The Friends of the SPCO is the volunteer organization that supports The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra through educational, social and fundraising activities 

Annual Report – 2015/2016 – (click here)

The 2017 Annual Meeting and Celebratory Luncheon

On June 6, 2017, the Friends annual meeting and luncheon was held at Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights.  Lunch was followed by a special performance by internationally renowned musicians, Clea Galhano (recorder) and Phillip Rukavina (theorbo).  Jon Limbacher was guest speaker and the 2017 Ultimate Friend Award was presented to Chuck Ullery for his continued support of the Friends and his work with the annual Youth Chamber Music Competition.

Orchestra Appreciation Luncheon

The annual Orchestra Appreciation Luncheon took place at the Landmark Center on May 10, 2017.  SPCO musicians and sstaff enjoyed a buffet luncheon with the Friends in the beautiful Landmark Center Ramsey County Courtroom.

On April 28, 2017, SPCO concertgoers enjoyed a  performance by the Donovan Quintet,  grand prize winners of the Sixth Annual SPCO Youth Chamber Music Competition.  This talented ensemble of young musicians performed in the Marzitelli Foyer of the Ordway before the evening’s SPCO concert, sponsored by the Friends.

The Concert was followed by a wine and dessert reception in the Securian Sky Lobby to celebrate the Friends, the Youth Chamber Music Competiton, and another wonderful season of music by the SPCO.

On May 3, 2017, The Sixteenth Annual Conversation with Books was held at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church.  Over 80 attendees enjoyed a lively discussion on ten books chosen by an esteemed literary panel from St. Catherine University.  Ruth Haag Brombach, Cecilia Konchar Farr and Julie Martens Flahavan entertained and informed us with their insights and opinions.

Fiction:
La Rose by Louise Erdich, HarperCollins, 2016
The Women’s Room by Marilyn French, Random House, 1977
Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse by Faith Sullivan, Milkweed Editions, 2015
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, Doubleday, 2016

Non-Fiction:
The Last Goodnight by Howard Blum, HarperCollins, 2016
The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks by
Terry Tempest Williams, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2016
The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang, Henry Holt and Company, 2016
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, Alfred A. Knopf, 2016

Poetry:
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, Graywolf Press, 2014

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