Meet the 2014-2015 Class Notes Artists

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Belladonna Baroque Quartet

Founded in 1993, the Belladonna Baroque Quartet perform Baroque and Renaissance music on period instruments. Their album, Folias Festivas, was released in 2001. One of the strengths of Baroque music in school presentations is its imitative quality, which mirrors a fundamental way humans learn.

"I do believe that's the passion of doing outreach: you can reach kids you don't even know you're reaching. You're bringing this beauty to them to inform them. That's our hope, that's our goal, and that's our dream." — Cléa Galhano, Belladonna Baroque Quartet

Hear Belladonna Baroque Quartet perform Tarquinio Merula's The Nightingale {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/canzona_la_luisignola_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405191700 %}

Excelsior! Trio

This group, founded in 2009, consists of faculty members from Concordia College-Moorhead and members of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. Given Excelsior's flute, saxophone and piano instrumentation, it performs an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, ethno and contemporary pieces at recitals in North America and Europe. As Class Notes Artists, Excelsior! Trio will perform at schools throughout northwestern Minnesota.

"We all love performing together, and I think our favorite venue is school programs." — Deb Harris, flute, Excelsior! Trio

Hear Excelsior! Trio perform Trio #1 for flute, sax and piano — Mvt 3, Allegro, arranged by the trio's saxophonist, Russell Peterson: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/trio_for_flute_sax_and_piano_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405191600 %}

Minnesota Percussion Trio

Minnesota Percussion Trio return as Class Notes Artists, having previously performed in Twin Cities schools in March 2013. Founded in 1987, Minnesota Percussion Trio have done more than 1,500 outreach performances in schools, libraries, museums and community fine arts series. When performing in schools, the trio play music on a variety of cool percussion instruments from around the world , like marimba, woodblocks or drum set.

"There's always a great connection, an energy when you're performing music for young people, and especially when they're really liking it." — Bob Adney, Minnesota Percussion Trio

Hear the Minnesota Percussion Trio performing Emmanuel Séjourné's Akadinda: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/akadinda_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405191500 %}

Mill City String Quartet

Founded in 2007 in Minneapolis, this group consists of members of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. Last fall, the Mill City String Quartet went to 13 different communities in southwest Minnesota doing music outreach in libraries. In its programming for kids, the Mill City String Quartet performs classical string quartet repertoire as well as a global and ethnic mix of music arranged for strings.

"We really believe that music outreach programs are important for young children. You never know how it's going to influence someone's life. When I was only three years old, my parents took me to the mall and there were kids there playing violin and it changed me forever … 29 years later, I'm a professional violinist." — Huldah Niles, violin, Mill City String Quartet

Listen to the Mill City String Quartet perform the traditional Jewish piece, Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, arranged for strings by Matt Springer: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/chanukah_oh_chanukah_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405191100 %}

Summit Hill Brass Quintet

Based in St. Paul, Minn., the Summit Hill Brass Quintet visited Twin Cities schools as part of Classical MPR's Class Notes Artists program (called Artists-in-Residence at that time) in March 2013. The quintet was established in 1976 and it still retains three of its original members. The group has many CDs available, featuring music from many genres and eras, ranging from Renaissance to Civil War songs.

"Giving elementary-age students the opportunity to attend performances is critical to igniting an interest in and starting to develop an understanding of live music." — Dave Stevens, trombone, Summit Hill Brass Quintet

Hear the Summit Hill Brass Quintet perform Gabriel Fauré's Pavane: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/faure_pavane_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405191000 %}

L'Unica Trio

Founded in 2002 by members of the Saint Cloud Symphony, L'Unica typically play as a quartet, but they will be playing as a trio for performances at schools next year. The members of L'unica are experienced in doing music outreach in schools; in the past L'unica presented the changing roles of instruments in the chamber ensemble from Baroque period to modern day. Look for L'Unica to visit schools in central Minnesota during the 2014 - 2015 school year.

"There's a perception out there, I think, that classical music is a bit snooty or perhaps dry … I think that as classical musicians, we have a responsibility to get out in the community and play, especially for children." — Tina Lamberts, L'Unica Trio

Hear Beethoven's String Trio, Mvt. 1, a piece L'Unica Trio will feature: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/beethoven_string_trio_eb_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %} {% /if %} {% if $smarty.now|date_format:'%Y%m%d%H%M' >= 201405190900 %}

The Mirandola Ensemble

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Established 2011 in Minneapolis, the Mirandola Ensemble perform a repertoire drawn primarily from the Renaissance period. The group's CD, Nymphs and Angels, was released in 2013. When visiting schools, the Mirandola Ensemble will perform English Renaissance songs and French madrigals, and they'll explain the meanings of the lyrics and music to the kids.

"Educational outreach is a really big part of our mission here at the Mirandola Ensemble, because we believe in the power of great music to change lives." — Scott Sandersfeld, Artistic Director and Bass, Mirandola Ensemble

Hear the Mirandola Ensemble perform Luca Marenzio's Dissi a L'amata Lucida Stella: {% fetch file="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/get_player.php?audio=minnesota/classical/features/2014/05/19/dissi_a_lamata_mia_lucida_stella_20140519_128&type=EMBEDDED" %}