Eleventh Annual Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Concert

The eleventh annual Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial concert kicks off the summer concert series in Lincoln Park, between 4th and 5th Streets in downtown St. Charles. The free concert, scheduled from 7-9 PM on Thursday, May 23, 2013, will celebrate the life of Tyler Caruso, a St. Charles East High School student leader, musician, athlete, and community activist who died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest on July 14, 2002, at the age of seventeen.

Tyler devoted countless hours to the betterment of his high school and community. He had many dreams for the future. One such dream has become a reality over the past eleven years, with the help of many dedicated individuals from the St. Charles Park District and high school representatives on the board of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership. Tyler was one of the original high school representatives on the DSCP board. He had the idea to bring the community together for an evening of music and friendship soon after St. Charles High School split into St. Charles East and St. Charles North High Schools. Tyler’s untimely death preceded the first of many annual concerts held in his honor.

Family and friends will, once again, come together this month to celebrate Tyler’s many accomplishments and the success of his concert over the past eleven years. This year’s St. Charles East High School representative, Jasper Koenen, says about this year’s concert, “Planning the Tyler Caruso concert has been very fun and I feel honored to be a part of planning and helping out with this event. It’s very special to me to be able to participate because, after reading about Tyler and the things he did for his school and community, I saw many similarities that we have in common. Tyler was and always will be a ‘Saint’.”

Many local musicians and vocalists will be showcased at this year’s event. The 2013 Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Scholarship recipients from both high schools will be introduced on stage. A total of thirty-one scholarships have been awarded from Tyler’s fund.

The concert is free to the public. Monetary contributions can be made to benefit the scholarship fund (Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Charles East High School, 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL 60174).

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the historic Arcada Theatre, 105 East Main Street, St. Charles. For more information, please call 630-513-6200.