ACCENT: Heitzeg & Lazarus, Inside the Score

What happens when a composer and a performer bring a new piece to life? Find out at the first ACCENT of the season, as Emmy Award-winning composer Steve Heitzeg and Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Charles Lazarus share the stage for live music and lively conversation with host Melissa Ousley of YourClassical MPR.

Steve is known for evocative music that celebrates nature and calls for environmental justice, with works commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra and others. His Tin Forest, commissioned by FRIENDS, has been featured in past Kinder Konzerts and returns in the 2026–2027 season. Charles, a Minnesota Orchestra member and composer, has performed with Canadian Brass and Dallas Brass and made his Carnegie Hall solo debut at 19. His Perfect Square, commissioned by FRIENDS, has been played for three seasons of Kinder Konzerts, most recently in 2025–2026.

Together they’ll explore how they collaborate on commissioned pieces, performing original works Steve composed and Charles first played. You’ll also get a first for ACCENT chance to follow along on a specially formatted score— a fun audience-participation moment. It’s an inside look at the creative process you won’t want to miss.