St. Charles kicks off summer series with memorial concert
The public is invited to the eighth annual Tyler Caruso Memorial Concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, at Lincoln Park, off Fourth and Main streets in St. Charles.
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership and the St. Charles Park District sponsor the event, which kicks off the "Concerts in the Park" series. Bands, including the St. Charles East Jazz Workshop, St. Charles North bands Rocket Boots and The Plutoniums, along with musical artist Cody Claussen will be taking the stage.
Sometimes a person's life ends way too soon, but the positive result can be that their legacy continues to be imprinted on the lives they touch. Tyler Caruso, who was a St. Charles East honors student, top athlete, passionate musician and dedicated school and community leader, died on July 14, 2002, of an apparent cardiac arrest. An annual memorial concert continues to honor his memory and recognize the impact his life had in the community.
Beverages will be offered and donations will be accepted to support the memorial fund for student scholarships.
Twenty-one scholarships have been given since the event's inception. On May 26, this year's three recipients will be announced.
Marilyn Caruso, Tyler's mother, said there were a record number of applicants this year, which could be reflective of the difficult economic times. "The scholarship fund is so important as it helps college-bound students aspire to their dreams and goals in life. We are so thankful for the support and generosity of the student reps, the schools, the Partnership, the Park District and our community to keep Tyler's memory and values alive," she said.
Darlene Desso, a friend of the Caurso family, designed T-shirts for this year's event. Symbolic of the two high schools coming together, the shirts are royal blue with an orange imprint commemorating the concert and displaying a saxophone filled with hearts and musical notes. Tyler was an accomplished alto saxophone player and enjoyed playing with the St. Charles East Jazz Workshop and Wind Ensemble as well as the high school marching, pep and concert bands. The T-shirts will be sold the night of the event for $10 and all proceeds will go directly into the memorial fund.
Jacki Coppes of St. Charles North and Sarah LeFevre of St. Charles East are student board members with the partnership. Both have been involved planning the concert, gaining participation and publicizing it at school. Coppes says, "I am honored to be a part of this event and hope Tyler is proud of what we have accomplished. The music brings Tyler home, allowing each of us to meet the person that has brought us all together."
LeFevre added, "This concert keeps Tyler's beliefs and ideals alive. He was a well-rounded student achieving so many great things in music, academics, sports, student activities and community organizations. It's an honor to give back to his memory."