Willmar, Minn.
Author Archives: Minnesota Orchestra
About Common Chords
Common Chords is a Minnesota Orchestra initiative to create one-of-a-kind collaborations between the Orchestra and communities around the state. Each partnership will feature a celebratory festival week of performances and activities that reflect the interests, diversity and aspirations of the … Continue reading
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About Willmar, Minnesota
Located in West Central Minnesota, Willmar and surrounding areas offer access to some 360 lakes, 20 miles of paved biking trails and beautiful parks. With a population of approximately 20,000 residents, the City is home to a variety of business … Continue reading
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“This is my song”
The Minnesota Orchestra’s Common Chords week in Grand Rapids, Minnesota culminated with a spine-tingling musical exchange that captured the spirit of the project: when Sarah Hicks led the Orchestra in an unannounced encore of Sibelius’ Finlandia in a Saturday night … Continue reading
Family Time
As the Common Chords week nears its conclusion, the Minnesota Orchestra played an afternoon Family concert for audiences of all ages. Students who had met musicians in the schools earlier in the week had a chance to greet “their” musicians … Continue reading
Simple Gifts
Members of the Grand Rapids community filled the Reif Center to capacity Friday evening for the second full-ensemble performance by the Minnesota Orchestra. Part conversation and part performance, co-hosts Sarah Hicks and Sam Bergman took audience members Inside the Classics … Continue reading
Waiting in the Wings
The Minnesota Orchestra performed its first full-ensemble performance in Grand Rapids to a capacity audience of Middle and High School students at the Reif Center on Friday morning. Associate Conductor Courtney Lewis, silhouetted in the wings, led the American-themed program … Continue reading
Conductor Talk
In studio for a live interview at KAXE Radio, conductors Courtney Lewis and Sarah Hicks previewed the weekend concerts and shared their personal music favorites in the midst of the station’s fall member drive. Lewis jumped into the action to … Continue reading
A “Suite” Experience
Courtney Lewis arrived in Grand Rapids Thursday afternoon to lead the 38-member Itasca Youth Chamber Orchestra in a side-by-side rehearsal with Minnesota Orchestra musicians focusing on Holst’s St. Paul’s Suite.
Discovery and Wonder
Two Kinder Konzerts—lively narrated programs for pre-schoolers—reached upwards of 300 youngsters at the Grand Rapids Public Library and Reif Center on Thursday. “I‘m sure it made more of an impression than we know,” said Mary Kosak, program officer at the … Continue reading
The Orchestra arrives in Grand Rapids!
The full orchestra arrived in Grand Rapids on Thursday afternoon, and wasted little time before getting down to business with a rehearsal at the Reif Center for the week’s final concerts. View the full schedule of concerts this weekend by … Continue reading
