Calendar
If you would like your event to be added, please contact calendar@rochestermusicguild.
October 2026
Friday October 23—2:00 p.m.
Musicians from Rochester Symphony—Rochester Public Library Auditorium—Free
Classical Music Unveiled Join Rochester Symphony for a series of presentations that reveal the hidden brilliance behind some of the world’s greatest masterpieces. Through recorded music excerpts, stories, and demonstrations by orchestra musicians, Rochester Symphony Music Director Chia-Hsuan Lin shares the history and musical elements that create an exciting listening experience—for both curious newcomers to classical music and lifelong listeners. Musical selections in each presentation will be included in Rochester Symphony’s upcoming concert for those who wish to hear them performed in full. More details about the program can be found at www.rochestersymphony.org
Saturday, October 24—7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27, $8
The Infinite Sea The season opens in ceremonial style with majestic fanfare, setting the stage for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a work of such monumental scale and virtuosity that it was once thought impossible to perform. La Mer completes the program with an atmospheric portrayal of the sea, exploring its shimmering beauty and immense power.
Saturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 31, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 1, 3:00 p.m.
Choral Arts Ensemble—Historic Chateau Theatre—$45, $35, $10
Considering Matthew Shepard Experience the unforgettable power of Craig Hella Johnson’s acclaimed oratorio presented in a semi-staged production by Choral Arts Ensemble. Blending choir, instrumental ensemble dance, and lighting, this moving contemporary work tells a deeply human story of loss, compassion, and hope. Inspired by the life of Matthew Shepard — a gay college student who was murdered in a 1998 hate crime — this powerful work draws from Shepard’s journals, reflections from his family, poetry, interviews, and news accounts. Through themes of identity, belonging, empathy, and justice, the piece confronts difficult realities with extraordinary emotional honesty. Musically, it moves fluidly through classical, jazz, pop, country, hymnody, and spoken word, creating an experience that feels immediate and relevant for modern audiences. Tickets: choralartsensemble.org
Sunday, October 25—4:00 p.m.
A Festival of Music– First Presbyterian Church—Free, donations accepted
Dr. Osip Nikiforov, piano. Osip Nikiforov is a Siberian pianist who has studied under the tutelage of world-renowned pianists. He is a Third Prize winner of the 2016 San Antonio International Piano Competition. This Macalester College professor will feature the music of Tchaikovsky and Liszt.
November 2026
Sunday, November 8—3:00 p.m.
Choral Arts Treble Singers—Zumbro Lutheran Church–$30, $10
Confluence Featuring Choral Arts Treble Singers and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus Borealis Chamber Singers, these concerts highlight the unique strengths of each ensemble while exploring the expressive possibilities of voices and communities coming together. https://www.choralartsensemble.org/
Sunday, November 8—3:00 p.m.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra—Mount Olive Lutheran Church—$40, 35, $10
Classic Constellation: Europe’s Other Mozarts Lyra’s season opening concert will spotlight brilliant composers of Mozart’s era who illuminated different corners of Europe’s musical scene. www.lyrabaroque.org
Thursday, November 12—7:00 p.m.
Rochester Community Band—Dakota Middle School Auditorium, 5501 65th St NW—Free
Come join the Band for a delightful evening of music. The concert is performed by music lovers from all walks of life and all ages. RCB will be directed by Anthony Boldt, Elijah Gray and Eric Staubmuller. Selections include “Joy Dance”, “Second Suite in F,” “Tundra,” “Flight of Valor,” and “Charlie’s Spirit.” Bring the whole family and enjoy the music! www.rochestercommunityband.org
Friday, November 20—12:00 p.m.
Artu Duo – cello/piano —Christ United Methodist Church–free
Saturday, November 21—7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony and Chorale—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27 $8
Beethoven’s Revolution Inspired by Beethoven, Anna Clyne’s contemporary voice opens a program celebrating the human spirit’s defiance of darkness and the journey toward transformation. Brahms’s ethereal choral masterpiece traces a path from suffering to serenity, and Beethoven presents a bold vision of freedom triumphing over tyranny in “Eroica,” a heroic march to victory that revolutionized the world of music.
Sunday, November 22—4:00 p.m.
A Festival of Music– First Presbyterian Church—Free, donations accepted
Charles Lazarus, trumpet; David Cherwien, organ. Acclaimed Minnesota Orchestra and former Canadian Brass trumpeter, Charles Lazarus, teams up with organist and former Director of the National Lutheran Choir, David Cherwien, for an afternoon of exciting and virtuosic music making.
December 2026
Friday, December 11—7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 12—7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13—3:00 p.m.
Choral Arts Ensemble—Lourdes Chapel, Assisi Heights–$45, $35, $20, $15, $10
Christmas at Assisi: The Promise of Peace Enveloped in the grandeur of Lourdes Chapel at Assisi Heights, audiences will hear classic carol arrangements, historical choral treasures, stirring new works, and beloved popular selections — music chosen to comfort, inspire, and unite. From moments of quiet reflection to joyful celebration, The Promise of Peace invites listeners of all ages to step away from the world’s noise and rediscover the hope and shared humanity at the heart of the Christmas season. https://www.choralartsensemble.org/
Saturday, December 19—3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony and Chorale—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27, $8
Sounds of the Season Experience the warmth of the holidays when Music Director Emeritus Jere Lantz returns for a yuletide reunion with the orchestra and chorale. Concertmaster Alexandra Bartoi captures the thrill of the season in the dazzling “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, while festive masterpieces, beloved sing-along favorites, and Lantz’s signature arrangements create a musical celebration that feels like home.
January 2027
Friday, January 8—7:30 p.m.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra—First Presbyterian Church—$40, 35, $10
Nightwatchman and Royal Table: From Courty Splendor to Midnight Vigil Lyra Baroque Orchestra invites you into the evocative world of Heinrich Biber. www.lyrabaroque.org
February 2027
Saturday, February 6—7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27, $8
Jupiter Rising Louise Farrenc’s commanding overture opens the concert with a spirit of optimism and forward momentum, introducing the brilliant Strauss Horn Concerto, a masterpiece of both lyrical beauty and technical power. “Jupiter,” Mozart’s symphony of mythic proportions, thrills with grand fanfares and exhilarating complexity.
February 2027
Sunday, February 14—3:00 p.m.
A Festival of Music– First Presbyterian Church—Free, donations accepted
Chamber Trio—Donivan Hill, Garret Ross, and Ruth Marshall A well known and appreciated local trio presents a return concert. Donivan Hill (flute), Ruth Marshall (cello), and Garret Ross (piano) promise a fiery program including the beloved Op. 3 trio of Carl Maria von Weber.
March 2027
Saturday, March 6—7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony and Chorale—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27, $8
Hymns of Resilience In a powerful expression of national pride and resistance to oppression, we begin our program with Sibelius’s Finlandia, its resolute voice leading to the jubilant choral hymn, Te Deum. We conclude with Ralph Vaughn Williams’s meditative symphony, a gentle and uplifting respite from the violence and turbulence of World War II, for a concert that offers music of resilience, healing, and hope.
Saturday, March 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 14, 3:00 p.m.
Choral Arts Ensemble—St. Francis Catholic Church—Adults $35, Students $10
Heaven and Earth Rejoice: Giants of the Baroque This concert celebrates three towering Baroque composers (Vivaldi, Monteverdi & Handel) whose music helped define one of Western music’s most expressive and influential eras. Presented with a 16-piece chamber orchestra in the gorgeous acoustic of St. Francis Catholic Church, these masterworks invite audiences into a world of splendor and celebration — where heaven and earth rejoice. Tickets: choralartsensemble.org
April 2027
Sunday, April 11—3:00 p.m.
A Festival of Music– First Presbyterian Church—Free, donations accepted
Bells of the Bluffs handbell ensemble Founded in 2013, its mission statement is “Igniting passion for handbells.” Based in Red Wing, the group has entertained at a wide variety of venues in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Saturday, April 24—7:30 p.m.
Rochester Symphony—Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall—$49, $40, $27, $8
Dreams of Enchantment The Symphony’s season finale ignites in celebration with the fiery and sensual Danse Bacchanale. The intimate longing of Dvořák’s soulful Cello Concert sparks the spirit of fantasy in Scheherazade, where a tale of beauty and resilience amidst danger is carried by one of the most sweeping and lush orchestral scores of all time.
May 2027
Saturday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 2, 3:00 p.m.
Choral Arts Ensemble—Christ United Methodist Church—Adults $30, Students $10
Something whose name is Forever Moving seamlessly between traditional choral works, historical gems, and popular arrangements, the program reflects the rich emotional spectrum of our shared experience — joy, awe, humor, tenderness, nostalgia, hope, and gratitude. As always, Choral Arts offers a vibrant variety of musical colors and textures, creating a concert experience where every listener can enjoy live vocal music that is both familiar and unexpected. As with Mary Oliver’s words, this program invites all present to pause, listen deeply, and recognize the quiet wonders of each passing day. Tickets: choralartsensemble.org
Saturday, May 8—7:00 p.m.
A Festival of Music– First Presbyterian Church—Free, donations accepted
Vocal Music Educators Quartet. Colleen Chester (Rochester Symphony Chorale director), Ryan Deignan (Choral Arts Ensemble artistic director), Alan Dunbar, and Liz Pearse (Winona State University professors).
