VOLUNTEERS continued from 24
A variety of Christmas-themed shows are headed to the Brown County Music Center this year. Among the scheduled acts are:
Nov. 28 Bela Fleck and The Flecktones“ Jingle All the Way” Dec. 4 Old Crow Medicine Show’ s“ Holiday Hootenanny” Dec. 5 Chris Young“ It Must Be Christmas” Dec. 9 Jane Lynch’ s“ A Swingin’ Little Christmas” Dec. 10 Rain“ A Beatles Christmas Tribute” Dec. 11 Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder“ Christmas” Dec. 18 Sara Evans Holiday Road Tour Dec. 21“ An Olde English Christmas with Herman’ s Hermits”
Tickets and info browncountymusiccenter. com 812-988-5323
His wife Michele is the paid photographer for each show.
“ I could either stay home alone or come out here. It’ s kind of a nobrainer,” he said.
Along the way, Wedel said he has learned how to work with patrons or volunteers who can sometimes be difficult. The key, he said, is to let people do what they want until it becomes a problem for others.
Duane Szymanski has been greeting patrons at the music center for about two and a half years and has worked at more than 40 shows this year.
“ I enjoy being with people, enjoy being with volunteers, and it supports the community,” Szymanski said.“ And the music’ s good too, by the way.”
Likewise, volunteer Ed Wrightsman said he just enjoys the people he meets at concerts, and the exercise he gets as a volunteer parking attendant.
Volunteers are“ massively important,” said Braden Buehler, operations and engagement manager for the music center.
He said from 250 to 300 volunteers are currently active, and the number continues to rise. Volunteers are fairly evenly split between men and women, and most members are aged 45 or older, with retirees making up a good portion of the crew. In some cases, married couples volunteer together. But younger people sign up too, Buehler said, some as young as 16.
Many volunteers live in Brown County, but the geographic range is expanding to Columbus, Bloomington, Franklin, Greenwood, or even as far away as Muncie and Anderson.
24 Our Brown County • Nov./ Dec. 2025