BRAINERD/LITTLE FALLS — Celebrating 50 years of something can cause people to look back at the past but also look to the future. That’s what Music Director Ryan Webber hopes to do for the Heartland Symphony Orchestra’s 50th season.
The orchestra is made up of about 50 musicians from all different walks of life. There are retirees, teachers, doctors and more. They perform in a four-concert season at the Little Falls High School Auditorium in Little Falls and the Gichi-ziibi Center in Brainerd.
Webber said he feels honored to be a part of the orchestra’s 50th season.
“For a community orchestra to keep going and thriving ... the fact that we're still here and still making great music, that's a huge victory and success and a real treat," he said on Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show.
Having musicians and audiences show up every year proves the program is doing something right.
“That mix of the old and the new, and people want to hear new music," Webber said. "We need to be championing the next generation of composers, but we also can't forget our roots.”
The first set of concerts will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in Little Falls, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in Brainerd. The concert is called “Where We Were” and will feature former Heartland Symphony Orchestra directors Josh Aerie and Alexander Corbett returning to conduct. There will also be a piece that was performed at the first concert 50 years ago.
The other concerts of the season will include teaming up with the Legacy Chorale, world premieres of pieces and music specifically written for the Heartland Symphony Orchestra.
The concerts are all free to attend, and the Sunday performances will be posted on the Heartland Symphony Orchestra website a few days later.
Heartland Symphony Orchestra 50th Season Schedule
“Where We Were"
- 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10, Little Falls
- 2:30 p.m., Oct. 11, Brainerd
“Where We Are”
- 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5, Little Falls
- 2:30 p.m., Dec. 6, Brainerd
“Where We’re Going”
- 7:30 p.m., April 3, Little Falls
- 2:30 p.m., April 4, Brainerd
“Where the Journey Continues”
- 7:30 p.m., June 12, Lyman P. White Park Amphitheater in Brainerd
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
