August 8th, 2023
Mankato, MN — The Mankato Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is thrilled to announce its 73rd season of concerts, titled Inspiring Music | Inspiring Community.
The season begins on Saturday, September 9th, 6pm, with a free outdoor concert in North Mankato’s Benson Park. The concert is sponsored by the City of North Mankato. Families are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy a beautiful, patriotic concert led by MSO’s Music Director, Ernesto Estigarriba. The program showcases a musical portrayal of our collective efforts to build our nation. The setlist includes memorable and popular tunes such as Stars and Stripes, a Tribute to John Williams, West Side Story, and more. Food and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the event.
Following the 9/9 concert, the Mankato Symphony will offer seventeen events, including four symphony concerts, five Music on the Hill chamber music concerts, and eight free family fun events. The opening concert is on September 30 and it showcases the first prize winner of MSO’s 2023 Young Artist Competition. The winner is rising star Jacob Taggart, a seventeenyear-old pianist who will perform a movement from the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto. In December, the MSO will perform the famous Messiah by Handel and will feature a quartet of seasoned Minnesota-based soloists along with a local chamber choir, selected by audition this September. The final two symphony concerts feature Minnesota Orchestra stars Anthony Ross, who will perform the Shostakovich Cello Concerto on March 16 and Rui Du who will play the Samuel Barber Violin Concerto in MSO’s season finale concert on May 4.
A week before each symphony concert the See Hear Play Free Family Fun Series will perform at local libraries and at the VINE adult community center in Mankato. Artistic Director August Jeske will introduce composers and pieces featured in the following week’s symphony concert. The series showcases musicians, actors, and fun storytelling and musical activities for everyone.
Music on the Hill’s Artistic Director and cellist Richard Belcher has programmed four chamber music concerts in a series titled Bohemian Folk. The concerts feature small groups of musicians from the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Mankato Symphony.All Music on the Hill concerts will be held in Trinity Chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
Information on all events may be found on MankatoSymphony.org. Early bird season subscriptions are currently available for the best seats and savings through September 15. Auditions for the Messiah Chorus will be held September 11, beginning at 6:30pm at Bethany Lutheran College. More information may be found at mankatosymphony.org/messiah.
Order subscriptions online at MankatoSymphony.org or leave a message at 507-933-0441 with order details.