Kirk, Smith working with Minnesota Beethoven Festival

Dr. Ned Kirk, Music Department, and Julie Smith, Performance Center general manager, have been named artistic director and managing director of the new Minnesota Beethoven Festival, a two-week classical music festival that will take place in venues throughout Winona and will feature performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
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Minnesota’s premier symphony orchestra will highlight the festival during opening and closing events. On Saturday, July 7, Minnesota Orchestra will perform a pops concert, and on Sunday, July 22, it will be led by Osmo Vänskä in performing Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3” and “Symphony No. 8.”

Also scheduled to appear during the 2007 festival are pianists Kevin Kenner and Kirk, the Artaria String Quartet from St. Paul, Canadian Brass, and the Filipovich/Vance/Kirk Piano Trio. The piano trio features Winona performers Natalie Filipovich on violin, Paul Vance on cello and Kirk on piano. In the fall, Minnesota Beethoven Festival will host an arts education week for Winona-area students and local string musicians.

Minnesota Beethoven Festival is the creation of Hugh Miller, president and CEO of RTP Company.

A complete schedule of events for the inaugural season of Minnesota Beethoven Festival is expected to be announced by mid-April. Tickets will be available from the SMU Box Office; watch for more information about pricing and availability.