Circus Symphonique!
Symphony Ball 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Come one, come all, and enter a celebratory world where music dances with amusement. You’re invited to a tantalizing evening hosted by the Minnesota Orchestra—blending symphonic mastery and circus wonder—all in support of the Orchestra’s artistic and education programs.
The night begins with cocktails, auctions and dinner. It continues with an exciting concert by our own Orchestra, under Music Director Thomas Søndergård, featuring circus themed selections. The grand finale: a festive after-party!
- Consulting Chef: Jamie Malone
- After-Party Band: Bluewater Kings Band
- Performances by Circus Juventas throughout the evening
- Entertainment from clowns Neal Skoy and Gregory Parks, carnival games, a fortune teller and more
A Three Ring Celebration
Ring One
5:00PM – Dinner guest arrival, cocktail reception, and silent auction
Minneapolis Hilton Third Floor
Ring Two
6:15PM – Dinner, Program and Live Auction
Minneapolis Hilton Ballroom
8:20PM – Guests move to Orchestra Hall Auditorium
Partier guest arrival at Orchestra Hall
Ring Three
9:00PM – Concert featuring the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård
Orchestra Hall
9:30PM – After-Party: Food, Drinks and Dancing with Bluewater Kings Band
Orchestra Hall
Black Tie Recommended
Ticket options
Individual Gala Tickets
$1250+
Experience Symphony Ball from start to finish. Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, auctions and a chef-curated dinner in addition to the program, concert and after-party.
Group Gala Tickets
$10,000+
Gather a group of friends or colleagues for a night out to support Minnesota Orchestra’s artistic and educational initiatives.
Partier Tickets
$99
Celebrate your love of music at the party of the season! Dress to the nines and treat yourself to an evening of circus-themed selections under the baton of Music Director Thomas Søndergård. After the concert – join the after-party and enjoy circus-inspired food and entertainment with Bluewater Kings Band, performances by Circus Juventas, entertainment from clowns Neal Skoy and Gregory Parks, carnival games, a fortune teller and more! More information about the performance.
Artists
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning recordings, broadcasts and educational engagement programs; and a commitment to intentionally build concert programs to feature more works by composers of color, exploring music both contemporary and historic. In September 2024, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his second season as music director.
Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who in September 2024 began his second season as music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, is a highly regarded conductor in both the orchestral and opera spheres. He has earned a reputation for incisive interpretations of works by composers from his native Denmark, a great versatility in a broad range of standard and modern repertoire, and a collaborative approach with the musicians he leads. His 2024-25 season in Minnesota began with two weeks of season opening concerts featuring Yunchan Lim and Leila Josefowicz. Other season highlights include performances of Mozart’s Requiem and Puccini’s Turandot, a January festival of music from Nordic countries and the return of the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute.
Alan Snow joined the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2022, and won the position of Associate Concertmaster in November 2022. He was previously the second associate concertmaster with the Omaha Symphony. Since his first performance with the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra at age 13, Snow has performed solo and chamber works internationally, including appearances at Chicago’s Symphony Center, London Symphony Orchestra St. Luke’s, Sala Manuel M. Ponce in Mexico City and others. Previous concertmaster appointments include the Evansville Philharmonic, Birch Creek Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony, Festival Napa Valley Music Academy, Britten-Pears Young Artists Program, Indiana University’s top orchestras, Carmel Symphony and Music Academy of the West.
Gabriel Campos Zamora, a native of San José, Costa Rica, is the principal clarinet of the Minnesota Orchestra. Before joining the Orchestra, Gabriel was the associate principal clarinet of the Kansas City Symphony and has appeared as guest principal clarinet with the Cleveland Orchestra and Seattle and Houston symphonies, in addition to serving as the Virginia Symphony’s principal clarinet.
Principal Trumpet Manny Laureano, who joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 1981 after four years as principal with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, has performed solos in all the Orchestra’s concert series and served as an assistant conductor during the 2005-06 season. In 1983 he performed the American premiere of the Wildgans Concerto for Trumpet with Leonard Slatkin conducting. In 2003 he premiered Stephen Paulus’ Concerto for Two Trumpets and Orchestra, which was written for him and Doc Severinsen, who was then the Orchestra’s principal pops conductor. His other solos with the Orchestra have included trumpet concertos by Hummel and Haydn, Copland’s Quiet City, Clarke’s Southern Cross, Vizzutti’s Compadre, Hertel’s Concerto a cinque in D major, Bach’s Second Brandenburg Concerto, and concertos by Arutunian and Tomasi. Most recently, he was featured as the co-soloist in the Concerto for Piano and Trumpet No. 1 by Shostakovich.
Jamie Malone has always had a life that revolved around food. She grew up cooking and baking bread with her dad in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has traveled extensively through Europe and Asia studying cuisines.
In 2013, Malone was named one of Food and Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs” as well as James Beard Award Foundation Nomination for “Rising Star”.
In 2017 Jamie opened her first restaurant Grand Café, in 2018 her restaurant was a Semifinalist for the the James Beard Award Foundations “Best New Restaurant”, and was also named Food and Wine magazine’s “Best New Restaurant”, that year she was also awarded Food and Wine Magazine’s “Dish of the Year”.
Jamie has been a four times nominee for James Beard Award Foundations “Best Chef Midwest” and named by Robb Report ones of America’s top chefs. Most recently, Malone has created Paris Dining Club & Studio. You can find Jamie at her North Loop Studio hosting events and creating new experiences for people who love food.
The Bluewater Kings Band are live music experts and party starters. They have a fantastic reputation for offering high energy entertainment that will get everyone on the dance floor. Their talented and professional musicians have performed with touring and recording artists including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Miranda Lambert, Ray LaMontagne, and Prince.
Symphony Ball 2025 Committee
Chairs: Leni and David Moore, Jr.
Honorary Chairs: Margee and Will Bracken
Dave Afdahl
Brent Assink
Beatrice Blanc
Barbara Burwell
Roma Calatayud-Stocks
Mark Copman
Michael Divino
Adam Duininck
John Dunkel
Sarah Flake
Greg Geiger
Luella Goldberg
Joe Green
Jane Gregerson
Lydia Grimes
Thomas Herr
Diane Hofstede
Per Hong
Marni Hougham
Kate Kelly
Nancy Lindahl
Martin Lueck
Warren Mack
Sonia Mantell
Bonnie Marshall
Grant Meachum
Krysta Meisberger
Anne Miller
Katie Miller
Sophia Mockler
Linda Murrell
Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Rob Nygaard
Lisa Paradis
Angela Pennington
Jeffery Perkey
Abigail Rose
Sarah Shapiro
Eric Snustad
Robert Spikings
JC St. Onge
Greg Sumners
Mary Sumners
Walter Tambor
Jamie Verbrugge
Jennifer Verbrugge
Alicia Wiesneth
John Wilgers
Trudy Wilgers
Presenting Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Ballard Spahr
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Engage Printing
Fredrikson & Byron
Jones Day
KPMG LLP
Okabena Investment Services, Inc.
Pentair
Thrivent Financial
U.S. Bank
Additional Support
The Minnesota StarTribune
Current as of (01/23/25)
Interested in sponsoring Symphony Ball?
Patron and Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available now.
Contact Alicia Wiesneth for more details - awiesneth@mnorch.org or 612.371.7149