welcome

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first concert of the 51st season of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. 

I am always delighted by a new MYS season, in part, because we have such a wide range of experiences fused together on a single day. For some families, this may be the very first occasion when a child performs on a grand stage. For others, the concerts may have become a part of your routine, as your child develops as a student and a musician. For some families, this may be the wistful beginning of a final season after years within the MYS continuum. 

Despite the wide range of possibilities, all of these experiences have something in common: children are discovering how to live out their aspirations. It’s one of the great gifts of MYS, that at every stage of the journey, students are led onward, at first catching a glimpse of what they may eventually achieve, then preparing to make the leap, and finally, making it to the next level of proficiency. Our conductors play a vital role in leading students on these pathways, and we express our heartfelt thanks to Pat, Nicholas, Jim, and Lucas for their fine leadership. 

It’s also a reason why we invite guest artists to join us. Today, we’ll be joined by The Red Hot Django Peppers, who have introduced us to a swinging musical style inspired by the Romani jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt through their collaboration with the Philharmonic Orchestra. And the Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to feature violinist Jennifer Frautschi, whose solo appearances have been ecstatically reviewed: “she was a stunning presence, her playing a breathtaking conflation of grace and grit, and at times downright ferocious.” It provides perhaps the ultimate aspiration—to perform alongside an artist who’s at the apex of what’s possible.

Thank you so much for joining us today and for the upcoming season.

Yours,

Mark Mandarano

Artistic Director & Symphony Orchestra Conductor