Musical Arts Indiana, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, provides performance & educational opportunities for singers and instrumentalists throughout northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Beginning in 1993 as Vesper Chorale, Musical Arts Indiana, Inc. was formally incorporated in July of 2004 and now sponsors four performing organizations: Vesper Chorale, Vesper Chamber Orchestra, Consortia, and Children's Choir of Michiana. Under the leadership of Artistic Director & founding Conductor Wishart Bell, the company has become a major artistic and educational influence in the community. Through its Basically Baroque Concert Series, Vesper Chorale and Orchestra perform collaborative concerts of historic and contemporary literature with singers from colleges, universities, public schools, and local parishes. These singers receive specific vocal & stylistic education while preparing for professional level performances. The Vesper Chorale Young Singer Development Program invites gifted high school singers and string players to practice & perform beside professional musicians. The choir’s educational programming has been recognized with awards form the Elnora Stickley Foundation, Indiana Arts Council, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Josephson Music Trust. In 2008, in commemoration of the organization’s 15th Anniversary, Musical Arts Indiana Inc. received a citation from the Mayor of South Bend for its contribution to arts education in the community.