Author Archives: Minnesota Orchestra

Sitting Side by Side in Willmar

Minnesota Orchestra musicians joined the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra Tuesday evening for a side-by-side rehearsal of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 4 led by conductor Sarah Hicks.

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Introducing the Minnesota Orchestra Brass Quintet

  The Minnesota Orchestra’s weeklong Common Chords residency in Willmar, MN began Tuesday with a noontime performance by five members of the Minnesota Orchestra’s outstanding brass section at the Rice Hospital Garden Court.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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