Coffee Concerts at the Lakeville Area Arts Center

07/08/2025

More about our friend Ken from YourClassical MPR

Freed, who died unexpectedly on June 29, joined the Minnesota Orchestra as a violist in 1998.

07/04/2025

A tribute from The Isles Ensemble for their violist Ken Freed. Condolence to all who worked closely with Ken on the loss of this bright, shining person.

The Isles Ensemble is devastated to share the news of violist Kenneth Freed's sudden and unexpected passing. Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife, Gwen, and their children, Zachary, Eleanor, and Jonah.

Ken came to the Twin Cities in 1998, when he joined the viola section of the Minnesota Orchestra after serving as second violinist of the Manhattan String Quartet for five years. His mark on the musical community of Minnesota is indelible; alongside his instrumental career he enjoyed a 12-year tenure as music director and conductor of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, as well as a season as an assistant conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. He was a founder of the Learning Through Music Consulting Group, a music education nonprofit that used music as a teaching tool to improve children’s learning outcomes and featured partnerships with the Minneapolis Public Schools, the University of Minnesota, the MacPhail Center for Music and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. The musicians of The Isles Ensemble are so lucky to have enjoyed his beautiful playing and innovative programming in recent years.

Words fail to fully express the warmth, energy, open-heartedness, and humor with which Ken lived his life. Though his musical and professional achievements were many, it is the depth and steadfastness of his friendship, his zest for life, and the love and esteem he showed for his family, friends, and colleagues, that set him apart. He will be immeasurably missed.

07/02/2025

More on the passing of our dear friend Ken.

07/01/2025

We’re sad to relay the sad news of the sudden passing of Minnesota Orchestra violist Ken Freed. Ken was a bright, shining light of the MN music firmament. He performed at the LAAC this past season on the Isles Ensemble - Exploring Passion - The Fire Within Us program. He also had many other levels of involvement with the MN musical scene including a dozen years as conductor of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. He frequently appeared as chamber musician and soloist with regional orchestras, always joyfully involved with making music happen. A host of organizations and performers who had the privilege of working with him have been sharing their warm memories and deep sense of loss across social media.

Ken was also a born mentor and enthusiastic supporter of other musicians. He and the Isles Ensemble were a joy to work with last season and performed an unforgettable concert. Ken also advised us in our recent move to having Springboard for the Arts as fiscal sponsor for these Coffee Concerts at the Lakeville Area Arts Center.

Ken was a brilliant musician, both as performer and scholar. He combined his keen intellect and encyclopedic knowledge with a wicked wit and contagious, conspiratorial smile and chuckle. He took his art very seriously, but never sanctimoniously. He knew how to both plumb the depths and have fun with music, and shared his joy generously.

He was a blessing during his too-short life, and his memory is a blessing to everyone whose life was touched by his spirit, music, and humor.

We wish peace and comfort to his family, friends, and very lucky colleagues.

Thanks for everything, Ken!

With great sadness, we share the news that our former Music Director, Kenneth Freed, passed away unexpectedly yesterday. Ken led the MSO for 12 remarkable seasons and was a gifted violist with the Minnesota Orchestra. His passion for music, his great sense of humor, and his friendship will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.

A memorial service for Ken will be held Sunday, July 6 at 3pm at Temple Israel in Minneapolis.

06/26/2025

The Summit Ave. OboeBass! Backyard Concert scheduled for this evening has been cancelled due to rain and cold. Stay posted! They hope to reschedule sometime in August.

06/25/2025

SORRY! Today’s scheduled Oboebass! Backyard Concert Canceled due to incessant rain today!

We still hope to perform the program tomorrow evening at the 1106 Summit Ave., St Paul location, weather permitting. Keep posted — if possible, we’d still love to perform for you in our backyard later this summer and we’ll let you know when we can make it happen.

06/19/2025

Congrats to Jeremiah Sanders for his Competition win!

The hall may still be reverberating from his 1/14/24 recital with pianist Erica Guo at the LAAC!

Congratulations to “vocally powerful” (KDHX) baritone Jeremiah Sanders for winning the Baritone Prize in the 2025 George Shirley Vocal Competition!

https://smtd.umich.edu/george-shirley-competition/ -winners

06/05/2025

We’re terribly saddened to share this news. Arek and his wife Claudia performed on this series in several very memorable performances, including during our first season of married couples “Making Beautiful Music Together,” with violinist Peter McGuire as the Ouchard Trio, and with Sahar Hasan in the Ladyslipper Ensemble. Series founder Rolf Erdahl has known Arek and Claudia since student days at the Peabody Conservatory, work as Principals in the Winnipeg Symphony, and during Arek’s illustrious Minnesota Orchestra career. We mourn his passing and are grateful our lives have been illumined by his brilliance. Rest in peace, dear friend.

This week's performances are dedicated to our wonderful colleague, Arek Tesarczyk. Arek passed away last month after a long illness he faced with great dignity. Originally from Poland, Arek spent 11 years as Principal Cello of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra before joining us in 2004. He was humble, kind, "devastatingly funny," (according to Principal Cello Tony Ross) and was a rock in our cello section.

Our thoughts and condolences go to Arek's wife Claudia Chen and his children Viktor and Katia.

05/18/2025

Warmed up and ready to go for Baroque! See you at the LAAC today at 2:00!

05/17/2025

Spoiler alert! Our finale tomorrow is Bach's "Ich esse mit Freuden," from Cantata BWV 84. Voice, oboe, strings, and harpsichord combine to let you know that simple pleasures are the best.

The text is a perfect recipe for contentment and an antidote to the stresses our times:

"I eat my little bit of bread with joy
and heartily leave to my neighbor his own.
A peaceful conscience, a happy spirit,
a thankful heart, that gives praise and thanks,
increases its blessing, sweetens its need."

Come share some coffee, treats, music, and fellowship with us this Sunday at 2:00 at the LAAC!

05/16/2025

Here's the Sun Thisweek article about this weekend's concert with Early Music Minnesota, soprano Linh Kauffman, and OboeBass!

Sun., May 18, 2:00 pm at the LAAC

The final performance of the Lakeville Area Arts Center Coffee Concerts series on May 18 will feature soprano Linh Kauffman in collaboration with Early Music Minnesota and duo OboeBass!

03/06/2025

Here's the Sun Thisweek article about this weekend's Coffee Concert with the The Isles Ensemble performing "Exploring Passion - The Fire Within Us."

We hope to see you at the LAAC Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 to experience this great program and wonderful musicians!

The Isles Ensemble, hailed by the Star Tribune as “The Cream of Twin Cities classical musicians,” presents Exploring Passion: The Fire Within Us at 2 p.m. March 9 as part