Concerts

Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music, and Arts is a performance company that promotes Haitian culture through music, art, dance, and history education.

Especially recommended for: Large K-6 Audiences

• Availability: Limited schedule September-November 2022 & February-April 2023

• Locations: Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music, and Arts is available to the 7-county metro area.

A cello quartet with a unique and eclectic repertoire.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms; middle and high school string/orchestra programs

• Availability: Delphia Cello Quartet is available all day most Thursdays throughout the year with some availability on Mondays and Fridays.

• Locations: Delphia Cello Quartet is available to the 7-county metro area.

Heliopsis is a duo that plays original music for various traditional instruments from Sub-Saharan Africa, cello, and voice. Their music ranges from raucous and dance-like to serene and peaceful. Each tune has an element of improvisation, so no two performances are the same.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms, K-6 general classrooms

• Availability: Heliopsis is available to perform on many Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year.

• Location: Heliopsis is available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details. 

Marimba/vibraphone duo, featuring original compositions and improvisations. 

Especially recommended for:  K-6 general music classrooms; K-6 general classrooms; percussion ensembles/classes.

• Availability: Kroehm Duo is available on many Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the school year.

• Location: Kroehm Duo is available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details. 

Lyz Jaakola is an Ojibwe-Anishinaabe composer, singer and hand drummer.  Lyz also plays guitar, piano, flute and violin, to demonstrate the fact that Native Americans have and do participate in many American music cultures in addition to traditional musics. In her Class Notes Concert, students will learn about Ojibwe music, instruments, language and singing both traditional and contemporary.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms, K-6 general classrooms

• Availability: Lyz Jaakola is available most Fridays throughout the school year.

• Locations: Lyz is available to the Duluth area and up to two hours outside of Duluth.

Vocal music duo specializing in music of the Jewish Diaspora. Nanilo offers translation and storytelling for all the songs they sing, illuminating the real life struggles and longing embedded in the lyrics of the songs. Nanilo invites listeners to draw connections to their own families’ diverse stories of immigration, heritage, and roots, and uses music as the key to unlock doors of understanding.

Especially recommended for: Choral ensembles, general music classrooms. 

• Availability: Nanilo is available various dates throughout the year.

• Location: Nanilo is available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details.

Trio featuring upbeat original sing-along songs inspired by Siama's home town in rural DR Congo.

Especially recommended for: K-12 general music classrooms and assemblies

• Availability: Siama’s Congo Roots is available various days throughout the year.

• Location: Siama’s Congo Roots is available to the 7-county metro area.

This oboe/saxophone duo showcases unique repertoire commissioned especially for their combination of instruments. Elementary program includes an original program, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox Find The Blues, featuring oboe, English horn, four different saxophones, an a wide variety of musical genres.

Especially recommended for:  K-6 general music classrooms; middle and high school instrumental programs.

• Availability: Various dates throughout the school year

• Locations: The Brian/Susan Project is available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. Additionally, they are available in the Winona area.

Vocal ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoire.

Especially recommended for: Choral ensembles, general music classrooms. 

• Availability: The Mirandola Ensemble is available many Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year.

• Location: The Mirandola Ensemble is available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details.

New-classical crossover duo, The OK Factor is cellist Olivia Diercks and violinist Karla Colahan. Olivia and Karla are passionate about composing, performing, and teaching.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms; K-6 general classrooms; middle and high school string/orchestra programs.

• Availability: The OK Factor is available various dates throughout the year.

• Location:  The OK Factor is available to the 7-county metro area and up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details.

Trombone quartet Inspired by the music & energy of Motown.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms; band programs; brass ensembles.

• Availability:  The Paper Clips are available various dates throughout the year.

• Location:  The Paper Clips are available to the 7-county metro area and for travel up to two hours outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.

• Limited availability for tours and travel in Greater Minnesota. Contact classnotes@mpr.org to arrange details.

Titambe West African Dance Ensemble’s mission is to teach and promote traditional African drumming, dance heritage, cultural understanding, and appreciation of diversity. This is done through language, music, and movement.

Especially recommended for: K-6 Assemblies

• Availability: Titambe is available various days throughout the year.

• Location: Titambe is available to the 7-county metro area.

Flute, horn, and piano trio who incorporate a variety of styles and composers into their performances.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms; middle and high school band programs.

• Availability: Zenith Contemporary Ensemble is available various dates in September, October, January, and May.

• Location:  Zenith Contemporary Ensemble is available to Duluth schools and up to one-hour outside the Duluth area.

Compelling and virtuosic flute/harp duo.

Especially recommended for: K-6 general music classrooms, K-6 general classrooms

• Availability: e(L)ement is at full capacity for Class Notes Concerts in the 2022-2023 school year and is no longer accepting bookings.