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 commissioning and performing the music of our time.  In September 2025, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his third season as music director.

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård, who in September 2025 began his third 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. 

Adam Larsen is a projection designer and documentary filmmaker based in Asheville, North Carolina. He has contributed to over 250 productions in theater, dance, symphony and opera, collaborating with some of the leading voices in these fields. His diverse credits include Broadway's LoveMusik (directed by Hal Prince) and the world premieres of John Corigliano's The Lord of Cries at Santa Fe Opera, Missy Mazzoli's Breaking the Waves at Opera Philadelphia and David Lang's Prisoner of the State with the New York Philharmonic.

Hailed by The New York Times as "a beautiful woman who commands the stage" and "a major soprano," Ailyn Pérez is in demand at the world's leading opera houses and cultural capitals. As The Washington Post remarked, she is "a beautifully self-possessed singer, with a wonderfully expressive instrument." Internationally celebrated for her signature artistry, as the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award, Pérez became the first Hispanic recipient in the award's history.

Grammy Award-winning Mexican-American tenor Joshua Guerrero is celebrated internationally for his passionate interpretations of the lyric and dramatic repertoire. A recipient of a Richard Tucker Foundation Career Grant, second prize winner in the Operalia Competition and graduate of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program (where he received the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award), Guerrero has become a sought-after presence on the world's leading operatic stages.

Armenian dramatic baritone Gevorg Hakobyan studied at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan with Maestro Sergey Danielyan. In 2008, Hakobyan was awarded both the Gold Medal and First Prize at the prestigious First International Pavel Lisitsian Baritone Competition in Moscow, and in 2011 was recognized as a Merited Artist of the Republic of Armenia.

The Minnesota Chorale has served as the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal chorus since 2004 and is now in its 29th season under the leadership of Kathy Saltzman Romey. Founded in 1972, the Chorale is Minnesota’s preeminent symphonic chorus, with a roster of over 200 singers. Best known for its work with the two major orchestras of the Twin Cities, the ensemble is equally dedicated to programs that build and enrich community. A seasoned artistic partner, the Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage. In 2018, members of the Chorale traveled to South Africa to perform alongside the Minnesota Orchestra in its historic concerts in Soweto and Johannesburg.