In Acadiana we’re quick to acknowledge the incredible talents of our Cajun and Zydeco musicians. Which is pretty natural. After all, if they’re not going to come from Acadiana, where are they going to come from?

In other styles of music and the arts where we don’t have the field all to ourselves, the interesting thing is we have an equally talented array of artists. Some of them are natives. Others move here.

Like Jenny Krueger.

Originally from New Mexico by way of D.C., Jenny has been a professional flute player since she was 15. She was also the starting center on the boys basketball team in 5^th grade, and had dreams of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Since 2010 Jenny has been the Executive Director of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. 

Mark Falgout runs a unique music business that’s a combination hostel and honky tonk. At the legendary Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette you can come for the music – which ranges from rock to Zydeco – and if you love it too much to leave,  you can sleep it off in a dorm bunk for $18. If your timing’s right, you can even stick around for the crawfish boil.

Gerd Wuestman is an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist who has played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Berlin, and recorded 11 albums. In 2008 Gerd became the Executive Director for Lafayette’s Acadiana Center for the Arts, better known as the ACA. Vastly over qualified for simply scheduling events, Gerd has revolutionized the 40 year old organization. With a brand new performance venue and visual art gallery, the ACA hosts over one thousandarts events each year.

There are a lot of people doing a lot of great things in the music and art worlds in Acadiana. But not many are having more fun or more of an impact than Jenny, Mark, and Gerd. 

Photos at Cafe Vermilionville by Gwen Aucoin.