Friday March 27, 2026
THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SYMPHONY BALL 2026: AND ALL THAT JAZZ
The May 2 fundraising event includes a jazz-themed concert
with Music Director Thomas Søndergård and the Minnesota Orchestra spotlighting singer Janai Brugger and trumpeter Charles Lazarus
Chaired by Walter Tambor and Barry Berg, the gala evening features auctions, dining, a speakeasy with music and whiskey tastings, and dancing to the sounds of JazzMN
The Minnesota Orchestra delves into the Jazz Age for its 2026 Symphony Ball—And All That Jazz—on Saturday, May 2, at Orchestra Hall and the Hilton Minneapolis. Chaired by Walter Tambor and Barry Berg, the 2026 gala evokes the swinging glamor and pulsing spirit of jazz’s golden era, while Music Director Thomas Søndergård and the Orchestra celebrate the unsurpassed music of the time period. The Symphony Ball is the Orchestra’s largest annual fundraising event.
Tickets are available for the full evening, which includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner and auctions beginning at 5 p.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis, located across Marquette Avenue from Orchestra Hall. Partier tickets ($99) are available to those who would like to arrive after the dinner hour when, at 9 p.m., the Minnesota Orchestra will take the stage in the Lindahl Auditorium at Orchestra Hall, followed by an after-party with specialty food and drink, dancing and live music.
Conducted by Thomas Søndergård and hosted by Regina Marie Williams, the concert portion of the evening—available to all attendees, including those with a Partier ticket—features music by titans of jazz such as Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Trumpeter Charles Lazarus will swing in Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing and celebrated vocalist Janai Brugger will perform Strayhorn’s Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra. Following the performance, audiences will continue the celebration with a lively party in the Orchestra Hall lobby featuring a speakeasy with music by David Singley and tastings from O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. and Keeper’s Heart Whiskey, a glitter bar, fashion illustrations done by local artists and dancing until midnight to the sounds of JazzMN.
“As our country celebrates its 250th anniversary, what could be more fitting than a joyous celebration with a uniquely American art form—jazz. We hope And All That Jazz can be a reflection of what both America and the Minnesota Orchestra value: innovation, creativity, the spirit of resilience and the beauty of diversity,” said Symphony Ball Chairs Walter Tambor and Barry Berg.
Since 1956, the annual Symphony Ball gala has raised millions of dollars in support of the Minnesota Orchestra, its musicians and education programs. This year’s event will continue to raise critical funds to support the artistic excellence and award-winning education and community engagement programs of the Orchestra.
About the Minnesota Orchestra
Founded in 1903, the Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra is known for acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning educational programs; and a commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of tomorrow, all based on the belief that music is for everyone. Each year, Minnesota Orchestra concerts and recordings are seen and heard by more than 2.5 million people via television, radio, digital streaming and on-demand platforms. Led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the Orchestra makes its home in the heart of downtown Minneapolis at Orchestra Hall, a venue renowned for its brilliant acoustics and a site of school field trips for 30,000 students from around the state.
SYMPHONY BALL 2026: AND ALL THAT JAZZ
Saturday, May 2, 2026 / Orchestra Hall and Hilton Minneapolis (1001 S. Marquette Avenue)
Minnesota Orchestra
Thomas Søndergård, conductor
Regina Marie Williams, host
Janai Brugger, soprano
Charles Lazarus, trumpet
The complete program will be announced from the stage.
Partier tickets: $99
· Party begins at 8:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall
· Includes Minnesota Orchestra performance and an after-party with food, dancing and music from JazzMN, concluding at midnight
Tickets with dinner: $1,250+
· Event begins at 5 p.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis
· Includes all activities listed under Partier tickets, plus a welcome cocktail reception, dinner, and silent and live auctions
TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased at minnesotaorchestra.org/symphony ball or by calling 612-371-7149.
The presenting sponsor of Symphony Ball 2026 is Huntington Bank.
All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.
PRESS CONTACTS
Gwen Pappas, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations
Alexandra Robinson, Content and Communications Manager