Twin Cities Summer Music Opportunities: Get Out and Enjoy!

Since moving to the Twin Cities, my wife and I have always loved and appreciated the community’s strong commitment to the arts. From catching a musical at the Orpheum, to attending concerts at the Minnesota Orchestra, to impromptu open mic nights at our local brewery, we are constantly surrounded by a talented and passionate group of musicians that makes us feel at home.

This year, the Minnesota Orchestra said goodbye to its music director, Osmo Vänskä, who led the orchestra for nearly two decades and has been a pillar in our arts community. During his farewell tour, many fans have shared stories of Vänskä performing throughout the cities and prioritizing our community, reminding me of how lucky we are to have this flourishing community.Fortunately, we will not have to wait long to hear from Vänskä again as he has signed a $75 million deal with Netflix to create original programming for the streaming service. Keep your eye on this as there is the potential for an entire special on the Minnesota Orchestra!

In honor of Vänskä’s commitment to the arts community in the Twin Cities and as another excuse to get out and enjoy the warm weather, I offer below is a list of a few of the many opportunities to experience our arts community at its best:

• Summer at Orchestra Hall: The Beethoven Influence. Starting July 15, experience four weeks of music that illuminates Beethoven’s musical universe. There will be food and cocktails available at Peavey Plaza.
• Twin Cities Jazz fest, happening this weekend! The Twin Cities Jazz Fest is free and will also be live streamed. There are two outdoor stages at Mears Park and one outdoor stage next to the Farmers Market. In addition, over 15 St. Paul venues have jazz programed throughout the weekend.
• Opera on the Lake at the Como Lakeside Pavilion from July 26-29. An evening full of gorgeous music, top-notch performances from local and international opera stars, and a whole lot of fun.

As an entrepreneur (or as an attorney working with entrepreneurs), we often forget to take breaks and step away from work to spend time with our friends and loved ones. I hope these opportunities above can get you enjoying the best parts of living in the Twin Cities—both our wonderful community and our summer weather!