Concerts

Class Notes Concerts are free, in-person concerts performed by Minnesota-based artists in Minnesota schools.


Note to teachers: 

MPR recently learned that our allotment of Legacy funds will be less than it has been in previous years.
We remain fully committed to our mission of bringing the joy of music to teachers, students, and communities. 

Because our funding picture remains uncertain, we have decided to postpone booking for the 2025-26 school year. We do plan to collaborate in some capacity with the following artists. We will be in touch when we know more about our available budget.

Artists

4 Low Pitches

4 Low Pitches

About the Ensemble: 4 Low Pitches is a quartet who use humor and excitement to showcase the versatility and flexibility of the bass clarinet. 

Blazing Canes!

Blazing Canes!

About the Ensemble: Blazing Canes! is a reed duo featuring clarinets and saxophone. Their wide-ranging repertoire includes music from the Classical era, pieces from the American songbook, and music from around the world. 

Box Cat Music

Box Cat Music

About the Ensemble: Box Cat Music is a songwriting duo that features vocals, cello, and guitar.

Charles Lazarus

Charles Lazarus

About the Ensemble: Trumpeter Charles Lazarus is a member of the Minnesota Orchestra and a multi-faceted musician who has charted a unique course as performer, composer, producer and band leader.

Flipside Percussion

Flipside Percussion

About the Ensemble: Flipside Percussion is a trio featuring mallet instruments and drum set. They present a wide range of musical styles and embrace improvisation as a core musical value.

Heart Strings

Heartstrings

About the Ensemble: Heartstrings is a multi-instrumental duo featuring cello, guitar, or piano. They play a wide range of repertoire with an emphasis on improvisation. 

Julie Johnson

Julie Johnson

About the Ensemble: Julie Johnson is a flutist who integrates looping and effect pedals into original arrangements and compositions.

La Grande Bande

La Grande Bande

About the Ensemble: La Grande Bande is a voice, viola da gamba, and harpsichord trio that specializes in Baroque music and also plays music from other eras. 

Lake Minnetonka String Quintet

Lake Minnetonka String Quintet

About the Ensemble: Five lifelong friends play their string instruments together, blending classical training with custom arrangements of pop tunes. 

Liz Pearse

Liz Pearse

About the Ensemble: Liz Pearse is a vocalist who explores lots of different ways of singing and helps the audience understand that their voice is an instrument.

Lux String Quartet

Lux String Quartet

About the Ensemble: Lux String Quartet performs classical music focusing on 20th and 21st-century repertoire and works by living composers.

Minnesota Winds Trio

The Minnesota Winds Trio

About the Ensemble: The Minnesota Winds Trio consists of three representatives of the newly-founded Minnesota Winds professional concert band. 

Nordstar Duo

Nordstär Duo

About the Ensemble: Nordstär Duo perform Swedish folk music on traditional instruments, including the nyckelharpa, the säckpipa, and the wooden flute. 

Nyttu Chongo

Nyttu Chongo

About the Artist: Nyttu Chongo performs and composes African folk music using a variety of instruments from Mozambique and Rwanda. 

Son de Cuerdas

Son de Cuerdas

About the Ensemble: Son de Cuerdas is a cello, harp, and piano trio, presenting classical repertoire with an emphasis on Latin American composers.

three musicians sitting with banjo, violin, and guitar

Steam Machine

About the Ensemble: Steam Machine is a music and dance ensemble that performs old-time and bluegrass music.

Titambe

Titambe

About the Ensemble: Titambe is a powerful and energetic West African Dance and Drum ensemble.

train house friends

Train House Friends

About the Ensemble: Train House Friends is a trio of friends from diverse musical backgrounds. A classically trained cellist, a rural-raised banjo player, and a jazz/gospel keyboardist join together to explore collaboration, improvisation, and the boundaries of musical genre. 

FAQs

Answers to the most common questions. If you can‘t find an answer please contact us.

Do you have any lesson plans for high school students?
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I am a homeschool teacher. Can I use your lesson plans?
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Can I use your lesson plans if my school is not in Minnesota?
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How often do you add new lesson plans or videos?
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How many Class Notes Concerts can I book for my school?
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The website only let me book the artist for three hours. Is the concert three hours long?
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I teach at a school outside the metro area. What are my options for booking a concert?
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Our students would like to send a thank-you card to the artists who performed at our school. Where should we mail those?
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My school is not in Minnesota. Can I book a concert?
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What type of space is needed to host a Class Notes concert in my school?
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Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

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