Community Partners
The University of Minnesota School of Music is nearly unique among our Big Ten peers in being located in the heart of a vibrant and diverse artistic community. Because of this, we are proud to enjoy strong relationships with many Twin Cities music industry partners. These organizations enhance our students' educational experience by providing guest artists, performance opportunities, and professional networking experiences. Many of our faculty are also deeply connected to these organizations and connect our students to rich professional opportunities. Many community partners even host exclusive opportunities and offers for School of Music students.
Led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra is a Grammy Award-winning orchestra known for acclaimed performances around the world. Several faculty members are also members of this orchestra.
Renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility of musical styles and adventurous programming, The Grammy Award-winnning Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. Several faculty members are also members of this orchestra.
Minnesota's new professional concert band. Celebrating the rich musical tradition of school concert bands and building an exciting future for the concert band art form. Several faculty and staff members are also members of this band.
Since 1893, Schubert Club has invited the world’s great recital soloists and ensembles to the Twin Cities and has promoted the superb musical talents of our community through performances, education, and museum programs. One of the first arts organizations in the country, Schubert Club remains today one of the nation’s most vibrant, relevant, and respected music organizations.
Minnesota Opera is a leading American company, admired as an innovative creator of compelling opera productions, programs, and new works.
From world legends to up-and-coming new bands, The Cedar presents unique voices from around the globe with programming that spans global roots, folk, indie, experimental, bluegrass, Americana and blues genres, and includes as artist residencies, educational programs, workshops, films, dances, comedy, spoken word and community events.
Since its inception in downtown Minneapolis in 1896 by Paul A. Schmitt, Schmitt Music has grown from a humble music store into a renowned family-owned institution serving the upper midwest with 9 locations and a flagship store in Bloomington, MN.
A School of Music supporter who hosts special guest performers and events.
YourClassical, from American Public Media, is a collection of curated streams, unique programs and relevant features to connect classical listeners with the music they love.
The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS, pronounced git-seez) is the largest youth orchestra program in the country, serving more than 1,300 students through 11 school-year orchestras, camps, and community initiatives. GTCYS’ programs provide a musical pathway for students from across the region ages 7 – 18, of all backgrounds, and musical levels.
Director of Orchestral Activities Mark Russell Smith conducts the organization's flagship Symphony group.