The Twin Cities proudly boasts that it has more performing arts opportunities than any city in the country except New York City. I was reminded of that when I made plans to attend the dress rehearsal of the Roseville String Ensemble (RSE) yesterday morning... because I would be unable to attend today's concert since I will be singing in a concert with Hymnus Angelicus at the same time!
RSE has a very special guest artist performing with them at today's concert... Jorja Fleezanis, former concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra. As I heard them rehearsing with her yesterday, I was struck with what a wonderful opportunity this was for this amateur string orchestra, the only one in the Twin Cities. What was so impressive was not only her talented performance... but even more so how she graciously inspired the orchestra to meet her on a higher performance level. It felt like a wonderful master class. The Roseville String Ensemble never sounded better.
The work they are performing with Jorja Fleezanis is also a real treat... the US premiere performance of Canadian composer Michael Oesterle's Unreasonable World for solo violin and string ensemble.
The other treat is their performance venue in the recently renovated Mairs Concert Hall on the campus of Macalaster College at 1600 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, MN. Originally built in the 1960s, the beautifully renovated space was dedicated only a month ago with a larger stage, reconfigured seating and sophisticated acoustics which can be adjusted to meet varying needs.
In addition to renovating the concert hall, they also added a dramatic 2-story arts commons and an art gallery. This is phase one of a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center... a project that benefits not only the Macalster College community but the whole Twin Cities community as well.
This is just one example of the vibrant Twin Cities arts community. Joe Moe, who moved from Portland to St. Paul in 2010 to be a host on Minnesota Public Radio says, "There is so much art and culture and vitality in the Twin Cities... I only wish I had moved here earlier... People in Minnesota get excited about things... There isn't a hipper-than-thou attitude toward the arts like you might find in some other cities. And that translates into public radio... and everything going on in theater and music."
This is a supportive community where anyone who has a desire to get involved in the arts has an opportunity to do so... who could ask for anything more!
St. Paul is home to multiple universities and colleges which gives it a more relaxed, collegiate feel. See homes for sale in Mac-Groveland, the neighborhood of Macalaster College, St. Paul's Tangletown and a stretch of famous Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Twin Cities Arts Realtor
