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Photos: Rehearsing with Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil

Part of the Minnesota Orchestra's goal in coming to Cuba was to participate in a couple of musical cultural exchanges. On Thursday, the orchestra went to "Music City" to work with high school and college-age musicians. On Friday, the musicians returned to Teatro Nacional de Cuba — the scene of last night's rehearsal — and the venue for this weekend's broadcasts. This time, they were rehearsing side-by-side with Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Conservatorio Amadeo Rold​án, a Cuban youth symphony.

Kate Nettleman is a string bass player with the orchestra. She says her Spanish isn't strong, but there are times in Havana when that doesn't matter.

"When we sit together and play music sharing a stand with these students, there's tremendous communcation. And there's so much that's shared in common that we undertsand without having to say a word and that's what music is - is a language that everyone can connect through."

The Minnesota Orchestra will return to the same stage tonight for the first of two concerts from the Teatro Nacional in Havana. Listen live at 7 p.m. CDT both nights.

A flutist from Cuban National Symphony and Wendy Williams of Minn. Orch.
A flutist from the Cuban National Symphony and Wendy Williams of the Minnesota Orchestra. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Cuban National Youth Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra shared the stage withOrquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Conservatorio Amadeo Rold​án, The Cuban National Youth Orchestra May 15, 2015 as students and professionals took turns playing three pieces. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Combined orchestras
The Minnesota Orchestra shared the stage with Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Conservatorio Amadeo Rold​án, The Cuban National Youth Orchestra May 15, 2015 as students and professionals took turns playing three pieces. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Oboist from the National Cuban Youth Symphony
Oboist from the National Cuban Youth Symphony. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Osmo's back!
Osmo's back! MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
David Williamson from the Minnesota Orchestra
David Williamson from the Minnesota Orchestra talks with a bassist from the National Cuban Youth Symphony. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Conservatorio Amadeo Rold​án.
Minnesota Orchestra rehearsing with the Cuban National Youth Symphony. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Kevin Watkins from Minnesota Orchestra compares tambourine notes.
Kevin Watkins from Minnesota Orchestra compares tambourine notes with a member of the Cuban National Youth Symphony. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan
Cellist Anthony Ross and the Cuban National Youth Symphony
Cellist Anthony Ross and the Cuban National Youth Symphony. MPR Photo / Nate Ryan

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