Inside the Music

Pre-Concert Activities at Orchestra Hall

A young person trying out the violin with the guidance of a volunteer from FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra prior to a Relaxed Family Concert in January 2023. | Photo by Darrell Owens

February 1, 2025

Prior to many Minnesota Orchestra performances, pre-concert activities at Orchestra Hall provide enriching and entertaining experiences. Come early to hear music, attend a concert preview or just hang out before the show!

Erin Keefe Plays Beethoven: March 13-14, 2025

On Thursday, March 13, at 10:15 p.m., in the Orchestra Hall auditorium, and Friday, March 14, at 7:15 p.m., in the Target Atrium, Phillip Gainsley will host a pre-concert talk and discussion with musicians and guests, including conductor Tabita Berglund on Thursday, March 13, and Berglund and Concertmaster Erin Keefe on Friday, March 14. Gainsley has hosted Minnesota Orchestra pre-concert discussions since 2004 and has been speaking about music for over 40 years. For 30 years he was a regular panelist on the “Opera Quiz” heard during the intermissions of the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. He currently writes performance reviews for Opera News magazine, and he is a speaker for the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Sir James MacMillan with the Minnesota Orchestra: March 28-29, 2025

On Friday, March 28, at 7:15 p.m., and Saturday, March 29, at 6:15 p.m., Nicholas Landrum will host a pre-concert Q&A with guest conductor Sir James MacMillan in the Target Atrium. Their discussion will diving into the rich Scottish and Catholic influences that fuel MacMillan’s bold, deeply expressive music. From his haunting sacred choral works to his electrifying orchestral pieces—and his dynamic role as both composer and conductor—MacMillan will reveal the passions and stories behind his celebrated career. Landrum is an award-winning composer, vocalist and educator born in Philadelphia. He is the recipient of the Dean’s Prize in composition at Indiana University, where he completed his doctorate, and has had his works performed and recorded by the National Basilica Choir in Washington, D.C., and members of the Minnesota Orchestra, among many others.

Beethoven Symphony No. 6: April 3-4, 2025

On Thursday, April 3, at 10:15 p.m., and Friday, April 4, at 7:15 p.m., in the Target Atrium, the Guanchez-Nikiforov Duo will give a pre-concert performance that explores the delicate connections between Classical, late-Romantic and 20th-century compositions. Featuring pianists Inés Guanchez and Osip Nikiforov, this performance presents four-hand music by Beethoven, Fauré and Rachmaninoff.