Long run, many friends, many happy occasions.

After 35 years of incredible performances at Caponi Art Park, Minnesota Sinfonia will be performing one, final concert at the park. Founder and Artistic Director, Jay Fishman, says his time working with the Minnesota Sinfonia has been filled with “countless extraordinary concerts, many friends and many happy occasions.”

Since the orchestra’s conception in 1989 and their first performance at Caponi Art Park in 1995, Jay Fishman and his musicians have had a profound impact on communities and children around Minnesota. “The most important thing I can do is get kids the opportunity to be exposed to high-quality, fun, live classical performances,” Fishman told CAP. The pops concert at Caponi Art Park will feature an enriching program full of familiar, fun classical music from Sousa and Grainger to Jay Fishman’s own compositions and arrangements. Fishman studied orchestral composition at the University of Minnesota and received his Master’s in Orchestral Conducting at Indiana University’s School of Music. He has been composing music for over 50 years and tells CAP that his favorite part of working with MN Sinfonia is connecting with the kids over great music.

“It’s special,” says Fishman when asked about his relationship with the park and the orchestra’s experience performing in the outdoor amphitheater. “My parents were friends with Cheryl’s parents, and Cheryl had told me, ‘Jay, you gotta come see my park.’”Fishman then explained that Tony had shown him around the park and the stage- an open clearing at the time- and said, “Jay, I’m gonna build you an amphitheater and you’re going to come and perform.” The rest is history.

When asked about the challenges of running MN Sinfonia over the past few decades, Fishman explained that from a musical perspective, difficult lighting, acoustics and slim rehearsal time were ongoing challenges, but the players took them in stride. The orchestra is made up of many incredibly talented freelance musicians who he says “want to make good music for the community”.

It’s clear from talking with Jay Fishman about the MN Sinfonia that the connections within the orchestra and those with their greater Minnesota community have been the driving force behind the last 35 years of music.

At the end of the day, music has the power to bring people together with one another and the world they live in. We are so grateful at Caponi Art Park to have the privilege of welcoming the Minnesota Sinfonia one final time to the amphitheater stage. We invite you to join us for an evening of connection and free music with the Minnesota Sinfonia under a canopy of trees at Caponi Art Park.