Music

Violinist Mehran Fanoos

February 22, 2022

When Mehran Fanoos was just 7 years old, he enrolled at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music and started violin lessons with Indiana University Jacobs School of Music alumnus William Harvey. Following the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021, Harvey immediately started to think of ways he could use his non-profit, Cultures in Harmony, to help Afghan musicians long-term, including connecting them with educational opportunities in other countries. With Harvey’s help, Fanoos was admitted to the Jacobs School on a full scholarship.

Violinist Mehran Fanoos practices at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Fanoos is the first Afghan violinist admitted to the Jacobs School of Music. (James Brosher/Indiana University)

Violinist Mehran Fanoos poses with his instrument outside the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Fanoos is the first Afghan violinist admitted to the Jacobs School of Music. (James Brosher/Indiana University)

See more photos

11th USA International Harp Competition

August 17, 2019

Last month I photographed the 11th USA International Harp Competition at Indiana University in Bloomington. I’ve been a big skeptic of the mirrorless camera craze. But after a few days of this competition I finally understood one of the greatest upsides to mirrorless: silence. Midway through the competition, I rented a Canon EOS R. I was blown away by this incredible camera. It allowed me to remain completely silent yet capture a variety of images of the harpists in action. When the world’s greatest young harpists are competing all-out for a $55,000 harp (and other prizes), I didn’t want to be the distraction that could make a difference in the competition. This was one of the most fun photo shoots I’ve had recently and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have captured the event.

The Lyon and Healy Concert Grand Harp is moved to the stage before the awards ceremony following Stage IV performances of the 11th USA International Harp Competition at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by James Brosher)

Mathilde Wauters of Belgium performs with the Indiana University Summer Philharmonic Orchestra during the Stage IV concert at the 11th USA International Harp Competition at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Photo by James Brosher)

[Read more…]

Potpourri of the Arts

November 24, 2017

The annual Potpourri of the Arts concert showcases ensembles at the Indiana University African American Arts Institute. Since 1993, the shows have embodied the spirit of African American performance at IU AAAI via its three ensembles: the African American Dance Company, the African American Choral Ensemble and the IU Soul Revue.

[Read more…]

Carlo Fierens

October 4, 2017

I had the opportunity recently to do a portrait session with Italian classical guitarist Carlo Fierens, a doctoral student in the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. This session was a lot of fun and as an added bonus I got to hear some of Carlo’s wonderful playing live during the shoot.

[Read more…]

Lotus World Music and Arts Festival

October 3, 2017

Without fail since I first arrived in Bloomington as a student in 2006, I have somehow always managed to be out of town the weekend of the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. Usually the festival falls during James Dean Weekend when I’m out of town at the Ducktail Run in Gas City, Indiana. This year, however, the festival was a weekend later and I finally had my first opportunity to attend and photograph Lotus. I experienced a sliver of what is a very expansive and beautiful collection of world music and art. Now as a card-carrying Bloomington townie, I’m looking forward to photographing the festival more extensively in the years to come.