“I’m filled with gratitude serving as President of FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra during the 2023-2024 Season and FRIENDS 75th Anniversary. FRIENDS impact in our community, our remarkable history, the educational programs that have reached thousands of children, introducing them to classical music, the commitment of our volunteers, former FRIENDS presidents and supporters, and our partnerships with schools and the world-class Minnesota Orchestra is truly breathtaking,” Roma Calatayud-Stocks

What a fantastic year it has been for FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra:

Kinder Konzerts™: We had 15 Kinder Konzerts™ in the Hall, bringing thousands of children plus their parents and teachers into the hall to experience the Sound Factory and Storytelling at its best paired with original music, and performed by Minnesota Orchestra Musicians. Our book selection this year was Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney, and music by Janika Vandervelde.

Kinder Konzerts™ On the Road, 5-day in-classroom residency program, is an extension and enrichment of Kinder Konzerts™ in the Hall. This program was brought to four underserved schools in the Twin Cities, reaching young students, their parents and teachers. Thank you to the Ciresi Walburn Foundation for funding of this program.

Kinder Konzerts™ Out and About sessions were brought to classrooms and libraries, and they featured singing, storytelling, instrument exploration, and a live-narrated performance of One Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova, and music by Daniel Nass.

For more information on our Award-Winning Kinder Konzerts™ Programs or to register for the 2024-2025 Season please visit: friendsofminnesotaorchestra.org/kinder-konzerts

FRIENDS provided The Sound Factory experience at the Minnesota Orchestra’s Open House in September, Three Family Relaxed Concerts (October, January, and April), Symphony in the Cities in Plymouth, and Day of Music at Orchestra Hall.

FRIENDS participated at Minneapolis Doors Open where we presented all our programs.

Meet a Musician ACCENT - Music appreciation for adults features prominent visiting soloists, composers, and conductors in addition to Minnesota Orchestra musicians. This year, FRIENDS presented four events in November, January, February, and April at Schmitt Music and the Atrium at Orchestra Hall. The programs included musical performances and interviews by MPR’s Melissa Ousley. Featured guests included: Erich Rieppel, Janet Horvath, Nina Bernat, Lucas Goodman, Osmo Vänskä, Nathan Hughes, and the Musical Director of the Minnesota Orchestra, Thomas Søndergård.

In February, we celebrated and gave tribute to FRIENDS longest-running educational program, more than 60 years, The Young Artist Competition, inaugurated in 1956. Over the years, young musicians from all corners of our country would eagerly come to Minnesota and compete for the coveted prize. Winners included members of every instrument family of the orchestra. “I was privileged enough to win this competition in 1992 leading to an over 25-year relationship with this wonderful orchestra, one of the great honors of my musical life,” Violinist, James Ehnes.

We began a new program FRIENDS Connect to encourage community engagement and membership affiliation through arts - focused programming and to highlight diverse composers, performers, and cultural programs: FRIENDS Connect included: Fall Membership luncheon at the Minnesota Valley Country Club; Art in the Americas tour at the Minneapolis Institute of Art; A lecture and streaming of the Opera Florencia en el Amazonas at West End Theater sponsored by the Minnesota Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. We toasted on New Years’ Eve at Orchestra Hall followed by a New Year’s Minnesota Orchestra Concert conducted by Thomas Søndergård.

In the spring, FRIENDS members brought their friends and grandchildren to experience Kinder Konzerts™ in the Hall and the Sound Factory, followed by lunch at Brits Pub.

In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month prior to the performance by Yuja Wang with the Minnesota Orchestra. We featured, Maestra, a documentary on the selection process of aspiring conductors, sponsored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Film Society during their International Film Festival. In June, we gathered prior to the concert Celebrating PRIDE with Thomas Søndergård. In July, we gathered for Day of Music. We ended the season 2023/2024 in August with a Happy Hour at Utepils Brewery and a Happy Hour at Peavey Plaza, followed by the film “An American in Paris” with the Minnesota Orchestra.

Our Annual Fundraising Luncheon FRIENDS 75 Years of Note at the Lafayette Club on May 22nd, 2024, was a success with 190 persons attending, including the President and CEO, Michelle Miller Burns, and Board Chair, Nancy Lindahl, of the Minnesota Orchestra. Our annual fundraising event exceeded our expectations thanks to our sponsors, donors, and silent auction, with a myriad of experiences. We had moving tributes to Rosalynd Pflaum, FRIENDS founder, and to Melissa Ousley, FRIENDS Volunteer of the Year. Attendees received a commemorative program highlighting our educational programs, quotes from former FRIENDS Presidents, and history by decades. We featured a video highlighting our history since 1949.

For Fund a Need, we presented the impact of Kinder Konzerts™ in our community and our FRIENDS video. Please Click here to see our exciting FRIENDS video, which showcases our programs, narrated by Melissa Ousley, and produced by iDreamTV and FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as clips from the Minnesota Orchestra.

We launched FRIENDS 75th Anniversary Education Fund Campaign, which will continue through December 31, 2024 to commemorate our amazing 75 years of history and impact in our community. If you would like to donate, please click here.

We extend our profound appreciation to our members, donors, musicians, volunteers, partners, educators, and staff who made all this possible. A special thanks to the Minnesota Orchestra and PLAYBILL for the articles and ads they published on behalf of FRIENDS on SHOWCASE Magazine during the 2023/2024 season.

Please consider becoming a member of FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2024/2025 season.  Your support is instrumental in our educational programs and mission: “to serve as a community partner to create and bring music learning opportunities to children, families, and adults.” Members receive many benefits, including discounted Meet a Musician ACCENT tickets, concerts tickets, and FRIENDS Connect membership events.

By being a FRIENDS member, you are making a difference in our community while sharing the love of music.

THANK YOU!