Posted on Facebook 9/22

Lucky Detroit Lakes! Our fabulous MN Orchestra and conductor Sarah Hicks begin a week-long residency there today.

From school performances & coaching sessions, to “Art of Conducting” seminars for business leaders, to small ensemble performances at a fitness center & the public library & coffee shops & senior centers & a church & the jail & a wine bar & a restaurant, to a concert by the whole Orchestra at the Historic Holmes Theatre – wow, the city will be FULL of fabulous music today through Saturday!

Thank you to all of the community leaders, donors, Orchestra staff members and musicians who have made this possible!

Find more details here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/stories/45-common-chords-detroit-lakes

And hey, it’s just over a 3-hour drive from Minneapolis, so anyone could make a quick trip up to the lake country and join in the festivities!

Posted on Facebook 9/9

Check out the great photos of Sarah Hicks, Principal Conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, on the Orchestra’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/minnesotaorchestra/photos/a.489872228044.263644.54292558044/10153066876508045/?type=1

Then grab your $5 tickets (yup, a mere 5 bucks) to meet her and to experience a sample of the fabulous 2015-2016 season on Saturday. September 19 at 8 pm.  Use discount code 1516SAMPLER when you visit the online box office:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/638/-/2015-16-season-sampler-concert#.VfBQyhFViko

We hope to see you there!

Posted on Facebook 9/8

As a child, Audra McDonald “was always getting into stuff, … and once nearly set the house on fire” reports Rohan Preston in his piece for the StarTribune yesterday.  “’I was a handful,’ she said.”

Well, she is more than welcome to (figuratively) set our Orchestra Hall house on fire at this weekend’s gala season opening concerts! Read about her program and get your tickets here:  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buy/tickets/browse-calendar/eventdetail/475/-/osmo-vaenskae-and-audra-mcdonald#.Ve91shFViko

Be sure to stay for a few minutes after the concert for a complimentary champagne toast and post-concert party to launch the new season!

Time Magazine named Ms. McDonald one of “The 100 Most Influential People” this April. Read their feature here:   http://time.com/3822925/audra-mcdonald-2015-time-100/

And read the rest of Rohan Preston’s piece here:  http://www.startribune.com/audra-mcdonald-kicks-off-the-minnesota-orchestra-s-new-season/324479911/

We hope to see you this weekend!

[Photo by John Scarisbrick for TIME]