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.

Soprano Christine Goerke has appeared in many of the most prestigious opera houses of the world including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real in Madrid and Saito Kinen Festival. She has sung much of the great soprano repertoire, beginning with the Mozart and Handel heroines and now moving into dramatic Strauss and Wagner roles.

Rising dramatic tenor Limmie Pulliam has thrilled audiences with his captivating stage presence and his “stentorian, yet beautiful” sound. The 2024-25 season will feature a combination of exciting debuts and returns for Pulliam, including his role debut as Calaf in Turandot for a special benefit concert for University of Houston’s Moore School of Music, followed by further performances of the role in his debut with the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård.

Armenian soprano Mané Galoyan, the 2021 Operalia Second Prize, Zarzuela Prize and the Rolex Audience Prize winner, was exclaimed by the Houston Press as “..radiant as dewy Gilda in her first throes of love, heavenly as a daughter disgraced, and positively stoic as martyr…she possesses a crystalline voice that cuts through any orchestral texture. She waltzed through Verdi's dramatic coloratura without effort. She can float incandescent pianissimos then belt with Verdian thunder.”

Adolfo Corrado has been named BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023. Born in 1994, he trained theatrically at Augusto Zucchi’s School of Theatre and Film Acting in Rome. He then began his musical studies at the Tito Schipa Conservatory of Music in Lecce, where he specialized under the guidance of Gianluca Belfiori. He continued his training at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as a Young Artist Project under the coordination of Gianni Tangucci.

Hailed for his "full, exciting lyric baritone" (Opera News) and "elegant lyricism and responsive musicality" (The New York Times), Sean Michael Plumb is one of the most dynamic and compelling baritones of his generation. The American artist has sung on many of the most important opera and concert stages around the world including The Metropolitan Opera, Bayersiche Staastoper, Salzburger Festspiele, Opéra national de Paris, Opéra national de Lyon, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and Heidelberger Frühling.

Praised for his "finely focused and well-mannered" voice (Dallas Morning News), tenor Brian Wallin is a "gifted tenor...who took the stage with flair and commitment" (Opera Today). During the 2023/24 season, Brian returned to Arizona Opera as Conte Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Annapolis Opera as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore. He also made debuts with Permian Basin Opera in Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied and the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra as the Tenor Soloist in Carmina Burana. Previous appearances include Arizona Opera (Ariadne auf Naxos), Annapolis Opera (Die Zauberflöte), Pacific Opera Project (The Pirates of Penzance), Opera Baltimore (Adriana Lecouvreur), An Opera Theatre "AOT" (The Rape of Lucretia), and Opéra de Montréal (Die Zauberflöte).

A graduate of San Francisco’s prestigious Adler Fellow Opera Program, American tenor Daniel Montenegro is recognized for his flexible and distinctive voice and a varied repertoire of bel canto, verismo, and contemporary roles. Daniel made his Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and San Diego Opera debuts in 2015 as Luis (a role he created) in El Pasado Nuca se Termina. 

Grammy Award-winner Errin Duane Brooks is becoming one of the most sought-after tenors in the industry. Last season's engagements included covering Calaf in Puccini's Turandot and reprising Adult Nathan in Terrence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones, both with The Metropolitan Opera; Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème with Port Angeles Symphony; and his role début as Otello with Vashon Opera. Next season, Mr. Brooks will return to The Metropolitan Opera to sing the First Priest/Armored Man in Die Zauberflöte, and he'll sing Pinkerton in Divaria Productions' Madama Butterfly.

Possessing a "big, rich bass voice" that "brings chills" (MinnPost), bass Benjamin Sieverding has launched a promising career that touches upon more than three centuries of repertoire. He has gained notice for his "resonant, expressive bass" (StarTribune) and for a range of characterizations spanning from "wickedly charming" (l'étoile magazine) to "genuinely threatening" (Phindie). This season, Mr. Sieverding will perform the Jailer in Tosca and cover José Tripaldi in Ainadamar with the Metropolitan Opera. Future engagements include singing the Mandarin in Turandot with the Minnesota Orchestra as well as sing as the bass soloist in Mozart's Requiem with the Syracuse Orchestra.

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.