The Heartland Symphony Orchestra (HSO) was founded in 1977 by a group of musicians from Little Falls and Brainerd with Hazel Johnson Wunsch of Long Prairie serving as the first conductor.  The HSO has provided live orchestra concert performances and other musical opportunities in Little Falls, Brainerd and surrounding communities for 30 years now. The goals of the symphony are (1) to offer local musicians and students an opportunity for symphonic training and performance, (2) to provide central Minnesota residents with cultural and musical enrichment through live symphony concerts and other special programs, and (3) to partner with central Minnesota educational institutions in developing outstanding music education programs for area youth. 


H S O   L E A D E R S H I P   &   S T A F F
The Heartland Symphony Orchestra is governed by a 20-member volunteer Board of Directors, half of whom are from the Little Falls area and half from the Brainerd area.  These board members are elected to 3-year rotating terms by the HSO membership each June.  The two geographic areas alternate in naming the Board President and Vice-President each year.  All directors actively serve on committees concerning many aspects of running the orchestra, including concert production, fundraising, public relations, and managing personnel.  In order to carry out all of its programs, the HSO also engages a Music Director, Concert Master, Orchestra Manager, Business Manager, and many volunteers.  (Click here to view HSO volunteer opportunities.)


H S O   P R O G R A M S
The HSO performs three full-length orchestral music concerts in both Little Falls and Brainerd each year, as well as occasional outreach concerts in neighboring communities upon invitation.  The fall concert usually features a professional guest soloist of the conductor’s choice, who not only performs with the orchestra but often presents music clinics in local schools while in the area.  The winter or Christmas concert often involves local or regional solo artists, choir, or other ensemble in a holiday setting.  The spring concert each year features two youth soloists drawn from area schools, who are selected from HSO’s annual Youth Concerto Auditions.  (Click here to view current concert season.)  Besides these live concerts, the HSO also engages its conductor, guest artists and musicians to present music education clinics in area schools, offers ticket give-away programs to schools and youth groups, and provides special training for its own musicians.  (Click here for more information about these HSO special programs.)


H S O   M U S I C I A N S
The Heartland Symphony Orchestra players number well over fifty volunteers drawn from this Central Minnesota region, including Little Falls, Brainerd, and the surrounding communities of Aitkin, Aldrich, Backus, Baxter, Bemidji, Breezy Point, Browerville, Collegeville, Crosslake, Fort Ripley, Hillman, Long Prairie, Mora, Nisswa, Onamia, Osakis, Pequot Lakes, Perham, Pine River, Rice, Sartell, St. Cloud, St Joseph, Sauk Rapids, Staples, Swanville, Verndale, Wadena and Walker.  Musicians in the orchestra have a variety of musical training, ranging from adults who have studied their instrument in college or teach professionally, to adults who have just recently began studying an instrument, to local high school musicians who are trying to broaden their playing experiences.  All ages are welcome and encouraged to participate.  (For information about joining the HSO, call 1-800-826-1997 or email us at info@heartlandsymphony.org.)


H S O   A U D I E N C E
The HSO strives to appeal to a variety of music lovers, including young children, teens, adults and senior citizens and continually works to attract new audience members.  Since bringing in an audience is of great importance both for the orchestra and for perpetuating classical music itself, every effort is made to keep ticket prices as low as possible.  And, thanks to grant subsidy, the HSO is able to give several free tickets away to children and families each season.  Ticket availability in all communities is advertised by a season brochure mailing in the fall and then through board members, players, and regional print, radio and television media.  (Click here to email us for a free season brochure)  Adult, Senior, Student and Family tickets are available for the season or single concert tickets can be purchased at:
Bridge of Harmony
Brainerd Dispatch
Bookin' It - Little Falls
Great River Arts - Little Falls (Click here for more ticket information.)