2024 Captured in Photos and Video

Gather round, everyone, it’s time to take a nostalgic look back on all that 2024 held–or at least some Minnesota Orchestra mountaintop moments of the past year before we surge forward into 2025. We’ve collected 12 favorite photo and video memories to close out 2024 with an exclamation point.

Let the New Year begin

The Champagne was literally flowing onstage when Music Director Thomas Søndergärd rang in 2024 with a New Year’s concert featuring Hans Christian Lumpye’s Champagner Galop, a whirling piece in which percussionists need to pop the cork precisely on cue. As pictured, Kevin Watkins did the honors with perfect aplomb.

Batons Up!

Not every conductor’s baton is sparkly with pipe cleaner twirls, but that was the trend at our January 2024 Relaxed Family Concert crafts table. After the concert—which was led by Thomas Søndergärd—young concertgoers had the opportunity to try out their conducting technique in a one-of-a-kind tutorial with our Music Director. “I think it is important to give kids the absolute best quality music that we can,” he said, “[in order] to give them a good experience that could change their lives.” 

Power Playing

Principal Cello Anthony Ross demonstrated that playing the cello is not for the faint at heart—listen to the power and control in that vibrato—in this video clip promoting his 2024 performances of the Dvořák Cello Concerto. Special thanks to Travis Anderson Photo for the camera work!

Introducing "Diaspora"

Saxophone concertos don’t pop up on orchestral seasons very often, so it was a wonder to behold the dazzling technique and bright, brilliant tone of sax player Stephen Banks, as he introduced us to Diaspora in two February performances. Written by Billy Childs and co-commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra, the new work drew inspiration from poetry detailing Black experiences in America. Take a listen.

Going for the Gusto

If you were singer and rapper Nur-D, how would you end your debut performance with the Minnesota Orchestra? By going as gloriously big as possible, of course! Joined onstage by vocal soloists, the Minnesota Valley Men’s Chorale, 29:11 vocal ensemble, conductor Sarah Hicks and the Minnesota Orchestra, Nur-D lit up a sold-out Orchestra Hall with his electric energy and joyful anthems.

Students and Educators and MinnOrch Musicians—Oh, My!

The energy in Orchestra Hall was off-the-charts high for a week in April when Thomas Søndergård and Orchestra musicians were joined onstage for side-by-side rehearsal experiences with 54 music educators from 37 cities around the state, as well as student musicians from both Minnesota Youth Symphonies and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. In this week of connections, the goal was to shine a spotlight on the important role of teachers who work hard every day to bring music into their students’ lives. "I had a chance to talk with people who are working in elementary through middle and high school about what they do for our children, and I feel like I learned so much," said Associate Principal Bass Kathryn Nettleman. "It also gave me the opportunity to just say thank you."

Watch a documentary on the experience.

Meet Manny (and Sarah and Steve and Ellen)

It’s no secret: what makes the Minnesota Orchestra exceptional is its musicians. In our “Portraits” series last spring we profiled Principal Trumpet Manny Laureano, a 40-plus-year veteran of the Orchestra also known as a martial arts instructor, conductor and storyteller par excellence. Actually, all the musicians featured to date have revealed unexpected talents.  Check out profiles on violinist Sarah Grimes, tuba player Steven Campbell and horn player Ellen Dinwiddie Smith.  

Now streaming (and broadcasting)

Ariana Kim hosted our June “Celebrating Pride” concert—an exploration of the music of LGBTQ+ composers—that was offered as part of our This Is Minnesota Orchestra livestream and TV broadcast series. In November we announced that all our digital offerings (concerts, extras, everything) will be available for free no matter when or where you are watching—in order to make watching as easy as possible. You can find it all on YouTube.

A Viral Moment

Minneapolis social media lit up when the Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals. "I have not been to Minnesota in probably 20 years," Charles Barkley remarked to a post-game Anthony Edwards; not missing a beat, Ant told him to "Bring ya a**," and Minnesota institutions were aflutter, adopting a new state motto. MinnOrch was no exception—we had to jump in on one of our favorite social media moments of the year with our own Bring Ya A** post!

Launching a new season

South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim’s career is off like a rocket, and he showed Minnesota audiences why when he opened our 2024-25 season with a soulful interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. According to the Star Tribune, Lim “proved himself an ideal collaborator for Søndergård and the Minnesota Orchestra, who took full advantage of every sumptuous string passage and scintillating solo.”

This Is Thanksgiving

We received lots of great comments on this holiday video in which violinist Michael Sutton introduced Thomas Søndergård to favorite Thanksgiving sides—canned cranberries, boxed stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes ‘n marshmallows. Which do you think was his favorite?

50 Years at Orchestra Hall

When the Minnesota Orchestra played its first official concert in Orchestra Hall on October 21, 1974, then-Board Chair John Pillsbury, Jr., told audiences, “this beautiful new building belongs to all music lovers in the State of Minnesota.” Now 50 years on, millions of concertgoers and generations of students have experienced music amidst the falling cubes of Orchestra Hall, and we still wholeheartedly believe in John Pillsbury’s words. This venue is for you and we thank you for your support, all year long. Happy New Year!

(Also, here’s more on the history of Orchestra Hall.)