FRIENDS OF THE MINNESOTA SINFONIA

MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

The Minnesota Sinfonia is truly a unique orchestra. As one of three professional orchestras in the Twin Cities, the Sinfonia is the only one to offer all its concerts free of admission charges, perform in accessible neighborhood locations year round, and to welcome children to all performances. Each year, the Minnesota Sinfonia offers more free, in-school concerts than any other professional orchestra in the region.

The Sinfonia serves the most underserved populations of Minneapolis and St. Paul, including seniors, families with young children, inner-city students, and those with limited financial means. Our guiding values are quality, accessibility and education:

EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY

The Sinfonia performs classical orchestral repertoire, as well as “pops” and family concerts, all free of charge and open to the public. Employing some of the most sought-after musicians in the Twin Cities, the orchestra performs 60-80 free concerts per year, featuring world-class soloists from Minnesota and around the world. Our free concerts consistently attract packed houses of loyal audiences, first-time concertgoers, and people from all walks of life.

NO TICKET NECESSARY!

The Sinfonia is committed to reaching underserved populations, especially first-time concertgoers. Since it was formed in 1989, the orchestra has continually strived to break down barriers that have kept people from attending concerts:
▪ To eliminate the most obvious barrier to the arts, the cost of tickets, the Minnesota Sinfonia offers all concerts for free.
▪ To reach families and children who feel unwelcome at formal events, the Sinfonia creates a family-friendly atmosphere at every concert, and always encourages parents to bring their children.
▪ To reach people unable to commute, the entire orchestra travels to a community location for every concert, allowing citizens to enjoy orchestral music in their own neighborhoods. The Sinfonia has many homes: churches, parks, campuses, nursing homes, elementary schools, and even a children’s hospital.
▪ To reach those who suspect orchestral music is stuffy, the Sinfonia programs a variety of concert formats, some classical, some “pops,” all characterized by an informal atmosphere, and a welcoming, enthusiastic energy from the musicians and conductor.

COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

Every year, the Sinfonia visits up to 12,000 inner-city schoolchildren, and helps them learn their core studies in fun new ways--through music! The Music in the Schools K-6 outreach program is offered free to the most needy inner-city schools of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The costs of the program are covered completely by donations.

Music in the Schools is designed specifically for children in low-income households who find it hard to learn because of their social, economic, or cultural situations, and who have little or no arts programs at school. Music in the Schools uses classical music to excite these students about math, history, science, social studies and English, while providing a much-needed part of their arts education.

At the end of every Music in the Schools program, the entire orchestra visits each school to perform a concert. The stars of the performance? The kids, who get to sing along in the choir, and perform with a real conductor!

Students say: "You are awesome!" “When you play music I feel like dancing.”
Teachers say: "This really is the finest musical experience we have" "Some of my students are already... [asking] ...their parents to bring them to one of your concerts!"

PLEASE HELP

Whether in a large, beautiful venue like the Basilica of Saint Mary, outdoors at Lake Harriet, or in a humble school gymnasium the Sinfonia brings the magic of classical music to people who otherwise might not have access to it. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Minnesota Sinfonia, and help us share our music with people from all walks of life, all over the Twin Cities area.