Music happens here

Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2024–25 season was filled with magical moments from beginning to end. At the heart of it all were Music Director Thomas Søndergård and the musicians sharing music of the past, present and future for audiences in Orchestra Hall, across the state and around the world. Through the debut of Søndergård’s signature artistic initiatives, audiences were able to join our 11th music director in a sonic journey that unveiled his artistic vision for where the Minnesota Orchestra can go next. The magic of live symphonic music happens in the heart of downtown Minneapolis and beyond for you, and because of you.

Photo: Nearly 10,000 people flocked downtown in September for two weeks of season opening concerts in which Sondergard led repertoire from Rachmaninoff to Ravel.

An experienced opera conductor in Europe’s finest venues, Thomas Søndergård brought his affinity for the genre to Orchestra Hall in star-studded opera-in-concert performances of Puccini’s Turandot. Featuring tenor Limmie Pulliam and dramatic soprano Christine Goerke, these performances marked the first time the Orchestra had performed Turandot in four decades. It was a priority for Søndergård to program an opera with the Orchestra during the early stages of his tenure, saying it would help push the Orchestra’s artistic abilities. “My musical upbringing was in an opera house, and opera is in my blood,” Søndergård said in preparation for these performances. Donors like you are crucial in bringing these artistically expansive opera-in-concert performances to life, for the cultural benefit of our dedicated audiences.

Photo: Limmie Pulliam (left) looked on as Christine Goerke received applause from Søndergård and a full house. The pair brought their vocal prowess in performances that were called “thrilling” by The Minnesota Star Tribune.

In the middle of a chilly Minnesota winter, the Orchestra launched one of Søndergård’s signature initiatives—the inaugural Nordic Soundscapes festival. Curated by Søndergård, the festival spanned ten days and encompassed three different programs spread across six concerts, at the center of which were two concertos by Danish composer Carl Nielsen. Audiences also heard music by Grieg and Sibelius, as well as a new generation of Nordic composers like Ørjan Matre and Outi Tarkiainen—whose evocative works push the boundaries of what came before them. “It is like we are sending audiences a set of musical postcards from each of these distinct Nordic places and voices,” Søndergård said. Thanks to your gifts, the Orchestra was able to bring the Nordic sense of coziness—called hygge—to audiences while sharing music from Søndergård’s corner of the world.

Photo: Audiences were welcomed for immersive pre-concert activities highlighting Nordic culture—from cuisine to choral music—thanks to collaborations with community partners like Krown Bakery and Suomi Finland 100 Chorus. Orchestra Hall was decked out to its coziest to welcome concertgoers into a warm and bright space to defy the winter darkness.

In April 2025, Søndergård and the Orchestra welcomed four up-and-coming composers for the return of the Composer Institute, an initiative that began in 2002 with the aim of nurturing the next generation of compositional talent. Working closely alongside Søndergård and Composer Institute Director Kevin Puts, plus Orchestra musicians and staff, each composer had a chance to learn the ins and outs of working with professional orchestras while also developing their musical voices. The experience culminated with a performance of each composer’s work for curious concertgoers, eager to hear what the future has to offer. “The Composer Institute is a one-week program that gives some of the brightest emerging talents in composition the chance to hear their music played by one of the great orchestras in the world,” says Puts. With donor support, we are able to nurture the future of symphonic music at Orchestra Hall, ensuring that the music of today becomes the classics of tomorrow.

Photo:  The 2025 Composer Institute class (left to right): Soomin Kim, Elise Arancio, Institute Director Kevin Puts, Thomas Søndergård, Andrew Faulkenberry and Benjamin Webster.

Reaching young people through the inspiring power of live symphonic music is a cornerstone of everything we do. Through a variety of programming designed to welcome young people and their families exactly as they are to Orchestra Hall to experience the thrill of live music, many for the very first time, the Orchestra reaffirms its commitment to music education every season. Our storied Young People’s Concerts—which usher tens of thousands of students through our doors each season—are one of the oldest of their kind among major American orchestras. Recognizing this tradition and wishing to impart upon young people the type of transformational experiences that encouraged him to pursue music as a young person, Thomas Søndergård has vowed to be a “music director for all generations.” Thanks to your gifts, the Orchestra is able to reach tens of thousands of young people a year through the power of live music, inspiring the next generation of music lovers in Minnesota.

Photo: At his second Relaxed Family Concert as music director, Thomas Søndergård led the Orchestra through a program designed to highlight the connections between music and visual art. Here, he gives a mini-conducting masterclass to an eager group of young listeners after the performance.

There may not be a better season in Minnesota than summer, when the sun shines bright and the music keeps playing at Orchestra Hall. Curated by Creative Partner Jon Kimura Parker, the 2025 Summer at Orchestra Hall festival celebrated the expressive melodies of the Romantic era. In addition to full-Orchestra concerts, audiences were welcomed for a Relaxed Family Concert, chamber music, film performances and the Grand Piano Spectacular. Assistant Principal Second Violin Cecilia Belcher also made her Minnesota Orchestra solo debut with her colleagues in performances of Beethoven’s Romances for Violin and Orchestra. Your support allows the Orchestra to continue sharing music all summer long, providing our community with a wide variety of outstanding artistic experiences that appeal to music lovers of all kinds.

Photo: In his last appearances as Creative Partner for Summer at Orchestra Hall, Jon Kimura Parker played two iconic Romantic-era piano concertos by Schumann and Grieg. 

Donor support is crucial in bringing Orchestra Hall to life as a hub of musical and social activity, where all are welcomed to enjoy performances as part of a dedicated community of music lovers. Simply put, there can be no Minnesota Orchestra without you. No matter how long you’ve been engaging with the Orchestra, our goal is to ensure you feel welcome at Orchestra Hall from the moment you enter the doors. Whether you come early for our pre-concert activities, stay late for a post-concert reception or repost one of our Instagram reels, you are a crucial ingredient in bringing the magic of music to life.

Your gifts allow the Minnesota Orchestra to continually expand its reach beyond Orchestra Hall. Through initiatives like Symphony for the Cities—our annual series of free outdoor concerts—or our award-winning digital series This Is Minnesota Orchestra, which allows people from all around the globe to tune in for live concert broadcasts directly from Orchestra Hall, the Minnesota Orchestra is able to share its exceptional artistic quality with broad audiences every year. In fall 2024, thanks to the generosity of your philanthropy, the Orchestra was able to remove the paywall to all of its digital content, making hundreds of hours of performances and exclusive content free for all to access through our YouTube channel.

Photo: A young concertgoer eagerly awaited the Orchestra’s performance at Excelsior Commons Park.

When Orchestra Hall opened its doors in October 1974, then-Board Chair John Pillsbury remarked, “The Minnesota Orchestra at last has a home of its own. But our house is your house, for this beautiful new building belongs to all music lovers in the State of Minnesota.” Five decades on, that promise still resonates. During the venue’s 50th anniversary season, we celebrated Orchestra Hall as a home for outstanding performers, joyful moments, favorite memories—and future possibilities.

Photo: Opening in 1974, Orchestra Hall was immediately acclaimed for its “brilliant acoustical ambience” (The New York Times), and has subsequently been a magnet for great artists and luminaries from Aaron Copland, Maya Angelou and Jessye Norman to Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie and Yo-Yo Ma.