April, 2017:   The Piano Concertos of  Beethoven

When Beethoven arrived in Vienna in the early 1790’s, he made his mark not only as a composer, but as a brilliant pianist, the likes of which the city had never seen. His five piano concertos changed the path and development of the form forever.
This entertaining and informative 4-week lecture series was taught by Dr. Daniel Freeman at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in Saint Paul.

 

The Sixth Annual SPCO Youth Chamber Music Competition

Congratulations to all the participants in this year’s competition!
The Finals Recital on Sunday, March 19, 2017 was an amazing display of virtuosity and musicianship. Over 100 attendees enjoyed the concert sponsored by the Friends, with emcee Lynne Warfel of MPR. And here are our winners:

Visit our Competition photo galleries:
tinyurl.com/spcoycmc2017
tinyurl.com/spcoycmc2017preliminaries

Music at the Museum

On February 27, 2017 the Friends hosted an Evening with Musicians at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. SPCO musicians Eunice Kim (violin), Hyobi Sim (viola) and Kayla Moffatt (violin) presented a beautiful program of their favorite duets and trios. A reception with the musicians followed the program.  The evening was a great success!

  

VIOLIN OR VIOLA?  THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE  ORCHESTRA

In January, 2017, Dr Daniel Freeman taught a fun and informative  4-week lecture series on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the instruments of the orchestra.  Classes were held at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in Saint Paul.  Watch for more information on our Spring Series, The Piano Sonatas of Beethoven, coming April 5, 12, 19 and 26.

 

Classical Notes:  A Taste of Europe

On October 1, 2016, the Friends hosted a fundraiser at the beautiful Sovereign Estate Winery in Waconia, MN.    Guests were treated to a European-themed menu of hearty appetizers, fine Sovereign Estate wines and a delicious dessert buffet.  The highlight of the evening was a special performance by an ensemble of wonderful musicians from the SPCO:

Ruggero Allifranchini, violin
Daria Adams, violin, Maiya Papach, viola
Sarah Lewis, cello

THE FRIENDS OF THE SPCO ANNUAL LUNCHEON AND MEETING,  JUNE 7, 2016

On June 7, 2016  the Friends held their annual luncheon and meeting at Mendakota Country Club.  Jon Limbacher was the guest speaker.  Annette Conklin received the “Ultimate Friend Award 2016” in recognition of her dedication and hard work organizing the annual SPCO Youth Chamber Music Competition.

FRIENDS TREASURE SALE, JUNE 3 AND 4, 2016

The rainy weather was not a deterrent  to determined shoppers who came from all over the Twin Cities to help support the CONNECT program of the SPCO.  The sale netted over $6,000, thanks to the hard work of all the Friends who volunteered many hours of their time and effort.  Thank you to all!

THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL CONVERSATION WITH BOOKS

On May 4, 2016, approximately 85 Friends and their guests enjoyed an afternoon at House of Hope Presbyterian Church, with literary panel Ruth Haag Brombach, Cecilia Konchar Farr and Judith Martens Flahavan, in an engaging and stimulating conversation about the following noteworthy books

• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (2015)
• Etta and Otto and Russell and James byEmma Hooper (2015)
• The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks (2015)
• Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald (1979)

• The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert (2014)
• Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life by Hermione Lee (2014)
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
• H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald (2014)

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (2014)
• We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Asichie (2014- Essay)

WELCOME RECEPTION FOR JON AND PATRICIA LIMBACHER AND KYU-YOUNG KIM- March 14, 2016

The Friends hosted a cocktail reception to welcome Jon Limbacher, the new Managing Director and President of the SPCO, his wife Patricia Saiger Limbacher, and Kyu-Young Kim, Artistic Director of the SPCO.  The gathering was held at Eagle Ridge in Mendota Heights and 45 people enjoyed an evening of wine and cheese and getting acquainted  with Jon, Patti and Kyu.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2016 SPCO                                                                                              YOUTH CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION WINNERS

LEVEL A:
First Place & $1,000 – VESPER STRING QUARTET, coached by Tom Rosenberg. Vivian Murphy, violin; Kajsa Johansson, cello; Addison Nichols, violin and John Paul Shoemaker, viola.

Second Place & $600 (tie) – ANDRES STRING QUARTET, coached by Laura Sewell. Angel Lyn Andres, violin; Patrick Allen Hyatte, violin; Edwin P.T. Donovan, viola and Chris Jubok Kwon, cello.

Second Place & $600 (tie) – VENTO SILVA WIND QUINTET, coached by Norbert Nielubowski. Sarah Bushara, oboe; Andrea Kloehn, flute; Susan Stewart, clarinet; Rachel Lauson, horn and Beck Rusley, bassoon.                                                                                                Outstanding Wind Ensemble & $150 – VENTO SILVA WIND QUINTET

Honorable Mention – TRIO TESORO,  Sarah Bushara, oboe; Luca Tallarini, clarinet; Coleman Caron Thompson, piano.

Honorable Mention – O’SULLIVAN QUARTET – Lydia O’Sullivan, viola; Matthew Pakola, violin; Lasse Hackbarth, violin, and Frey Hackbarth, cello.

LEVEL B:
First Place & $100 – TRIO GIOVANE,  Emily Kleiber, violin; Hannah Greenstein, cello, and Joseph Caswell, piano.

VISIT THE 2016 PHOTO ALBUMS:  tinyurl.com/ycmc2016prelims     and      tinyurl.com/ycmc2016finals

 

MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM – February 22, 2016

THANK YOU to everyone who attended this special event at the Minnesota Museum of American Art on February 22nd. Over 50 people were in attendance for this unique evening featuring music, talks by musicians and art of the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Special thanks to SPCO musicians Jonathan Cohen, Lynn Erickson and Carole Mason Smith.