ICC Gala: Midnight in Paris

The Indianapolis Children's Choir is taking over the Scottish Rite Cathedral on Friday, October 23, for its annual gala, Midnight in Paris. It's the choir's biggest fundraiser of the year, and this time they're leaning into a French theme. The night runs from 6 PM to 10 PM, and they're encouraging guests to dress fancy, formal, or with Parisian accents—so if you've got a beret or a sharp suit you've been waiting for an excuse to wear, this is it.

The evening starts on the mezzanine with a cocktail reception and a silent auction. There's a signature cocktail and a mocktail created specifically for the gala, and that's where you'll spend the first part of the night before things move into the Grand Ballroom for dinner. The main draw is the music: live performances by ICC singers, a presentation from Executive Artistic Director Joshua Pedde, and a 'Call for the Choir' to raise funds for the coming year.

That fundraising part is the core of the whole thing. The gala supports tuition assistance, outreach programs, and accessible sites that keep the choir's music education open to more than 2,500 children and youth across more than 45 programs and ensembles. More than half of the choir's funding comes from donations, and Pedde says they're seeing an unprecedented need, with more families requesting financial assistance than ever before. The proceeds go toward that assistance program and the choir's outreach, including the Jubilate Choir for children with special needs.

Tickets are $125 for an individual seat or $1,000 for a table of eight. It's a full evening—cocktails and auction on the mezzanine, dinner in the ballroom, and the choir performing throughout—running from 6 PM to 10 PM at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N Meridian Street.