35th Anniversary

History | Anniversary Events | Donors | Anniversary Commitee

History

In 1972 the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Society ended its sponsorship of the St. Paul Youth Orchestra. Many of the youth orchestra musicians and their parents were determined to continue the program. They persuaded its music director, Ralph Winkler, to establish a new youth orchestra, the Minnesota Youth Symphony. MYS was established as a place for serious young musicians to learn and be challenged.

The students’ hard work earned them an invitation in 1973 to perform in Romania, making MYS the first American youth orchestra to tour in a communist country. In 1994, the MYS Symphony Orchestra became the first orchestra to ever perform in the Super Bowl’s half-time show when Super Bowl XXVI was played at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. MYS worked with one of the most distinguished film composers of the 20th century when Elmer Bernstein guest-conducted “The Magnificent Seven” with the MYS Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997.

In 1988, Claudette and Manny Laureano became the nation’s only husband-and-wife conducting team for a youth orchestra program. Together, they’ve grown MYS from one orchestra of 58 students to four orchestras, a summer program and community outreach programs serving over 600 students and performing for over 5,000 patrons annually.

Anniversary Events

Commissions
The 2007-08 Concert Season marks the 35th Anniversary of MYS. In honor of this event, each of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies’ four orchestras is premiering original works by Minnesota composers. Full orchestral pieces have been commissioned from composers Stephen Paulus, Shelley Hanson and MYS alumnus Edward (Teddy) Niedermaier. A fourth work by seventeen-year-old Aaron Hirsch was selected from a composition contest and was premiered by the MYS String Orchestra on November 11, 2007.
Concert and ticket information

Alumni Play-in
On Saturday, January 5, 2008, MYS alumni spent the afternoon playing under the baton of Manny Laureano. Over 90 alumni from the past 35 years attended to play Bizet, Beethoven, and Shostakovich.

Gala
On January 5, 2008, over 120 classical music patrons gathered to celebrate two anniversaries – 35 years of MYS and 20 years of artistic leadership by Claudette and Manny Laureano. The St. Paul College Club on Summit Avenue was lit with lights and candles as we gathered for dinner, an auction and, of course, music performed by MYS students and alumni.
Maestro Osmo Vänskä, Honorary Chair
Mindy Ratner, Minnesota Public Radio, Emcee

Donors

Our 35th Anniversary events would not be possible without the generous support of our donors.
Anniversary donations will be accepted throughout the season. Contact Kristen Wesloh at 651-699-5811 or kewesloh@mnyouthsymphonies.com for more information.

Anniversary Donor Benefits

$25,000 Composer’s Circle
Opportunity to name an MYS concert in the 2008-09 season and all benefit levels listed below

$10,000 Conductor’s Podium
Invitation to a private dinner with Manny and Claudette Laureano and all benefit levels listed below

$5,000 Orchestra Chair
Invitations to 35th Anniversary events and all benefit levels listed below

$1,000 Chamber Musician
Invitation to concert receptions during 2007-08 season and all benefit levels listed below

$500 Soloist
Complimentary copy of the MYS 2006-07 and 2007-08 CD recordings, and recognition in the 2007-08 Season concert programs

$___ Other Instrumentalist
Recognition on a special page in 2007-08 Season concert programs

35th Anniversary Commissions Fund Donors

Orchestra Chair $5,000-$9,999

  • Sasan Mokhtari and Mary Brown
  • Bill and Barbara Welke

Chamber Musician $1,000-$4,999

  • Marjorie and Joseph Grinnell
  • The Johnson Family
  • Claudette and Manny Laureano
  • Katherine and Douglas Skor

Soloist $500-$999

  • Chris and Cecile Alper-Leroux
  • Chuck and Vicki Densinger, in honor of our daughter, Lauren Densinger, MYS Class of 2008
  • Diane and Richard Kruger
  • Richard and Denise McGee
  • Judith and Kevin Nilan
  • Tom and Peggy Radio

Instrumentalist $25-$499

  • Anonymous (6)
  • Sofia Ardalan
  • Thomas and Julia Bartsch
  • David and Mary Ann Benditt
  • Meghan Berman, in honor of Claudette and Manny Laureano
  • David and Alexandria Briggs
  • Kathy Brown
  • Rachel Brudnoy
  • Timothy and Barbara Carlson
  • Annette Caruthers
  • Nancy and Harry Cohen
  • Burt and Jeanne Corwin
  • Shirley Decker
  • Eric Funkenbusch and Christine Tarte
  • John and Rebecca Gabriel
  • Kathryn Ganzel
  • Mark Gitch
  • Karen and David Grandstrand
  • James Hansen
  • Guilford and Kathryn Hartley
  • Mark and Margaret Hottinger
  • Charles R. and Sally B. Jorgensen
  • W. A. King
  • Vicki L. Krueger
  • The Lelich Family
  • Jacob D. Martin
  • Cliff and Sharon McGinnis
  • Debby and Dick McNeil, in appreciation of Claudette and Manny Laureano
  • David and Lynn Meyer
  • Laura and Don Nemcek
  • Baird and Maureen Peterson
  • Belva H. Rasmussen
  • The Rudnickas Family
  • Karen Schilling
  • Robert Sells and Laurie Whipple
  • Anne Shainline
  • Ellen Skorseth
  • Jorja Fleezanis and Michael Steinberg
  • Bob and Didi Storeygard
  • Kevin Tilka and Gina Heatherington
  • Eric Trygstad
  • Eric and Carol Weitz

Anniversary Committee

  • Maureen Peterson, Chair
  • Monica Baik
  • Joe Carroll
  • Margaret Hottinger
  • Vicki Krueger
  • Kathy Margolis
  • Julie Michels
  • Kristen Wesloh