Minnesota Sinfonia050

Think of an excuse not to expose children to live performances of orchestral music - tickets are expensive, it's too stuffy or boring, kids aren't welcome - and then think again.

The mission of the remarkable Minnesota Sinfonia is to give those people least inclined to attend a performance no excuse not to attend. It sets its sights on families with young children, inner city youth, and the elderly. In the process, over the past 15-plus years, it's garnered a lot of fans, and opened a lot of minds.

All performances are free, and children of all ages are not only welcome to attend, but urged to. The atmosphere is jovial and informal, and the enthusiasm and energy of the musicians and conductor are infectious. Context is provided for the works performed in an entertaining and informative way to increase appreciation, and the performances are held all over the metro area - in neighborhood schools, churches, parks - for added convenience. And as if all that weren't enough, the musicians are first-rate, perhaps inspired by the good works they do.