Meet the 2017-18 Class Notes Artists

The 2017-18 Class Notes Artists are ready to go into Minnesota schools starting in October. Listen at 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays from Monday, Sept. 25 to Thursday, Oct. 5 to hear why they are excited to be participating in this program.

Monday, September 25

Returning Artist, Lumina will bring their beautiful renditions of folk songs from around the world to students in a week-long tour of southwest MN schools from Montevideo to Worthington to Blue Earth and St. James in October.

Listen: Fog Elna Khel, a traditional Syrian song.

Tuesday, September 26

Returning Artist, Copper Street Brass will be visiting 20 schools from the Twin Cities to Grand Rapids to Brainerd in October and February. Their aim is to get students fired up about band instruments whilst demonstrating that they can play anything from opera to pop to Disney arrangements.

Listen: Danse Boheme from Georges Bizet's opera Carmen arranged by Tim Bradley and performed by Copper Street Brass.

Wednesday, September 27

Returning Artists, Matra, will introduce students to their eclectic compositions written specifically for their unusual ensemble line-up of vibes, marimba, Indian tabla drums, double bass, and drum set. They will visit schools in the Twin Cities as well as do a run-out to Osakis, Long Prairie and Parker's Prairie in west central Minnesota.

Listen: Room 57 by Jenny Klukken

Thursday, September 28

Returning Artists, the Moorhead-based Concordia Wind Quintet, will go into smaller and rural communities to teach students about the wind instruments in their humor-filled program.

Listen:The Bossa Nova movement from Five More (not so easy) Dances by Russell Peterson and performed by the Concordia Wind Quintet

Friday, September 29

Returning Artists, Lux String Quartet, will teach students about the importance of collaboration in an ensemble and how playing together can teach important life-lessons. They will be located in Twin Cities schools.

Listen: The Lento movement from Antonín Dvořák's "American" string quartet performed by Lux String Quartet

Monday, October 2

New Artist, The Rose Ensemble, will present songs from their The Three Faiths program, featuring medieval and renaissance music from the Middle East, North Africa and Spain with traditional instruments. They will do a full week in Twin Cities schools.

Listen: Cuando 'l Rey Nimrod, traditional Sephardic song from Morocco.

Tuesday, October 3

New Artist, Riverside Winds, will use contemporary American wind quintet music to introduce students to the instruments and sounds of the wind quintet. They will be located in the Twin Cities.

Listen: Wapango by Paquito D'Rivera.

Wednesday, October 4

Returning Artist, The Mirandola Ensemble, will bring lovely songs of many countries and time periods to students in the Twin Cities and up to St. Cloud.

Listen: Adinu, a traditional Sufi melody about peace arranged by Abu-Khader.

Thursday, October 5

Returning Artist, Flying Forms, have added gamba player/Baroque cellist Tulio Rondon to their Class Notes roster this year. They present early music from Spain and discuss its connections to music from Latin America at the time. They will bring their instruments up to the Iron Range for a mini-tour as well as a few schools in the Twin Cities.

Listen: Chaconne en trio by Jacques Morel.

The last two Artists are not being featured on air because they have an essential visual element to their performance. Here are videos of them in the studio at MPR.

Afoutayi, is a Haitian dance, music, and arts company that will be bringing their energetic, colourful and joyful performances to schools in the Twin Cities.

Robot Rickshaw, is a series of musical robots on a cart invented and constructed by Duluth composer, Troy Rogers. He will be bringing his rickshaw to schools in the North Shore and Arrowhead regions.