper Ford – Wharton Arts
Fusion Registration and Instructions may be found at
or you can download the Fusion Packet here: