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Tom Crann interviews Matt Haimovitz and members of the Bakken Ensemble

Bakken Ensemble: Interview with Matt Haimovitz and Grace Takeda

 says there’s “nothing greater than chamber music.” Currently a Professor of Cello at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music in Minneapolis, and he recently joined the 

 for the group’s celebration of 30 years of concerts in the Twin Cities. 

The Bakken Ensemble calls itself a “consortium of musical friends,” and they welcomed Haimovitz as their newest musical friend for a unique String Quartet scored for two cellos by Anton Arensky.  

Ahead of the concert, violinist Stephanie Arado and cellist Pitnarry Shin, both co-artistic directors of the ensemble, as well as violist Grace Takeda and Haimovtz, joined host Tom Crann in the Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio for music and conversation. Arado, who has been with the ensemble since the early the beginning, told Crann how that “consortium of musical friends” works in practice. Listen to their conversation through the player above!

String Quartet No. 2: II Theme and Variations

Tom Crann is heard on YourClassical MPR from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays. Prior to rejoining the classical team at MPR, Tom was the host of All Things Considered for MPR News from 2005 to 2025, where he interviewed a wide range of public figures, including Minnesota's members of congress, politicians, experts, writers, and artists. He anchored Minnesota Public Radio's award-winning live coverage of the 35W bridge collapse. He has hosted other special coverage for MPR News, including live coverage of election nights since 2012.  He has been a host, producer, and interviewer for Minnesota Public Radio since 1995.   His work on MPR News has been recognized with an Eric Severeid award, a regional Edward R. Murrow award, and a National Headliner award. He has also hosted the international cultural broadcasts "Sounds Irish" and "The Last Night of the Proms," a co-production with the BBC. Tom began his career at MPR/APM as a classical host in 1995. In addition to his work at Minnesota Public Radio, Crann has spent more than 20 years hosting and producing classical music and cultural programs at public radio stations around the U.S, and for RTE/Lyric FM in Ireland, where he is still a contributor.


Chris McDuffie

Tom Crann

On April 12, the Bakken Ensemble celebrated 30 years of concerts in the Twin Cities with a program featuring Arensky’s unique String Quartet No. 2 (scored for two cellos) and guest cellist Matt Haimovitz. Listen as Haimovitz and members of the ensemble converse with host Tom Crann about the event!


Bakken Ensemble celebrates 30 years of music with guest Matt Haimovitz

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