‘Igniting the Fire’ concert honors memory of Tyler Caruso
Tyler Caruso’s classmates at St. Charles East High School have long since graduated college, but the school has not forgotten the mark he made there before dying of a heart attack after his junior year. The ninth annual Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Concert will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Lincoln Park in St. Charles.
Event publicist Romi Herron decided to create the event’s first-ever theme. “Igniting the Fire,” she said, is “really how Tyler lived his life. We hope it inspires people like Tyler did and let them be who they were meant to be.”
The inspiration for the theme comes from a quote by St. Catherine of Siena: “If you are who you should be, you will ignite the world.”
The free memorial concert will allow attendees to express themselves, as musicians from St. Charles East and St. Charles North perform.
The memorial event has been put on every year since Caruso’s unexpected death in July 2002. He was very active at St. Charles East, playing with the wind ensemble, playing football and serving on the student council executive board.
“Tyler was extremely passionate about what he did and I think by having a theme this year ... we have more purpose of why we’re doing it,” said Tyler’s mother, Marilyn.
“(The musicians) have this fire in them to go out and portray what their desire is. The theme really fit the musicians’ passion,” she added.
The Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Fund, which offers scholarships to at least one student from each high school, has benefited 26 students so far.
“The more the students hear about the scholarship and get involved, the more and more applicants we get,” Caruso said. “It’s very heartwarming.”
This years recipients are Corey Mondul of St. Charles East and William Haas of St. Charles North. They will both receive $1,000 scholarship.
Donors keep the fund going. Any donations given at the concert will contribute to the scholarship.
In case of rain, the concert will be moved to the Arcada Theater on Main Street.