Previous events

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 — "Ode to Joy" Sunday, May 10 · 3:00 p.m. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University · St. Paul (Arden Hills)

Chorus Polaris is proud to join forces with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra for one of the most celebrated works in all of classical music — Beethoven's monumental Symphony No. 9. This triumphant collaboration brings together our full chorus, four outstanding soloists, and a full orchestra for an unforgettable season finale.

The afternoon opens with a special treat: 15-year-old piano prodigy Ella Wan, winner of the Saint Paul Piano Teachers Association Concerto Competition, performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1. Ella is also a national first-prize winner in the 2024–2025 Music Teachers National Association competition — don't miss her!

The concert is free and open to the public (donations gratefully accepted).

🎶 Pre-concert talk at 2:15 p.m. with MVO Artistic Director Kornel Thomas 🅿️ Ample parking available — arrive early! 📍 Benson Great Hall, 3900 Bethel Drive, Saint Paul

We hope to see you there as we close our season with joy!

WHO: You, Your Guest(s), and Chorus Polaris

WHAT: Love, Chorus Polaris (A Symphony of Love and Light) - a Valentine’s Day afternoon concert and silent auction where music, generosity, and transformation converge.

WHERE: The Art Gallery at Hennepin Avenue UMC, 511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

WHEN: 3:00 PM, Saturday, February 14, 2026

WHY: To celebrate love while supporting our mission through this special concert and fundraiser

HOW: Read on . . .

Celebrate the heart of winter with an afternoon of music and mystery. Chorus Polaris, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring through music, invites you to our Valentine's afternoon gala: Love, Chorus Polaris (A Symphony of Love and Light). This is an ideal beginning to your Valentine's celebration - intimate, uplifting, and full of heart.

Your attendance and bids help sustain our mission to engage, connect, and strengthen communities through music.

What will you experience?

• Intimate live performance of a rare choral composition
• Thoughtful and uplifting music celebrating both heart and humor
• A curated silent auction with unique items to bid on, supporting community-based music
• Community connection through a meaningful Valentine’s experience shared with others
• Support for local choral arts

In our smaller venue, with a limited number of tickets available, this is an exclusive performance where voices intertwine to solve love's greatest mystery. And the adventure continues with our silent auction fundraiser. Alongside the music, treasures await discovery. Bid on curated items and experiences — from local artisan gifts to romantic experiences. Who knows? You could spark your own unexpected Valentine's story while supporting Chorus Polaris bringing inspiring choral music to our community.

Curious? The truth awaits...

Secure your tickets now!

Enjoy an evening of holiday splendor with Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes, two of the Twin Cities’ most cherished musical ensembles. This year’s concert, Glad Tidings, weaves together the crystalline resonance of handbells and the soaring harmonies of voices to celebrate the season’s joy, reflection, and unity.

— Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes

Adults (21+) $20. Groups of five (5) or more receive a 20% discount. Under 21 (Free)

Purchase tickets below.

Enjoy an evening of holiday splendor with Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes, two of the Twin Cities’ most cherished musical ensembles. This year’s concert, Glad Tidings, weaves together the crystalline resonance of handbells and the soaring harmonies of voices to celebrate the season’s joy, reflection, and unity.

— Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes

Adults (21+) $20. Groups of five (5) or more receive a 20% discount. Under 21 (Free)

Purchase tickets below.

Join Chorus Polaris for an inspiring evening of music as we celebrate the powerful themes of hope, freedom, and community in a special collaborative concert with three exceptional choirs from Irondale High School!

This unique performance is a showcase of vocal artistry across generations, featuring individual sets from each ensemble, highlighting their unique talents and repertoire.

The program culminates in a spectacular, unified performance that is not to be missed. All collaborating singers will join together on stage to perform Gerald Custer’s moving work, "I Will Be the Light." This massed choir performance will send a powerful, uplifting message, transforming the energy of the evening into a shared experience of vocal harmony and collective spirit.

Experience the beautiful blend of community, discipline, and passion as our voices—and those of Irondale’s rising stars—reverberate with a message for our time.

Date: Thursday, October 9th Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Ironndale High School, 2425 Long Lake Rd, New Brighton, MN 55112 Tickets: This concert is free and open to the public!

Support the future of choral music and feel the power of community in every note.

Under the direction of William H. Mathis, Chorus Polaris is thrilled to culminate our 2024-2025 season in a collaboration with StreetSong MN, and special guest Ken Medema!

StreetSong MN is an exciting choir comprised of persons 'experienced' in homelessness (i.e., persons currently or formerly homeless and those who care about them) and is under the direction of Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson. They have performed with the award-winning vocal ensemble Cantus, and collaborated with Voces8 from the UK. Through its music, StreetSong MN presents an opportunity for engagement in the cause of ending homelessness.

Our special guest, Ken Medema, is coming in from the West Coast to bring his improvisation and musical storytelling gifts to delight and inspire audience and performers! Ken is a gifted musician who, using a piano and keyboard, creates an experience that is not only interactive but truly unique to each occasion.

Net proceeds from your ticket purchase support the mission of Align Minneapolis (engaging congregations and communities working together to address homelessness) through the inspirational work of StreetSong MN!

Parking: enter ramp on Alice Rainville Pl. Bus service nearby: 10, 11, 17, 18, 25

Chorus Polaris and the A Cappella Choir (of Westwood Lutheran Church) will perform Mozart's "Requiem" with a quartet of professional soloists and members of Mississippi Valley Orchestra at Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park, MN.

Mozart’s "Requiem" in D minor remains a pivotal work in the choral and orchestral repertoire. Its mysterious origins and profound expressivity continue to captivate audiences and performers alike. The Requiem has inspired countless interpretations and adaptations, affirming its enduring significance in the pantheon of classical music.

As an elegy both personal and universal, this work transcends time, offering solace and reflection through its sublime melodies and poignant themes. It is a testament to the composer’s unparalleled genius and the enduring power of his art. Through the "Requiem," Mozart’s legacy lives on as a beacon of beauty and brilliance in the world of music.

Admission: FREE

Chorus Polaris joins the Mississippi Valley Orchestra with Ho-Yin Kwok conducting, and the Westwood A Cappella Choir (of Westwood Lutheran Church) to present Mozart's "Requiem." Soloists will be: Corissa Bussian (soprano), Mikalia Bradberry (mezzo-soprano), Seokho Park (tenor), and Justin Anthony Spenner (bass).

The concert program will consist of: Bao Yuankai: "Lanhuahua" from Sadness and Happiness on the Yellow Soil Highland; Richard Strauss: "Tod und Verklärung," op. 24; and, Wolfgang A. Mozart: "Requiem," K. 626.

Admission: FREE

Chorus Polaris and the Minnesota State Band collaborate in "Music for Life's Journey." Among the 14 musical selections offered, the program will premiere performances of two works. Twin Cities composer Robert J. Maderich, II drew lyrics from poems by Herman Melville and Thomas Merton for “My People Shall Be One” - a short cantata written for the two ensembles. Chorus Polaris will also premiere “Sing Me to Heaven,” by Ken Medema.

Tickets on sale now!

Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes present seasonal sounds for the holidays.

Chorus Polaris and Bells of the Lakes present seasonal sounds for the holidays.