October 15th, 2024
Mankato — The Mankato Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is celebrating Minnesota’s diverse culture with a concert on Saturday, October 26, 7 PM in Mankato West’s Auditorium. The MSO concert, titled Melodías del Corazón (Melodies of the Heart), features popular Latin American tunes and will showcase Latin American international star, Clarice Assad, known for her virtuosic jazz performing and composing. The concert will also feature MSO’s 2024 Young Artist Concerto Competition winner Vladimir Tsiper performing the first movement of the Prokofiev Second Violin Concerto.
The MSO has partnered with Mankato’s Old Town Day of the Dead Festival and its organizer Justin Eck. MSO’s concert will be presented at 7 PM, following on the heels of the festival. 2024 marks the fifth year of the Day of the Dead Festival and the first year of partnership with the Mankato Symphony. Eck says, “I am thrilled that the footprint of cultural celebration and impact continues to grow in a state where the Latino population continues to grow and prosper both themselves and the communities they provide to. The endorsement and collaboration with wonderful organizations like the Mankato Symphony Orchestra and the Living Earth Center inspire and confirm my hypothesis that our community wants more cultural celebration, as they reflect our diverse populations.”
Thanks to a sponsorship from the Dotson Family Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation, this concert is being offered free of charge. Due to limited seating, a sign-up for free general admission tickets is available at MankatoSymphony.org/free. MSO Executive Director Bethel Balge states, “This is a first of-its-kind concert for the MSO, and tickets are going fast. Reserve early to secure a seat in the auditorium.” Tickets for reserved paid seating is available by booking through the Box Office at 507-933- 0441
MSO Music Director Ernesto Estigarribia Mussi knows the music well as he hails from the Latin American country of Paraguay. He states, “Bringing the vibrant and diverse sounds of Latin America to Mankato has been long awaited. This concert is a celebration of culture, unity, and the universal language of music. I am thrilled to share this experience with our community and to collaborate with the incredible Clarice Assad, who is a force of nature and will delight our audience.”
Season passes are available for purchase through October 26. Passes and individual tickets may be purchased online at MankatoSymphony.org or by contacting the box office at 507-933-0441. Tickets are also available at the door on the day of the concert