Fall 2012 is here! This marks the exciting third season of Ensemble 61. Ensemble 61 is a contemporary music group based in the Twin Cities that brings new and experimental classical music to the public through concerts, education/outreach programs and community engagement. Seven nationally renowned musicians—soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello and composer—make up Ensemble 61. We are the only mixed chamber ensemble in Minnesota dedicated to the performing and recording of the music of our time. Ensemble 61 takes its name from the Historic Highway that runs from Duluth to New Orleans and is the inspiration for many artists including Bob Dylan.

“Devotees of new music, of whatever provenance, should keep a close eye on this accomplished, ambitious band” -Larry Fuchsberg, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ensemble 61 has great news to share with you at the start of this season:

• We are the recipients of a $25,000 Minnesota State Arts Board Arts Touring Grant that enables us to travel throughout the state performing and exposing underserved communities to contemporary music.
• Ensemble 61 is now officially a listed as federally tax-exempt non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status.
• We are adding new and innovative arts proponents to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board who will use their respective skill sets to help us promote our upcoming concerts and create exciting new projects throughout Minnesota and the United States.
• Ensemble 61 will be proudly presenting three self-produced concerts in the SPCO Music Room in downtown Saint Paul.
• We will be performing as part of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s new Liquid Music Series in the SPCO Center and on the Schubert Club’s Courtroom Concert Series in the Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul.
• Ensemble 61 will serve as a resident ensemble for the SEAMUS Festival hosted at McNally-Smith College of Music.

Our three-concert season in the SPCO Music Room includes Dylan/Dylan/Dillon on November 3, 2012, Time and Color on February 16, 2013 and Sounds from Scandinavia on June 1, 2013. Our Dylan/Dylan/Dillon concert includes music inspired by the work of Dylan Thomas, Bob Dylan and original works by University of Minnesota professor James Dillon. The new works presented on this concert will be by composers Aaron Travers, Anthony Cornicello, Patrick Castillo, Justin Merritt and Noah Keesecker. On our Time and Color concert, Ensemble 61 presents Olivier Messian's seminal work Quatuor pour la fin du temps, a new work by Kirsten Broberg and Blueshift by Alex Freeman. Sounds from Scandinavia features music by Kaija Saariaho, Per Nørgård, Malin Bång, Atli Ingólfsson and more.

We can not take credit for all of these wonderful developments without the thanks of our patrons and supporters. Your support is what keeps this organization running and expanding our projects to wider audiences. As you can expect, it takes a lot of time and resources to present concerts, organize tours, as well as maintain staff to research grant opportunities and market the ensemble. Ticket sales from our shows represent less than 10% of our annual operating budget. Our budget year is $65,000 and combined with grants and corporate donations, we still need to raise $8,000 to balance our budget. You can be a part of our fundraising campaign by supporting Ensemble 61 through GiveMN by June 1, 2013. GiveMN.org is a website that features every Minnesota nonprofit, including Ensemble 61.

We hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to Ensemble 61 in any amount you can afford. We realize that the choices of where your hard-earned money goes seem unlimited and with your donation, you will not only have the knowledge that you are helping to shape the future of classical music.

Please join Ensemble 61 as we explore the music written in our time and be a part of history in the making!

Sincerely,

Kirsten Broberg and Erik Barsness, Co-Directors

Ensemble 61 Artists

Carrie Henneman Shaw, soprano
Linda Chatterton, flute
Paul Schimming, clarinet
Matthew McCright, piano
Jesse Langen, guest guitar
Erik Barsness, percussion
Emilia Mettinbrink, violin
Joel Salvo, cello

Board of Directors

Kirsten Broberg
Erik Barsness
Alison Young

Advisory Board

Heather Barringer
Patrick Castillo
Mary Ellen Childs
Jeffrey Gram
Sarah Hicks
Edie Hill
Libby Larsen
Sarah Lutman
John Nuechterlein
Sarah Schmalenberger
Todd Smith