Music in the Park Series

“The Music in the Park Series reminds us that chamber music once was the favorite focus of an audience of friends – intimate, familiar, welcoming. Those qualities still exist in St. Anthony Park.” —Saint Paul Pioneer Press

HISTORY AND PROGRAMS
Music in the Park Series’ mission is to provide a chamber music concert setting that fosters a bond among composers, performers and audience and to deepen appreciation and understanding of music. The series, founded in 1979 by Artistic Director Julie Himmelstrup, was originally under the auspices of the St. Anthony Park Forum. Music in the Park Series has retained its St. Anthony Park roots, while including more chamber music concerts, adding a family concert series, expanding outreach activities in the neighborhood and beyond, and commissioning new works.

Now in its 31st season, the series offers listeners a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the richest and most diverse forms of musical literature. Through imaginative and varied programming, traditional chamber music, jazz, and new compositions are all available in a context which links rather than separates them. Educational activities broaden the audience’s knowledge and appreciation of the many varieties of chamber music.

For over thirty years, Music in the Park Series has contributed to the economic and cultural vitality of the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul through the following partnerships.

St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ: chamber music concerts, rehearsals, pre- and post-concert events; St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church: family concert series; annual Community Art Show post-concert reception; season ticket raffle for St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ building expenses.

Neighborhood businesses: ticket sales: Bibelot Shop and Micawber’s Bookstore; office: Raymond Ave. in St. Anthony Park; financial account: Park Midway Bank; post-concert dinners and business-related meals: Muffuletta Café, Finnish Bistro, Bruegger’s Bagels, and Pho 79 restaurants in St. Anthony Park; Park Bugle: advertisements in the paper.

St. Anthony Park schools: performances with artists from the series at St. Anthony Park Elementary and Murray Jr. High.

Organizations: board meetings: St. Anthony Park Library; performances: St. Anthony Park Home.

Music in the Park Series was one of two organizations in the United States to receive the 2007 CMAcclaim Award from Chamber Music America, which recognizes individuals and organizations whose achievements in the ensemble music field have had a significant and lasting impact on their community or region. “The breadth and depth of involvement in their communities and their dedication to chamber music is an inspiration to presenters across the country.” —Margaret M. Lioi, CEO, Chamber Music America

Artistic Director Julie Himmelstrup was also:
Honored as Marvelous Minnesota Woman by the Governor. (1994)

Included in the list of the 100 Noteworthy individuals “who shaped Minnesota music in the past century,” as selected by the Star Tribune critics. (2000)

Nominated by the St. Anthony Park Community Council to the City of St. Paul Neighborhood Honor Roll in appreciation of her contributions to the quality of life in St. Anthony Park. (2003)

Featured in articles, including: Julie Himmelstrup: Spirit at Work (Mpls. St. Paul, Oct. 2001); Madam Music by William Randall Beard (Mpls. St. Paul, Nov. 2005).

Based in St. Anthony Park, Music in the Park Series anually presents an 8-concert chamber music series, 3-concert family series, and educational activities in St. Anthony Park and the metropolitan area. The series features composers and performers of local, national, and international prominence in programs for listeners of all ages and backgrounds. By bringing world-renowned artists to St. Anthony Park, Music in the Park Series creates a “cultural exchange” between concert-goers and musicians. Audiences have a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the richest and most varied forms of musical literature in a setting conducive to chamber music performance.

A “who’s who” of the chamber music world—including the Guarneri String Quartet; cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han; violist Kim Kashkashian; guitarist Sharon Isbin; Pacifica String Quartet; Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio; harpist Yolanda Kondonassis; and violinist Chee-Yun—have appeared on the series. The chamber concerts are held in the warm, attractive and acoustically superb sanctuary of St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ. This intimate setting (maximum seating capacity, 350) makes possible a connection between performers and audiences that cannot be duplicated in larger halls. It is this special quality about the series that draws composers, performers, and audience members alike to the St. Anthony Park neighborhood on Sunday afternoons.

“You allow us to dream bigger with our ideas yet still keep them on a human level—a level where kids can come up and touch the artists and the instruments.”
—Ross Sutter, musician and family concert favorite

Now in its 20th season, the Family Concert Series represents a community outreach for Music in the Park Series, enhancing its already outstanding reputation for artistic quality and innovative programming. The three family concerts (two consecutive performances for each one) feature artists (including dancers, vocalists, puppeteers, etc.) from many cultures and musical genres. Concert-goers of all ages, from babes-in-arms to 90+ year-olds, eagerly gather at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Anthony Park to participate in a special community event. The church hall—set up with chairs and rugs in front of the artists—makes it possible for the children, who sit on the floor, to (literally) touch the performers! The artists interact with the audience members, weaving music with commentary.

EXEMPLARY ORGANIZATION
“You’ve developed such a wonderful series and we all really enjoyed performing for such a warm and attentive audience.” —The Claremont Trio

Music in the Park Series fosters the growth and professional development of artists and arts activities. Musicians on both series are paid competitive fees, promoted with attractive materials, and encouraged to develop interesting new ideas. Some groups have even added programs created for the Music in the Park Series to their standard repertoire. Because the music presented is at such a high artistic level, it challenges both artists and audiences.
A hallmark of Music in the Park Series programs is its practice of combining new works with traditional chamber music. Most concerts include a new composition, along with works from the traditional repertoire. Over the past three decades, the series has premiered or presented works by dozens of living composers, including Aaron Jay Kernis, Lera Auerbach, Paul Schoenfeld, Tanya Léon, Shulamit Ran, and Minnesota composers Libby Larsen, Stephen Paulus, Randall Davidson, Janika Vandervelde, Steve Heitzeg, David Evan Thomas, and Carol Barnett.

This commitment to new music helps advance the careers of composers, while giving listeners an opportunity to experience a wide variety of chamber music works. In recognition of the series’ dedication to the performance of new music, the American Composers Forum presented Julie Himmelstrup with a Champion of New Music award in 1997. The series also established a Commissioning Fund to help support the creation of new works. Music in the Park Series has recently commissioned works by Minnesota composers Carol Barnett and David Evan Thomas, whose new composition for cello and piano will be premiered on the series next season.

In addition to the chamber music and family concerts, many of the artists provide outreach activities in the community. Pre-concert discussions with musicians and composers before each performance generally draw over 100 audience members who want to learn about the music before listening to the concert. “Meet the artist” post-concert receptions, which give concert-goers a chance to talk to the musicians, are a popular feature of the series.

“We are grateful to Music in the Park Series for bringing to our neighborhood school the extraordinary opportunity of listening to nationally acclaimed quartets.”
—Ann Johnson, Principal, St. Anthony Park Elementary School

Performances/discussions at St. Anthony Park schools continue the tradition of bringing world-class musicians to neighborhood schools, free of charge. Since the arts are being cut, and even eliminated, in many St. Paul schools, students seldom have the opportunity to attend a performance by professional musicians. Young people of all ages gain a greater appreciation and understanding of classical chamber music from the experience. Ensembles that have participated in activities in local schools are the Cavani, Pacifica, New Zealand, and Parker String Quartets; Dorian Wind Quintet; and Czech Nonet.

Music in the Park Series also regularly sponsors performances for residents of the St. Anthony Park Home, a long-term care facility for seniors. Ensembles such the Cavani and Pacifica String Quartets and the Dorian Wind Ensemble have presented performances/discussions for residents and their families. St. Anthony Park Home is very excited about this outreach because residents, many of whom are classical music enthusiasts, are unable to attend concerts outside the facility.

In addition to integrating chamber music into St. Anthony Park, Music in the Park has expanded its reach into other communities through additional partnerships with St. Olaf College, MacPhail Center for Music, and Artaria Chamber Music School (masterclasses and performances); judging the Saint Paul National String Quartet Competition for advanced high school string students nationwide at Hamline University; MPR (appearances by artists on Performance Today and Saint Paul Sunday, broadcasts of series concerts); and collaborations with The Schubert Club.

“Thank you for the wonderful music you’ve brought us. Music in the Park Series’ programming just gets better one year to the next.”
—St. Anthony Park audience member