The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is responding to a recent reckoning in classical music by diversifying its programming with more music by underrepresented composers and composers of color. This weekend’s concerts — which you can hear live at 8 p.m. Saturday on YourClassical MPR — include pieces by 18th-century dynamo Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and contemporary composer Valerie Coleman.
The Women's Drum Center in St. Paul was founded 32 years ago to challenge vigorously the long-standing assumption that percussion is intrinsically a male activity. Novices can try their hands at percussion in a series of free Drumming Test Drive events, starting Saturday, Sept. 11.
The choral landscape in the United States has gotten a bit more colorful with the recent arrival of seven scores of Latin American music from Border CrosSing and Graphite Publishing.
Northfield pipa virtuoso Gao Hong spread the love for her Chinese stringed instrument through a 2021 collaborative album with oud player Issam Rafea.
After a devastating fire struck the world-famous Dobson Pipe Organ Builders in Lake City, Iowa, the company is slowly navigating a return to normalcy thanks to resourcefulness, others’ generosity and loyal customers.
Former classical director Brian Newhouse explains how the renowned Minnesota-based vocal ensemble Cantus ended up rehearsing in the living room of his St. Paul home.
It’s a long way from Limerick, Ireland, to the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, yet the gap is bridged in a surprising way on ‘Lowak Shoppala’,’ a new CD by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate — an American Indian composer who should be familiar to Minnesota audiences.
Over the past year, JazzMN has shifted their big band performances to a more nimble, COVID-safe smaller ensemble. Artistic director JC Sanford shares how the organization has adjusted its programming to fit a virtual concert schedule and what projects we can look forward to seeing next as the world starts to reopen.
After a delay of more than a year due to COVID, the St. Olaf Band plans to premiere Darkroom, written by St. Olaf College graduate and composer Ella Harpstead, in a virtual concert on May 31.
As the COVID-19 pandemic starts to turn a corner, Minnesota choirs are looking forward to more in-person singing and performances. Learn more about what Cantus, the Minnesota Chorale and other ensembles are doing to prepare for the return of live audiences.
