Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts

Artistic Advisor Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) brings his unique and thoughtful perspective with another chamber music curation. Music and performers to be announced in early 2024. This concert marks the final cycle of the Lakes Area Music Festival's Winter Series of chamber music in Minneapolis (Woman's Club of Minneapolis) and Brainerd (Gichi-ziibi Center for…

Artistic Advisor Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) brings his unique and thoughtful perspective with another chamber music curation. Music and performers to be announced in early 2024. This concert marks the final cycle of the Lakes Area Music Festival’s Winter Series of chamber music in Minneapolis (Woman’s Club of Minneapolis) and Brainerd (Gichi-ziibi Center for…

See the Legacy Chorale & Legacy Youth Chorale at Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd on Saturday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. The Treble Singers and Mixed Voice Singers, elementary and middle school choirs, will begin the concert with a moving program called ‘Build Me a World’ which explores core themes such as community,…

Ignite all of your senses as giant portraits and famous works of art are created live on stage. You’ll be surrounded by enchanting original music on unusual instruments as well as the incredible talent of powerhouse vocalists. Custom Artpunk wear is a genre unique to this troupe and will give you a sense of each…

The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants are two of the six performing ensembles within The United States Air Force Band, the premier musical organization of the U.S. Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., The U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants honor those who have served, inspire American…

Composers have been writing music for centuries. Join HSO for a program of world premieres and masterworks from the orchestral repertoire. -The winner of the 2024 Composers’ Competition -Miriam Webber, principal bassoon, will give the world premiere of the orchestral version of Lindsey Wiehl’s Letter in an Envelope. Admission is FREE with free-will donations graciously…

Forever Young follows one unforgettable group of friends as they discover the greatest hits of all time! Set in a music-filled suburban basement, this unbelievable heartfelt true story is guaranteed to take you back to the first time you pushed play, tuned in, and set the needle down. Featuring songs by; Billy Joel, The Beatles,…

Steven Curtis Chapman is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. VIP packages includes a meet and greet and photo with Steven Curtis Chapman! Doors for VIP will open at 5pm and the photos will begin around 5:15pm. You must arrive on time to take advantage of meet…

Looking for a fun day out with the kids? Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family! Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a…

The Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza is back! We are excited to announce that Charlie Berens, comedian, New York Times Best Selling Author, Emmy-winning journalist, musician and creator of the Manitowoc Minute, is coming to Brainerd for our Kick Off Party! Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

ROCK N ROLL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! A Las Vegas-Caliber, multimedia, Rock & Roll extravaganza that mixes hilarious stories with your favorite holiday songs in a way like you've never heard before! Friday, December 15 @ 7:30pm (NEW TIME) Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts 602 S 5th Street Brainerd MN 56401 TICKETS: $35 ACCESSIBLE SEATING: Please call…

Holidays are the perfect time to sing. Whether it’s carols or music that is operatic in nature, you will leave this performance with beautiful tunes in your head. -David Thompson, principal oboe, will give the Minnesota premiere of Allan Stephenson’s Concerto for English Horn & Strings. -Minor Alterations, a fun medley of Christmas carols in…

This Sunday afternoon performance in Brainerd will feature both adult and youth concert programs, wrapped up in one fabulous package! This performance will include volunteer ASL interpreting, provided by students from the Central Lakes College ASL program. Over 40 youth singers from 7 area school districts will present a program of patriotic music, holiday tunes,…

A Las Vegas-Caliber, multimedia, Rock & Roll extravaganza that mixes hilarious stories with your favorite holiday songs in a way like you’ve never heard before! Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

A Las Vegas-Caliber, multimedia, Rock & Roll extravaganza that mixes hilarious stories with your favorite holiday songs in a way like you’ve never heard before! Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

This diverse program is meant to be energetic and upbeat as it contains music for dance or pieces directly inspired by dance. Selections include: -The horns of the HSO are featured in a performance of Schumann’s Concertpiece. -Yao Dance, one of the most popular Chinese instrumental compositions of the 20th century. -The timeless melodies from…

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture AUGUSTA HOLMÈS: La nuit et l’amour RICHARD WAGNER: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 15 Shostakovich’s 15th and final symphony closes our extraordinary 15th anniversary season. As he worked to express his symphonic voice one last time, Shostakovich also revisited the voices of many of his…

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture AUGUSTA HOLMÈS: La nuit et l’amour RICHARD WAGNER: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 15 Shostakovich’s 15th and final symphony closes our extraordinary 15th anniversary season. As he worked to express his symphonic voice one last time, Shostakovich also revisited the voices of many of his…

SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 1 “Classical” CAROLINE SHAW: Watermark Piano Concerto – Tanya Gabrielian, piano WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G minor Pianist Tanya Gabrielian returns to the Lakes Area to perform Caroline Shaw’s Watermark, a spellbinding work for piano and orchestra that was created by reimagining the themes and textures of Beethoven’s…

DON PASQUALE GAETANO DONIZETTI: composer GIOVANNI RUFFINI: libretto This rollicking bel canto comedy is a celebration of girl power! The buffoonish Don Pasquale is determined to marry the much younger Norina. However, with her wit and the help of a few friends, she manages to both teach Pasquale a lesson and find true love. Full…

NATHANIEL STOOKEY: The Composer is Dead Other works for orchestra Enjoyable for kids of all ages! Mystery, sarcasm, and delight are all spun together in this family-friendly musical experience. Help the LAMF orchestra solve a musical mystery while being introduced to the variety of instruments onstage in creative and unusual ways. Jeff Andrews narrates the…

GIOACHINO ROSSINI: Overture to William Tell Opera arias and ensembles featuring our 2023 Vocal Fellows Our season is brimming with beautiful sounds, but in this special program, voices of all types and from every corner of the world come together to serenade you. Hear many of your favorite opera moments from the famous William Tell…

GEORGE WALKER: “Lyric” for String Quartet CLAUDE DEBUSSY: 3 Chansons de Bilitis, arranged for trumpet ROBERT SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 Robert Schumann brought new life to the chamber music genre as one of the first composers to really explore the combination of string quartet and piano. In this mid-week chamber music…

ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour HECTOR BERLIOZ: Les nuits d’eté (Summer Nights) – Julia Bullock, soprano JOHANNES BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 It’s difficult to fully experience the magic of the Lakes Area without spending a summer evening by the water. In a program inspired by the warmth and mystery of summer nights, the LAMF orchestra…

ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour HECTOR BERLIOZ: Les nuits d’eté (Summer Nights) – Julia Bullock, soprano JOHANNES BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 It’s difficult to fully experience the magic of the Lakes Area without spending a summer evening by the water. In a program inspired by the warmth and mystery of summer nights, the LAMF orchestra…

ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour HECTOR BERLIOZ: Les nuits d’eté (Summer Nights) – Julia Bullock, soprano JOHANNES BRAHMS:Symphony No. 2 It’s difficult to fully experience the magic of the Lakes Area without spending a summer evening by the water. In a program inspired by the warmth and mystery of summer nights, the LAMF orchestra performs…

GEORGE GERSHWIN: Song selections to be announced MARGARET BONDS: Song selections to be announced GEORGE GERSHWIN: Catfish Row, Symphonic Suite from Porgy & Bess Improvisation. Expression. Rebellion. Step back into the Jazz Age at our annual gala, featuring Grammy-nominated singer Julia Bullock and music from American musical legends such as George Gershwin and Margaret Bonds.…

In this highly anticipated event, ‘The Spirit Singers’ – a strong new MN choral ensemble under the direction of Andrew Miller – will perform a concert and join forces with voices of ‘The Legacy Chorale’, featuring guest conductor Michael Smith. The program, called “Unceasing Love”, consists of time-honored choral classics as well as highlight Minnesota…

ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour HECTOR BERLIOZ: Les nuits d’eté (Summer Nights) – Julia Bullock, soprano JOHANNES BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 It’s difficult to fully experience the magic of the Lakes Area without spending a summer evening by the water. In a program inspired by the warmth and mystery of summer nights, the LAMF orchestra…

All performances are on the Main stage in the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts Tickets – Students & Seniors $6 | Adults $9 Performances: April 30 – 2 pm Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

All performances are on the Main stage in the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts Tickets – Students & Seniors $6 | Adults $9 Performances: April 29 – 2 & 7 pm April 30 – 2 pm Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota presents “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” featuring the Legacy Chorale and Legacy Youth Chorale. The Legacy Chorale, under the direction of Michael Smith, is a sixty-five member auditioned adult choir. Legacy Youth Chorale, led by founding director Kennedy Niska, is a fifty-five member auditioned choir of young people between…

Conducted by Ryan Webber, HSO’s Spring Concert “The Youth Concerto Competition Returns” featuring winners of the 2023 Echo Kowalzek Youth Concerto Competition. HSO concerts are offered FREE and all ages are encouraged to attend. Conductor chats are held prior to each concert and good will donations are gladly accepted. Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd…

George Gershwin:Rhapsody in Blue, arr. clarinet and piano Louis Armstrong:What a Wonderful World, arr. clarinet and piano Paul Ben-Haim:String Quartet, Op. 21 For tickets, call 218-831-0765 for assistance. Tickets also available at the door. Music and musicians from historically marginalized communities are continuing to take center stage in artistic programming, and as this work continues…

First awarded in 1776, and with an infinitesimally small number of recipients over the ensuing 247 years, the Congressional Gold Medal clearly stands among the highest honors the United States can confer upon both individuals and organizations, foreign or domestic. Generally speaking, a Congressional Gold Medal is awarded for what must be exceptionally distinguished achievements…

THE SECOND CITY TOURING COMPANY is always original, daring, and hilarious. Performing social and political satire with scripted scenes, music, and improvisation. Their alumni list is a veritable “Who’s Who” of comedy including Bill Murray, John & Jim Belushi, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George Wendt, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Tim Meadows,…

Join us for an evening of Music and Conversation with three Minnesota homegrown Artists featuring: Aaron Simmons / Kelley Smith / Jake Nelson Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

A Las Vegas-Caliber, multimedia, Rock & Roll extravaganza that mixes hilarious stories with your favorite holiday songs in a way like you’ve never heard before. Doors open at 7:00PM Show starts at 7:30PM Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Your favorite a cappella group is back! This Christmas season, enjoy the Emmy-Award-winning Tonic Sol-Fa who brings a new holiday show to life! The Emmy Award-winning a cappella quartet, Tonic Sol-fa, brings their 2022 Misfit Tour to the Gichi-ziibi Performing Arts Center at the Brainerd High School on Sunday, December 11th at 6pm. Enjoy the…

Conducted by Ryan Webber, HSO's Winter Concert Series "Holidays Around the World" will be in collaboration with Brainerd High School Orchestra/CLC String Orchestra featuring violin soloists Leslie Zander, Concertmaster, & Sandy Larson, First Violin, on a Concerto for Two Violins and String Orchestra by Vivaldi. HSO concerts are offered FREE and all ages are encouraged…

Come support the Music General dancers at our annual Holiday Recital entitled "Rudolph" Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Come support the Music General dancers at our annual Holiday Recital entitled "Rudolph" Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Come and Enjoy the top bands from Minnesota High Schools with The Central Lakes Wind Symphony taking the stage after Intermission! Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

A comedy by Caroline Francke. Based on the novel by Edward Streeter, illustrated by Gluyas Williams. Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Performances: November 18, 7 pm November 19, 2 & 7 pm November 20, 2pm All performances will be held in the Studio Stage at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts.…

The Legacy Chorale presents: Christmas in November and brings together more than 100 local adult and youth musicians. The first half of the concert program will be Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi, accompanied by a small Baroque ensemble. The youth choir will sing a set of popular holiday songs before The Legacy Chorale concludes the program…

Minneapolis-born pianist Evren Ozel returns to Minnesota for these performances continuing the Lakes Area Music Festival’s fall programming. A master of the works of Frédéric Chopin, Ozel will perform the Scherzo No. 4 in E Major alongside Beethoven’s final piano sonata and an eclectic variety of other works. J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in…

Stars from the original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. Time magazine, in the March 2020 “Best of” issue, listed Paula’s HBO special, Cats, Cops and Stuff as one of The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever. Paula can be heard weekly as the host of the…

Conducted by Ryan Webber, HSO’s Fall 2022 Concert Series is themed “European Tour.” The musical scores will feature soloist Chris Fogderud, Principal Trumpet, HSO woodwinds, and St Francis Concert Orchestra in Little Falls. HSO concerts are offered Free and all ages are encouraged to attend. Conductor Chats are held prior to each concert. Good will…

Kicking off the winter series, LAMF presents the illustrious Broadway soprano Andrea Ross. An audience favorite from last season, Ms. Ross will bring a program of familiar tunes from the Great American Songbook– jazz standards, pop songs and show tunes of the early decades of the 20th century. Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more, in collaboration…

Our inaugural composer-in-residence, Elizabeth Ogonek, opens this finale celebration with a grand fanfare, co-commissioned with the Boston Symphony for the Tanglewood Festival. Then, Gustav Mahler’s titanic Fifth Symphony brings the season to a triumphant close. “A symphony must be like the world, it must embrace the world,” Mahler once said, and this closing concert embraces…

Our inaugural composer-in-residence, Elizabeth Ogonek, opens this finale celebration with a grand fanfare, co-commissioned with the Boston Symphony for the Tanglewood Festival. Then, Gustav Mahler’s titanic Fifth Symphony brings the season to a triumphant close. “A symphony must be like the world, it must embrace the world,” Mahler once said, and this closing concert embraces…

The LAMF Composer Fellowship offers early-career composers the chance to present their work to our orchestra and audience. Following a new work by our inaugural composer fellow, Isaac Santos, we hear another example of a composer’s early work in Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto. These pieces are followed by Franz Joseph Haydn’s 104th and final…

Hilarity and misadventure ensue when two productions—one a grand opera and the other a comedic farce—are forced to perform their shows simultaneously. For our annual opera production we present an enchanting masterpiece by Richard Strauss which satirizes showbusiness as it explores the widest range of musical and theatrical possibility, from monumental Greek Tragedy to irreverent…

Hilarity and misadventure ensue when two productions—one a grand opera and the other a comedic farce—are forced to perform their shows simultaneously. For our annual opera production we present an enchanting masterpiece by Richard Strauss which satirizes showbusiness as it explores the widest range of musical and theatrical possibility, from monumental Greek Tragedy to irreverent…

For many of us, the land of our ancestors holds a special power. For the Afro-British composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, that fascination drew him to the music and culture of Black America, where his forebears had been enslaved. We present his luscious Clarinet Quintet alongside two of his fundamental influences: the European tradition of composers like…

A ‘concerto grosso’ pits a group of soloists against a larger ensemble, moving between cooperation and contrast. Artistic advisor and baroque violinist Chloe Fedor leads a baroque ensemble in early examples of these concertos, partnered with modern takes on the genre by Errollyn Wallen and Samuel Carl Adams. Program: GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL:Concerto Grosso in G…

A ‘concerto grosso’ pits a group of soloists against a larger ensemble, moving between cooperation and contrast. Artistic advisor and baroque violinist Chloe Fedor leads a baroque ensemble in early examples of these concertos, partnered with modern takes on the genre by Errollyn Wallen and Samuel Carl Adams. Program: GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL:Concerto Grosso in G…

Indian-American composer Reena Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music. Her work, Teen Murti (Three Statues), takes inspiration from Hindustani singing traditions and sits aside chamber works by French composers Maurice Ravel and Francis Poulenc. Program: FRANCIS POULENC:Sextet for Winds and Piano REENA ESMAIL:Teen Murti for Cello and String Quartet MAURICE…

The “Pago a la Tierra” (tribute to the earth) is an ancient Andean ritual of thanksgiving for nature’s bounty. We open our 14th annual season with a tribute to earth, water, and spirit featuring a world premiere by Peruvian-American composer Jimmy López Bellido followed by Jean Sibelius’ masterful Second Symphony, inspired by the Apennine mountains…

The “Pago a la Tierra” (tribute to the earth) is an ancient Andean ritual of thanksgiving for nature’s bounty. We open our 14th annual season with a tribute to earth, water, and spirit featuring a world premiere by Peruvian-American composer Jimmy López Bellido followed by Jean Sibelius’ masterful Second Symphony, inspired by the Apennine mountains…

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Song selections to be announced Ticket sales available in early June. The timeless story of enraged rivals and forbidden love comes to life at our exclusive West Side Story gala! Broadway’s Andrea Ross and Ryan Vona join the Lakes Area Music Festival Symphony in a celebration of…

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Song selections to be announced. The timeless story of enraged rivals and forbidden love comes to life at our exclusive West Side Story gala! Broadway’s Andrea Ross and Ryan Vona join the Lakes Area Music Festival Symphony in a celebration of favorites from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen…

As a part of our Prelude Series, we will have a celebration of the Gichi-ziibi Center’s new 9’ Steinway Model D grand piano featuring Steinway Artist and returning LAMF star, Henry Kramer. The Steinway is newly rebuilt by PianoCraft in Maryland and generously donated to the Brainerd School District by Dutch and Irma Cragun. Traveling…

Astor Piazzolla:“Nightclub 1960” from Histoire du Tango William Grant Still:Three Visions (arr. solo harp) Ferdinand Rebay:Sonata for Viola and Guitar in D minor Stephen Paulus:Petite Suite for Flute, Viola, and Harp The Warm Up: Music to Welcome Spring. Curated by artistic advisor Garrett McQueen, this program welcomes the change of seasons with a Piazzolla tango, William Grant Still’s 3…

Heartland Symphony Orchestra will perform City Beautiful by Ingrid Stölzel, which was originally planned for our Spring 2020 program. The Youth Concerto Competition will be held in Spring 2022 and this program will feature the winners. Traveling for this event? Find Brainerd Lakes Area Lodging

Complete works for Cello and Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven We present Sphinx competition winning cellist Gabriel Martins in a cycle of the complete works for cello and piano by Ludwig van Beethoven. Three unique programs including additional works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and more. PROGRAM III – Sunday, March 6 Beethoven: Variations in E-flat Major,…

Complete works for Cello and Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven We present Sphinx competition winning cellist Gabriel Martins in a cycle of the complete works for cello and piano by Ludwig van Beethoven. Three unique programs including additional works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and more. PROGRAM II – Friday, March 4 Beethoven: Variations in F Major,…

Complete works for Cello and Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven We present Sphinx competition winning cellist Gabriel Martins in a cycle of the complete works for cello and piano by Ludwig van Beethoven. Three unique programs including additional works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and more. PROGRAM I – Tuesday, March 1 Ludwig van Beethoven: Cello Sonata…

Explore the enduring appeal and eternal groove of the Baroque dances and grounds, curated and performed by artistic advisor Chloe Fedor, joined by a continuo team of historical performance specialists. Featured Artist COVID Protocols: We look forward to welcoming you to our concerts! After our experience this past summer, LAMF plans to proceed with a…

Hear one of the nation’s finest college choirs perform Saturday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Brainerd High School’s Gitchi-ziibi Center for the Arts. Conductor Michael Culloton, celebrating his first tour with The Concordia Choir, conducts the 69-voice a cappella choir in a varied concert, including works by Alexandre Gretchaninoff, Carol Barnett, Wendell Whalum, Ellen…

This event has been cancelled With songs like "Cracklin' Rosie," "Song Sung Blue," and "Sweet Caroline," Neil Diamond sold over 100 million records worldwide – hits that were the soundtrack of one generation after the next, easily spanning five decades. This nostalgic celebration stars Matt Vee, nephew of the late 1960's pop star and teen…

Tyke’s Carpet Castle proudly presents, Sinatra and Company “That Holiday Feeling”, a fun-filled variety holiday show featuring the talents of award winning vocalist Tim Patrick, accomplished singer and producer Colleen Raye and top-notch big band vocalist Debbie O’Keefe, each bringing their own brand of talent and charisma to the stage. You’ll hear wonderful renditions of…

The Rock & Roll Christmas! Rock & Roll Christmas is a Las Vegas-caliber, multimedia, full-production show that mixes an 8-piece band with music, comedy, parodies and even a game show! Join an all-star cast of musicians as they rock their way through timeless holiday classics and bring new takes on hit songs you didn’t even…