And All That Jazz
For one night only, join us at our annual gala as we celebrate 70 years of Symphony Ball and support the Minnesota Orchestra’s artistic and education programs.
Sat May 2, 2026 - 5:00PM
Minneapolis Hilton / Orchestra Hall
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Be inspired by the heartbeat of the Jazz Age and enjoy a night where music electrifies the soul. The evening will be a celebration of rhythm, resilience, raw emotion and beats that won’t let you sit still.
This event is more than a gala—it will be a tribute to the soul and spirit that stirs within us all. Tickets go on sale in January—don’t miss this unforgettable and memorable evening!
Patron and Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available now. Contact Alicia Wiesneth for more details: awiesneth@mnorch.org or 612.371.7149.
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 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. Highlights of his 2025-26 season in Minnesota include opera-in-concert performances of Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, a festival of music from Nordic countries, collaborations with renowned soloists such as Joyce DiDonato, Yo-Yo Ma and Kirill Gerstein, and a Listening Project concert focused on the music of underrepresented composers.
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.
A 2012 winner of Operalia and of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Janai Brugger’s recent season engagements include her highly successful role and Houston Grand Opera debut as she inaugurated the role of Mary Jane Bower in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Intelligence, winning accolades from audiences and critics alike.
Symphony Ball 2026 Committee
Event Chairs: Walter Tambor and Barry Berg
Dave Afdahl
Barry Berg
Beatrice Blanc
Margee Bracken
Barbara Burwell
Roma Calatayud-Stocks
Marilyn Christiansen
Karen Cooley-Kistler
Mark Copman
Michael Divino
Sarah Flake
Greg Geiger
Luella Goldberg
Joe Green
Jane Gregerson
Diane Hofstede
Stephan Kistler
Nancy Lindahl
Jim Lawrence
Martin Lueck
Warren Mack
Sonia Mantell
Bonnie Marshall
Kelly McQueen
Grant Meachum
Krysta Meisberger
Anne Miller
Bill Miller
Katie Miller
Sophia Mockler
Leni Moore
Sheila Morgan
Linda Murrell
Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Rob Nygaard
Cindy Olmanson
Lisa Paradis
Angela Pennington
Jeffery Perkey
Morgan Saliny
Sarah Shapiro
Eric Snustad
Robert Spikings
Stephen Sporer
Mary Sumners
Michael Sutton
Walter Tambor
Isaac Thompson
Jennifer Verbrugge
Alicia Wiesneth
John Wilgers
Trudy Wilgers