Wednesday July 1, 2026
MUSICIANS CHRIS THILE AND JOHN HOLIDAY HEADLINE SIGNATURE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA SUMMER AT ORCHESTRA HALL CONCERTS
Chris Thile makes his Minnesota Orchestra debut bringing his ‘autobiographical’ mandolin concerto to Orchestra Hall, July 31 and August 1
Countertenor John Holiday sings Carlos Simon’s Songs of Separation, as well as standards from the American songbook with Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, August 7 and 8
Two acclaimed artists bring powerfully unique voices to Orchestra Hall this July and August for collaborations with the Minnesota Orchestra in Summer at Orchestra Hall. The Grammy Award-winning musician Chris Thile, known locally for his time hosting public radio’s Live from Here, makes his Minnesota Orchestra debut performing his own composition, ATTENTION!, which he calls “a narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra,” in a pair of concerts on Friday, July 31, 8 p.m., and Saturday, August 1, 7 p.m.
The following weekend, countertenor John Holiday collaborates with the Orchestra in two disparate programs, the first featuring composer Carlos Simon’s meditative Songs of Separation (Friday, August 7, 8 p.m.) and the second highlighting standards of the American Songbook (Saturday, August 8, 7 p.m.), alongside Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele.
All concerts take place at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis.
A Concerto Like No Other
July 31-Aug 1
When singer-songwriter-mandolinist Chris Thile was tapped by his friend Eric Jacobsen— founder of The Knights ensemble—to write an orchestral piece, he was energized. Although best known for his innovative contributions to bluegrass and folk music, Thile has wide-ranging musical tastes. “I adore orchestras,” he said. “Whether scaled up for grandeur, or down for intimacy, nothing makes me prouder to be human than hearing a stage full of highly skilled musicians practicing their craft together. It’s magic….”
Thile had some experience in writing orchestral works; in 2009 he had penned a mandolin concerto that he performed around the U.S. but eventually put aside because he didn’t feel it quite captured his distinct voice. Now given the opportunity again to write for an orchestra, he was surprised by what was taking shape in his mind. He recounted:
“I started hearing bits of what would eventually become ATTENTION! I was confused at first,`cause these little aural visions included not just mandolin and orchestra, but singing and talking as well. Whoa, ok… fun. Further dreaming led to the conviction that there should be an actual story… But what story?”
He settled on a very personal narrative that describes events and encounters from his life, including a memorably awkward attempt to impress a Starbucks executive, ultimately leading to an encounter with the late actress Carrie Fisher—Princess Leia of Star Wars fame.
The genre-defying work that followed was premiered by The Knights at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2023. Bachtrack described it as “part solo oratorio, part confessional stand-up comedy act, part virtuoso showcase, and entirely entertaining. It’s a whirlwind of manic charm and energy balanced atop a structure of exquisite craft.” The Minnesota performances will be conducted by Daniela Candillari and spotlight vocalist Alex Sopp, violinist Susie Park, drummer David Stevens and members of the Minnesota Chorale.
The performances will also feature Samuel Barber’s The School for Scandal, Duke Ellington’s Selections from The River Suite and Thile joining the Orchestra as singer and mandolinist in Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw’s And So.
“The first time I heard John’s voice, I was assured heaven was a real place”
August 7-8
Like Thile, countertenor John Holiday resists easy description. A native of Texas who grew up “in church every day because my grandmother was a music minister,” Holiday is an opera singer who regularly weaves together strands of gospel, pop, R&B and jazz–all of which will be on display in his Minnesota Orchestra performances.
Also moving easily between opera styles, in the past season Holiday sang Handel’s Messiah with the New York Philharmonic, the title role in Philip Glass’ portrait of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhnaten with the Los Angeles Opera and Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro with the Washington National Opera. (In the latter production, Opera Today wrote, “John Holiday killed it,” and the LA Times described his portrayal of Akhnaten as “magnificent.”)
In 2020, Holiday appeared on the reality competition “The Voice,” making it to the finals singing songs by Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion. He has also opened for Grammy Award-winner Jason Mraz, sung the national anthem for the Houston Rockets and performed Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit at the Apollo Theater Spring Gala.
Holiday’s forthcoming album—due for release July 17 on the PENTATONE label—is called Over My Head and brings together spirituals, contemporary works and art songs, including Amazing Grace, three world premieres by composer Carlos Simon, and Holiday’s own arrangements of Summertime and Fly Me to the Moon.
He won over Twin Cities music legend Jevetta Steele when he performed at Orchestra Hall in a 2025 Juneteenth performance. “The first time I heard John’s voice,” she said, “I was reassured that heaven was a real place, a destination and a reflection of divine love. I have never gasped at hearing a singer before…”
The final weekend of Summer at Orchestra Hall spotlights Holiday in two programs that revel in his versatility: the first, on Friday, August 7, features him singing American composer Carlos Simon’s orchestral song cycle Songs of Separation, a meditation on longing and loss based on text by the 13th-century Persian poet Rūmī, as well as two exquisite works by French-Venezuelan composer Reynaldo Hahn, À Chloris and L’Énamourée. Led by Jonathan Taylor Rush, the program also features Jessie Montgomery’s Coincident Dances and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.
Holiday’s second program on Saturday, August 8, also led by Jonathan Taylor Rush, is an exuberant celebration of the American Songbook, in which he will share the stage with celebrated Twin Cities artists Jearlyn Steele and Jevetta Steele to sing music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday and many others.
About Summer at Orchestra Hall
Summer at Orchestra Hall celebrates the Orchestra’s home in the city. Running this summer from July 16 to August 8, the 2026 festival explores a broad spectrum of musical styles from classical and film music to jazz tunes and the American songbook, headlined by pioneering artists Chris Thile and John Holiday. Audiences are invited to come early to enjoy pre-concert entertainment from a variety of local performers in the Target Atrium, as well as special dining and cocktail options. Complete details here.
Summer at Orchestra Hall
CHRIS THILE
with the Minnesota Orchestra
Friday, July 31, 2026, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Saturday, August 1, 2026, 7 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Daniela Candillari, conductor
Chris Thile, mandolin and vocals
Alex Sopp, vocals
Susie Park, violin
David Stevens, drums
Members of the Minnesota Chorale
Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter and composer Chris Thile makes his Minnesota Orchestra debut with ATTENTION!, his inventive autobiographical work for mandolinist and orchestra. Part narrative song cycle, part musical self-portrait, ATTENTION! blends virtuosity and storytelling and showcases Thile’s singular artistry.
Tickets: $43-$124 [Choose Your Price tickets are available for these performances. Additionally, free tickets are available for young listeners age 6-18 with Hall Pass.]
Summer at Orchestra Hall
COUNTERTENOR JOHN HOLIDAY
with the Minnesota Orchestra
Friday, August 7, 2026, 8 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
John Holiday, countertenor
MONTGOMERY Coincident Dances
SIMON Songs of Separation
HAHN/ arr. Villard À Chloris for Voice, Oboe and Orchestra
HAHN/ arr. Tartemann L’Énamourée for Voice and Chamber Orchestra
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Countertenor John Holiday returns to Orchestra Hall to perform Carlos Simon’s orchestral song cycle Songs of Separation, a setting of texts by the 13th-century Persian Sufi mystic and poet Rūmī that meditates on loss, longing and the human experience of separation. Tracing a deeply expressive emotional arc—from grief and sorrow toward hope and affirmation—the work is brought to life by Holiday, whose genre-defying voice has been praised for its power, nuance and unmistakable individuality.
Tickets: $25-$99 [Choose Your Price tickets are available for these performances. Additionally, free tickets are available for young listeners age 6-18 with Hall Pass.]
Summer at Orchestra Hall
AN AMERICAN SONGBOOK WITH JOHN HOLIDAY
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 7 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Jonathan Taylor Rush, conductor
John Holiday, countertenor
Jearlyn Steele, vocalist
Jevetta Steele, vocalist
Few artists move as fluently between opera, classical, gospel, jazz and popular music as countertenor John Holiday. Joined by celebrated Twin Cities singers Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, Holiday and the Minnesota Orchestra bring the summer festival to a close with a vibrant program drawn from the American Songbook, featuring music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday and more.
Tickets: $43-$119
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TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased at minnesotaorchestra.org or by calling 612-371-5656. For groups of 10 or more, call 612-371-5662.
The Hall Pass program makes free tickets available for young listeners ages 6 to 18 for select Summer at Orchestra Hall concerts, and all kids under 18 for Family concerts. This program is sponsored by Cynthia and Jay Ihlenfeld. For more information, visit minnesotaorchestra.org/hallpass
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State
Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.
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