Minnesota Sinfonia
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  © Minnesota Sinfonia
 
A special thanks to our foundation, corporate and individual friends, whose generosity helps us maintain policy of free admission to all Sinfonia concerts and programs. For a complete list of our supporters, and information on how you too can help the Sinfonia, please click on the “Support” link above.
   
     
   
About the Minnesota Sinfonia

The Minnesota Sinfonia was formed in the fall of 1989, as a professional, community-based chamber orchestra. Jay Fishman is the Artistic Director of the organization, and in that capacity is responsible for the development and quality of the music programs. The Minnesota Sinfonia is a non-profit, tax exempt organization, with a 501(c)(3) IRS status, and averages 60-80 performances a year. The Sinfonia is not a member of the United Way, and its players are not members of the Minnesota or the St. Paul Chamber Orchestras. It is an independent organization, not tied to other organizations.

When the Minnesota Sinfonia was created, the intent was to establish a top quality orchestra that would gear the majority of its services to the families and children of the state of Minnesota.

To fulfill the goal of developing an orchestra that performs at a superior artistic level, the organization had to attract and retain the best of the region’s professional musicians, and provide them with quality musical and performance experiences. This required a dedication to excellence in artistic leadership and vision, and the creation of a comfortable working environment. By all measures, the Sinfonia has succeeded in this task. Currently, all of the musicians reside in the region, and more than half have been with the orchestra for ten years or longer. Many have played with Mr. Fishman for over twenty years! The orchestra’s performance standard remains excellent, and according to the StarTribune, is “easily on par with that of any Minnesota ensemble.”

The second part of the goal was, and remains, to gear the majority of the orchestra’s services to families, children, inner city youth, seniors, and those with limited incomes. This objective required the removal of barriers that keep many people from enjoying the live performance of orchestral music. Although straightforward in appeal, the aim has proven radical in practice, for the Sinfonia has broken many of the unwritten rules that govern professional orchestras.
  • to remove the largest single audience barrier, the cost of tickets, the Sinfonia plays all of its concerts free of admission charges.
  • to reach audiences unable or reluctant to travel to a downtown concert hall, the Sinfonia travels to them, playing in neighborhood churches, school auditoriums, colleges, and parks. Concert times accommodate the concerns of families and the elderly.
  • to reach those people who suspect orchestral music is stuffy, the Sinfonia programs a variety of concert formats, some classical, some “pops,” all of them targeted to the particular audience. All concerts are characterized by informality and an infectious enthusiasm from the musicians and the conductor.
  • to attract a younger audience, the Sinfonia explicitly invites parents to bring their children.
  • to reach children least likely to see and hear a professional orchestra, the Sinfonia plays scores of concerts in inner-city schools every year

How is it possible for a professional orchestra to play only free concerts? The answer lies in inspired artistic leadership, dedicated musicians, targeted promotion, prudent growth, low overhead and generous contributors.