Our Ensembles
Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra (MSO)
The Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra is a full symphony orchestra that performs at an advanced level. Members include professional and experienced amateur musicians. Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Stirling, the MSO aspires to musical excellence in rehearsal and performance.
Rehearsal Information
Rehearsals are on Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m., September through June, at the Arts Center on 7 at Minnetonka High School.
About the Conductor
Dr. Jeffrey Stirling has directed symphonic concerts and opera in North America and Europe. He is currently Music Director of the Saint Paul Civic Symphony and the Northeast Orchestra, and has appeared as conductor with Skylark Opera, the Lakes Area Music Festival, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and other regional ensembles. In past seasons, Dr. Stirling has been a guest conductor with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and a cover conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra.
Dr. Stirling holds degrees from Yale and Northwestern University, and pursued advanced studies at the Paris Conservatory, the Tanglewood and Salzburg summer music festivals as well as at the Fontainebleau School (France). Dr. Stirling was chosen by Leonard Slatkin to take part in the National Conducting Institute with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D. C. His mentors have included Seiji Ozawa, Pierre Boulez, Marin Alsop, Charles Bruck and Victor Yampolsky. Dr. Stirling is an accomplished educator. He served as Interim Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota School of Music, and has conducted orchestras at St. Olaf College, Luther College and Gustavus Adolphus College, as well as at St. Cloud State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Stirling was a conductor with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies for 11 seasons.
The MSO is proud to sponsor our annual Young Artist Program.
Chamber Orchestra
The Minnetonka Chamber Orchestra offers members the opportunity to play their instruments, explore a variety of music and perform at a variety of venues in the community. Directed by Lara MacLean, MS the smaller size of the chamber ensemble consists of strings, woodwinds (in pairs), brass & percussion, and performs quality programs including classical symphonies and overtures. The Minnetonka Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to provide the enjoyment of music for its members and for the audience to which it performs. The ensemble is non-auditioned (with sectionals as needed) and presents three concert series each year.
Rehearsal Information
We rehearse Monday nights from 7 - 9 p.m., September through May, at the Arts Center on 7 at Minnetonka High School.
About the Conductor
Lara (Dyrud) MacLean grew up in the St. Paul area, graduating from Alexander Ramsey high school in Roseville. She started playing violin at the age of 10 and quickly advanced, taking part in extracurricular orchestras such as GTCYS, MYS, and the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s All-State Orchestra. She received a scholarship to study violin performance at the University of Minnesota. After two years she transferred and graduated from Augsburg College with a degree in violin performance and an emphasis in speech communications. She then went to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL for her masters on a conducting assistantship to study violin and conducting.
When Lara returned to Minnesota she was an active, busy freelance musician and started teaching privately and with summer programs at MacPhail School of Music. She fell in love with education and received a Masters in Teaching and Learning through St. Mary’s University of Winona. She has taught kindergarten through college-level music for 29 years. Lara has taught for Gustavus Adolphus College, Concordia College of St. Paul, and Bemidji State University. She conducted for Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies and has been guest District Conductor for All District Festivals in Roseville, Mountain View, Hastings, Robbinsdale, and Edina. She currently teaches orchestra in the Eden Prairie School District. She lives in St. Paul with her two children Lauren and Jackson.
Concert Band
The Minnetonka Concert Band is a highly proficient ensemble. Members enjoy rehearsing and performing challenging repertoire in a five week rehearsal/performance series twice per year. Under the direction of Dan Geldert, former Director of Bands for Minnetonka High School, the Concert Band engages the community with programming aimed to please a diverse audience.
Rehearsal Information
Four consecutive Wednesday evenings and one Saturday morning prior to each performance. Concerts take place in late September and mid-March. Rehearsals are held at the Arts Center on 7 at Minnetonka High School.
About the Conductor
Dan Geldert earned degrees in Music Education from Augsburg College and the University of Colorado and was the Director of Bands at Minnetonka High School from 1962-1997. Among many other directing positions, Dan was choir director at Minnetonka Lutheran Church from 1967-1989 and director of the St. Louis Park Community Band from 2000-2002. He was recipient of the “Augsburg College Outstanding Music Graduate” award in 1987 and the International Association of Jazz Educators “Minnesota Jazz Educator of the Year” award in 1991. At the first annual Minnetonka Alumni Awards held in November 2009, he was honored as an inductee to the MHS Faculty Hall of Fame. Dan keeps busy as an avid photographer and loves to travel.
Jazz Band
Led by Greg Lewis, our jazz band is made up of amateur musicians from throughout the Twin Cities. We held our inaugural event in November of 2021 with a Swing Dance.
Rehearsal Information
We rehearse for 6-8 weeks prior to each event on Wednesday nights at the Minnetonka High School band room.
Senior Chorale
The Minnetonka Senior Chorale is a community of singers aged 55 and over who gather weekly to explore and perform choral music. This ensemble offers a stimulating blend of fun and challenge, ideal for those with some singing background and previous choir experience. Members enjoy free participation and are welcome from all communities.
The Chorale is led by Michelle Gehrz, recently recognized as the Minnesota Choral Director of the Year by the American Choral Directors Association-Minnesota. Sessions are held at the Minnetonka Community Center from September through May, where the group focuses on a diverse repertoire, honing skills and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow music enthusiasts.
Watch our website for registration announcements throughout the year, or call the City of Minnetonka Senior Services at (952) 939-8393.
Youth Choir
MAM partners with the City of Minnetonka to offer high-quality musical programming to youth in grades K-3 from across the metro area. Choirs are open to children from all schools and school districts. The Youth Choirs rehearse at Clear Springs Elementary on Mondays during the rehearsal season (dates are communicated by the Ensemble Director).
About the Conductor
Melanie McIvor has been teaching elementary classroom music and directing children’s choirs with Minnetonka Public Schools for the past 21 years. She has directed children’s choirs with Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and is currently the co-chair for the 4-5-6 Girl’s Honor’s Choir with the American Choral Director’s Association - Minnesota Chapter. She also directs the Select Choir with the Tonka District Children's Choirs for grades 4-6. She is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and completed her master’s degree in teaching and learning through Saint Mary’s University in Winona.