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.

Sarah Hicks is the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, a role in which she oversees planning for and conducts many concerts in the broad-spectrum series of popular music, jazz, Broadway classics, movie scores and other genres. She also conducted the Inside the Classics and Sam & Sarah series for ten seasons.

Trumpeter Charles Lazarus is a member of the Minnesota Orchestra and a multi-faceted musician who has charted a unique course as performer, composer, producer and band leader. His career has included tenures in several of the best-known brass ensembles in the world, including Dallas Brass, Meridian Arts Ensemble and Canadian Brass.

As a soloist, composer and bandleader, Lazarus has created four original crossover orchestral programs featuring his various ensembles: “A Night in the Tropics,” “American Riffs,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and most recently “The New American Songbook” featuring the Grammy Award-winning family vocal quintet The Steeles. On “Merry & Bright,” his annual program of fresh takes on holiday favorites, Lazarus is joined by vocalists, a children’s choir and an all-brass big band. 

Best known for his extensive work with Prince in the 1990s, Tommy Barbarella has a reputation for excellence and versatility extended over the following two decades by touring, recording and performing with the likes of Art Garfunkel, Mavis Staples, Jonny Lang, Nick Jonas, Italian superstar Giorgia and Minneapolis supergroup Greazy Meal. He has contributed his talents to Hollywood features by iconic directors like Spike Lee, Robert Altman and Marc Forester, as well as composing award-winning commercial tracks for Nike, Budweiser, Audi and hundreds of other organizations.

Bill Chouinard has been in demand as a bassist in the Twin Cities for over four decades, performing frequently both live and in studio with many album credits for electric and upright bass. Among the national artists backed by Mr. Chouinard are Michael Johnson, Michael Bolton, Kurt Elling, Dave Samuels, Howard Levy, Marian McPartland, Bobby Shew, Gene Bertoncini, Gene Simmons, Sam Cooke, Donnie Osmond, Eddie Money, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Jordin Sparks and Celine Dion.

David Schmalenberger recently performed on drumset/percussion with the Laura Caviani Trio, the Bill Simenson Jazz Orchestra, Pat Frederick and Low Company, the Steeles, Karrin Allyson, Marilyn Maye, Take That Back!, Cantus, Rebel Fiddle, DAT Trio and and the Jazz Explosion Big Band. He also recently recorded with vocalist Connie Evingson (Sweet Happy Life), guitarist David Singley (Good Hope), trumpeter Chuck Lazarus (Lovejoy and Merrier & Brighter), the Laura Caviani Trio with Chris Bates (Mysterious Thelonius and Confluence), Vicky Mountain and David Martin (Play On), Jerry Kosak (New Possibilities) and the Bill Simenson Jazz Orchestra (Big Alpaca).

Daryl Boudreaux is a percussionist, singer, songwriter, and a member of the Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness. A Twin Cities Musicians Union (TCMU) member, he also serves as percussionist at Saint Peter’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. He began playing music in junior high school with classmate Prince Nelson (the Artist formerly known as “Prince”) and later joined forces with Jimmy “Jam” Harris. He has performed with The Steeles, Bruce Henry, Jody Watley, T. Mychael Rambo, Ronnie Laws, Mint Condition, Ann Nesby, Parliment Funkadelic, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra.