Community Engagement Through Music

The University of Minnesota Concert Band Festival is held on the Minneapolis campus in Ted Mann Concert Hall. This non-competitive event offers an experience for high school concert band students and conductors to enhance their growth as ensemble musicians. Each participating concert band will experience an environment of mutual respect and all are offered the opportunity to enjoy performances from other concert ensembles throughout the day. Ten to twelve high school concert bands will participate and performances by University of Minnesota musicians will be featured.

Music Without Barriers is a FREE program designed to provide high school aged students with the information needed to pursue an education for a career in music.  

In this once monthly program, University of Minnesota School of Music Faculty and guest presenters will cover a variety of topics crucial to taking that first step towards your career in music. In addition to the topic presentations below, students will participate in masterclasses and mentorship meetings with our world-class University of Minnesota School of Music faculty.  A career and education in music requires planning, preparation and knowledge. If you are ready to learn what it takes to succeed in music, this program is for you! 

The University of Minnesota Jazz Festival is a non-competitive educational festival. Visiting school groups perform for clinicians and each other. Each ensemble performs a 20 minute set in Ted Mann Concert Hall. Following this short performance, the band moves to a rehearsal space where they will spend 40 minutes with two clinicians who will work with them and offer suggestions on how to improve their performance.

Calling all woodwind players! Are you interested in studying music in college? Join us next year for the University of Minnesota School of Music Woodwind Day! Our world-class faculty will present master classes, demonstrations, Q&A, a faculty recital and much more! 2024 info will be updated soon. 

The 2025 University of Minnesota High School Honor Band Weekend is held on the Twin Cities campus in late January. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Upper Midwest’s finest high school wind and percussion instrumentalists in grades 10, 11, and 12 to study music with UMN music faculty on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall. The weekend will conclude with a concert in Ted Mann Concert Hall on Sunday. 

At the International Summer Institute for Reggae Studies, participants are immersed Jamaican music history, instrumental/vocal conception, and ensemble performance —from roots, mento, ska, and rocksteady, to reggae, dancehall, raggamuffin, and beyond. The Institute features seminars from distinguished researchers, workshops with acclaimed artists, and faculty/student concerts. 

Each year, the Summer Chorus invites community members of all ages and experience levels to participate. The chorus is under the direction of Professor Matthew Mehaffey. 

The Summer Orchestra program brings together adult musicians of all backgrounds to rehearse and perform a compelling program of orchestral works. It is a great learning and community opportunity for anyone looking to advance their orchestral skills. There is no audition required to be a part of the Summer Orchestra but some orchestral experience is recommended before joining. Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

Experience the Alexander Technique Workshops, a delightful method of re-educating the kinesthetic sense. This workshop is a condensed version of the popular Alexander Technique class at the University of Minnesota School of Music. Learn how to achieve optimal performance and reduce musculoskeletal discomfort. This program is for adult musicians and educators. 

The Jenny Klukken Marimba Workshop is a one-day intensive workshop for creative marimbists. Program includes workshops and masterclasses on improvisation, genre-crossing, arranging for marimba, practice approaches, career and artistic development.

The Twin Cities Saxophone Camp is an intensive program of chamber music, master classes, and lessons for students in grades 6 - 12. All styles are welcome as the course will focus on intermediate and advanced fundamentals of saxophone performance. There will be concerts every evening from faculty and internationally renowned guest artists. The final concert will feature student chamber groups and selected student solo performances.  

The UMN Band Alumni Summer Band is a community concert band-style ensemble that performs several outdoor concerts in the Twin Cities area each summer. The band is composed of approximately 125 people, including current U of M students, alumni, and others that may or may not have previous affiliation with the U of M.

Each year, High School Bands, Cheer, and Dance teams are invited to join the Minnesota Marching Band and perform in Huntington Bank Stadium during a Gopher Football Game! Learn more about High School Band, Cheer, and Dance Day. 

The International Choral Academy at the University of Minnesota is a premiere summer choral program, featuring a pre-professional Masterclass Track for conductors and singers and a Conductor’s Toolbox Track for working choral practitioners.

Music educators and conductors can join nationally recognized master educators for demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on constructive feedback related to the art and pedagogy of conducting and ensemble teaching at the Wind Band Conducting Workshop. Held on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall, this five-day in-person workshop is an opportunity to hone conducting skills in a concert band setting.

Music Matters grants provide seed funding for student-, faculty, and staff-led projects that take the power of music into our communities or invite our communities more fully into our spaces. Special consideration will be given to projects that connect in meaningful ways with Minnesota communities beyond our campus. We are especially interested in projects that promote social or environmental justice, combat racism, promote equitable healthcare, or enrich neighborhoods. These grants come in several forms.

Music Matters Student Grants are designed for student-led projects that leverage the power of music in the service of a community. These are usually pilot projects that can be completed in a single academic year. 

• Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students who are currently pursuing a degree in the School of Music and are in good academic standing. The awardee must be enrolled in the School of Music at the time of the award.

• Amount: Up to $1,000.

• Uses: Students cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel or purchase supplies and equipment. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.

• Application: Please apply using this form (coming soon). You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, an itemized budget, a letter of recommendation, and a cv.

Do you need funds for a run-out concert, a local guest artist or speaker, or other small project? A Faculty Micro Grant might be for you. These are usually small projects that can be completed in a day, week, month, or semester.

• Eligibility: All teaching faculty and administrative staff in the School of Music. The awardee must have an appointment in the School of Music at the time of the award. Projects that assist in student learning or recruitment stand the best chance of approval.

• Amount: Up to $700.

• Uses: Faculty and staff cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel, purchase supplies and equipment, or pay guest artists. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.

• Application: Please apply using this form (coming soon). You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, an itemized budget.

Do you have a larger project in mind? Would you like for your studio to visit a site multiple times, collaborate on a community-focused performance, or other larger project? A Faculty Engagement Grant might be for you. These are usually larger projects with wider reach or longer timelines.

• Eligibility: All teaching faculty in the School of Music. The awardee must be a member of the School of Music faculty at the time of the award.

• Amount: Up to $2,000.

• Uses: Faculty cannot be paid for engagement work, but may use grant funds to reimburse travel, purchase supplies and equipment, or pay guest artists. In limited cases it may be possible to use grant funding to pay collaborating musicians. Any purchased equipment is the property of, and must be returned to, the School of Music. All expenses must be individually pre-approved.

• Application: Please apply using this form (coming soon). You will be asked for a project narrative, an estimated timeline, an itemized budget.