Thursday’s (7/6) Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) includes a letter to the editor from Bruce Humphries, board chairman of the Minnesota Sinfonia, in response to a June 26 article about diversity and Twin Cities orchestras. “The author lists only two: the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. There is a third Twin Cities professional classical orchestra, you know—the Minnesota Sinfonia! For more than 27 years, the Sinfonia has maintained a busy schedule of 60 performances every year, reaching thousands of our community’s families, including their children through concerts in accessible venues…. All of our programs are free…. The orchestra’s Music in the Schools program is presented at 18 to 20 inner-city public schools, where the poverty rate often reaches more than 90 percent…. Music in the Schools reaches up to 10,000 students every year. Another Sinfonia program, Youth Outreach, directly involves young people wishing to advance their abilities in classical music.… We are—and have been for decades—giving young people experiences in high-quality classical music and supporting their achievements.”
Posted July 12, 2016
