Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra

THE MPO SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT ITS MISSION IN ITS 2022-23 SEASON AND FISCAL YEAR, CONTINUING ITS ANNUAL COMMISSIONING PROJECT SHOWCASING DIVERSE COMPOSERS, INCREASING AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE, AND OFFERING FREE TICKETS USING A PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN TICKETING MODEL. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. BRIAN DOWDY, THE MPO PRESENTED 3 CONCERTS FEATURING MUSIC BY WILLIAM GRANT STILL, NINO ROTA, TAN DUN, AND AUGUSTA HOLMES ALONGSIDE THAT OF BETTER-KNOWN COMPOSERS INCLUDING LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, PYOTR ILLYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, LIBBY LARSEN, AND DUKE ELLINGTON. THE MPO ALSO PREMIERED A NEW WORK IT COMMISSIONED FROM TRANS NONBINARY COMPOSER ANDREW YEE. TITLED BRIEFLY GORGEOUS, THE PIECE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM A NOVEL BY A SIMILAR NAME WRITTEN BY OCEAN VUONG, AND IT ILLUMINATES IN INTANGIBLE WAYS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A QUEER IMMIGRANT. THIS COMMISSION WAS PART OF AN ANNUAL PROJECT THAT PROVIDES COMPOSITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPOSERS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, EXPANDING THE MUSICAL REPERTOIRE FOR ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE. THE MPO HAD A SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL YEAR THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS. THE MPO INCREASED DONORS AND REVENUE FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND WON GRANTS FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD, METROPOLITAN REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL, AND XCEL ENERGY FOUNDATION. THE 2022-23 SEASON HAS SET UP THE MPO FOR SUCCESS IN CONTINUING TO FULFILL ITS MISSION AND PROVIDE DIVERSE ORCHESTRAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR MUSICIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALIKE.