June 1st, 2023
The fifth annual ProMusica Minnesota Chamber Music Festival will commence June 8-11, 2023 at Trinity Chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College. This year’s celebratory concerts are sure to inspire with their exquisite beauty. The opening performance on Thursday, June 8 at 7pm titled June Twilight, will include familiar faces to ProMusica, including Minnesota Orchestra First Associate Concertmaster Susie Park, Minnesota Orchestra Associate Principal Cellist Silver Ainomäe and ProMusica’s Artistic Director and pianist Bethel Balge. Together, they will perform Robert Schumann’s gorgeous D Minor Trio as well as Rebecca Clarke’s tempestuous G Minor Piano Trio in addition to a collection of her songs sung by soprano Jenny Haugen. As a special new offering, three gifted improvisatory visual artists will paint their impressions of Schumann’s Trio in real time while the music is performed.
The finale concert on Sunday, June 11 at 3pm will welcome new and returning performers, including Rui Du, Minnesota Orchestra’s Assistant Concert Master, Minnesota Orchestra cellist Pitnarry Shin, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Principal Clarinetist Sang Yoon Park, and University of Minnesota Oboe Professor Christine Soojin Kim. The Trio of Trios includes Destenay’s Trio in B Minor for Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano, Stravinsky’s iconic Soldier’s Tale for violin, clarinet and piano, and Mendelssohn’s shimmery Piano Trio in D Minor.
With ProMusica’s mission to nourish, educate, and inspire as a focus, the festival will also feature five young musicians from Minnesota to perform in the always popular Young Artist Recital to be held on Friday, June 9th at 7pm. These accomplished young performers include Will Gannon, piano with his brother Charlie Gannon, alto saxophone; Ingrid Tverberg, cello; Izaiah Cheeran, oboe; and Ruth Conry, violin. In addition, 30 high school artists have entered our first ever ProMusica Student Art Competition. Their works of art will be displayed throughout the chapel, and the audience will be able to bid on this art and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The students will compete to win prizes totaling $3000, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Marion Anderson Fund and the Mary E. Suedbeck Fund for the Encouragement of the Arts of Mankato Area Foundation. Winners will be announced at Sunday’s concert followed by a reception.
Festival passes, which include all events from the festival are $35 for general admission, $80 for families, and $10 for students with a valid ID. Individual concerts at $20 for general admission and $5 for students. There is no charge for the Young Artist Recital. Advance reservations are recommended at promusicamn.com, but tickets may also be purchased in person before the concert.