The Indiana Wind Symphony’s concert, Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball, will be held on Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. The concert will be held at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts.

French teacher Mira Rios said Mardi Gras holds a lot of cultural significance.

“Mardi Gras is a really important part of French culture because it ties us together with the United States,” Rios said. “It is a huge tradition down in Louisiana, specifically New Orleans, and it’s a great way to see how our cultures have blended together over time and how traditions have changed.”

Senior Miller Dutton, who is taking French courses at this school, said this was an excellent chance to showcase French culture.

“You don’t see a lot of French culture here in Carmel,” Dutton said. “It tends to be overlooked simply because there aren’t that many French people who live here.”

Senior Lily Hodgeson said she agreed with Dutton.

“I don’t hear much about French culture,” Hodgeson said. “I take Spanish at school, but my friends who take French often introduce me to some French cultural aspects that I would not know otherwise. We have a lot of showcases in Carmel that celebrate other cultures, like Asian or Hispanic, which is good, but I think we should also strive to diversify and improve representation of other cultures that are lesser-known, like French culture.”

Rios said she agreed with both Hodgeson and Dutton.

Rios said, “We have a really strong Hispanic presence, which is amazing as I too am Mexican, but sometimes I feel like we don’t see a lot of French things (in Carmel), so we endeavor as the French program to try and bring more French traditions to our school, such as participating in Mardi Gras and things like that.

Hodgeson said she hopes this concert can introduce more people to French culture and Mardi Gras.

“By incorporating such an important French holiday into something that so many people enjoy regularly, like concerts, people can be introduced to new things while simultaneously enjoying something they know they like,” Hodgeson said. “It’s a great way to combine new things with familiarity.”