Minot Symphony family concert, Simple is Better

Fun for the whole family with the Minot Symphony Orchestra
MINOT, ND, January 26, 2021 – The Minot Symphony Orchestra will present “Simple is Better” for a limited live audience on Thursday February 4 at 7:30pm and Saturday February 6 at 3pm. The performance will also be available in a virtual concert format on Saturday February 6 at 3pm.
With the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in Ward county the Minot Symphony Orchestra will welcome a limited live audience to attend the annual family concert, 200 max per performance. The performances will be held at MSU Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on Thursday February 4 at 7:30pm and Saturday February 6 at 3pm. Doors will open 30 min. prior to the performance. Tickets for the in-person performance must be purchased in advance by calling 701-858-4228. Tickets for the virtual concert can be purchased online through Eventgroove at https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Simple-Is-Better-46839. Following the MSU Beavers Restart guidelines, musicians and patrons will be required to wear a mask at all times.
The annual family concert will feature the winner of the annual high school soloist competition Kevin Vandal. Kevin is a home-educated senior from rural Rolette County. Kevin first received piano instruction from his dad and began formal lessons at age 8. Since 2017 he has been studying with MSO principal pianist, Dr. Dianna Anderson. Kevin will perform the first movement from Concerto No. 2 in G minor by Saint-Saëns with the reduced orchestra.
“Kevin has worked very hard for several years with the goal of performing with the Minot Symphony Orchestra. I am so pleased that his efforts are paying off, and especially proud of the musical growth he has shown in the process,” said Dianna Anderson, Assistant Professor, Piano at Music at Minot State University.
“Simple is Better” will also include Capriol Suite for String Orchestra by Peter Warlock, Opus Number Zoo by Luciano Berio (pre-recorded), Brass Quintet by Efraín Amaya, and Simple Symphony by Benjamin Britten. This family friendly program highlights the different families of instruments in the symphony. Although there will be a reduced number of musicians on stage to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the program is well rounded and will feature pieces for strings only, a brass ensemble, the SubZero Winds woodwind quintet, and a reduced number of woodwinds, brass, and timpani with strings for the Saint-Saëns piece.
A pre-concert talk featuring the soloist and engaging overview of the works being performed will be held via Zoom on Saturday January 30 at 10am. The talk will be shared to the Minot Symphony Orchestra Facebook and YouTube pages. Ticketholders will receive an email with the Zoom link to join in the conversation. This concert talk will be hosted by Mr. Tim Baumann, director of the International Music Camp and oboist in the symphony.
The Minot Symphony Orchestra musicians and board members thank everyone for being flexible and understanding during this time of challenges and uncertainty.
The Minot Symphony Orchestra is a unique blend of student, community, and professional musicians from the Minot area. The symphony is directed by Maestro Efraín Amaya, assistant professor of music at Minot State University.
This project is supported in part by grants from Arts Midwest and the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.