The mission of the Friends of the SPCO is to support The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra through educational, social and fundraising activities.
Greetings from the Co-Presidents!
It felt so good for the Friends to get back in the swing of in-person activities this fall. Our wine-tasting-plus-opera-aria party in October was wonderful – Bella Italia indeed! Early in December we Co-Presidents and a few other Friends attended the SPCO Annual Meeting at the Ordway, and it was a joy to be with the SPCO’s leadership, musicians and supporters of our great orchestra, reviewing the past year’s successes.
January 2023 will usher in another busy stretch. Our fabulous music lectures by Daniel Freeman start already on January 4 and continue on Wednesdays throughout the month. The focus of these sessions is Donizetti’s heart-warming opera The Daughter of the Regiment, in which a supposed orphan, Marie, is raised like a mascot by an army regiment, falls in love with a villager and then – oh my! — discovers she’s an aristocrat. Come learn what makes this work such a charmer, which might also tell you why the Minnesota Opera will also be featuring it in performances this winter.
We have amazing events to warm your February as well. You’re invited to join us for Bluegrass and Brews at Summit Brewery in St. Paul for an evening easy listening and sipping on February 21. Featured that night are The Eclectics, one of the Twin Cities’ busiest Bluegrass bands, for you to enjoy along with dinner from Cossetta’s and, of course, Summit’s own tasty brews or non-alcoholic beverages. A few days later, on February 25, supremely talented young musicians will be vying for honors at the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition, which we co-sponsor with the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music. You need to hear these future stars yourself to believe how good they are!
Details on these upcoming events as well as others now being planned – opportunities to volunteer to help relaunch SPCO education programs such as Start the Music; the Friends’ annual Conversation with Books in April or May; a special evening with SPCO cellist Josh Koestenbaum also in May at a gracious Summit Avenue mansion – all these will be shared both on this website and via e-mail to all members of the Friends.
We’d love to see you at these events and to have you as a Friend of the SPCO! It takes just minutes to join, whether online or via a note in the mail. Let us hear from you, and let’s support our wonderful SPCO together!
Cj Suchta and Carolynn Johnson
Co-Presidents, Friends of the SPCO
Upcoming Events
January 18, 25, February 1, 8 @ 10am – 12pm
Winter Lectures by Daniel Freeman:
Donizetti, The Daughter of the Regiment
Because the first two sessions planned for this engaging four week series could not meet due to inclement weather, Dr. Daniel Freeman and the Friends adjusted the schedule – extending into the first two weeks of February – to keep the series complete!
Our engaging music lectures by Dr. Daniel Freeman continues with four sessions this winter focusing on Donizetti’s charming comic opera, The Daughter of the Regiment. In person at House of Hope Presbyterian Church, 797 Summit Ave., Saint Paul. Wednesday mornings, on January 18 and 25 and February 1 and 8.
February 21 @ 5pm – 9pm
Bluegrass and Brews at the Ratskeller
Join us for a warm, convivial evening at the Summit Brewing Ratskeller, the Friends’ second fundraiser of the season! Enjoy craft drinks and dinner from Cossetta along with live entertainment by The Eclectics, an acoustic string trio offering traditional fiddle tunes and bluegrass. Tuesday, February 21, 5 to 9 pm at Summit Brewery Ratskeller, 910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul.
