Community Concerts
This concert is free and open to the public.
Performer Information
Soprano Sofia Ardalan has appeared as guest artist with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra singing Strauss' "Vier letzte Lieder" and with the Dakota Valley Symphony and Chorus in Handel's "Messiah." She was recently heard as the soprano soloist in Verdi's "Requiem" with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies and MN Chorale. Ms. Ardalan has sung recitals in Germany and Austria, where one reviewer wrote of her performance, "with her beautiful legato and elegant tone, her expansive breath control and commanding stage presence, this young American soprano belongs on the world stage." An avid recitalist, Ms Ardalan has presented numerous Lieder concerts in the Twin Cities, most recently a program of Sibelius, Brahms and Strauss. Upcoming recitals include a Sibelius program in Finland in July 2018, and Schumann's "Dichterliebe" in Minneapolis.
Ms. Ardalan received her vocal training from the late Oksana Bryn at The MacPhail Center for Muisc in Minneapolis, also studying at the Lotte Lehmann Akademie in Perleberg, Germany. She coaches regularly with conductor Klaus Sallmann (Staatsoper Berlin), and master teacher Hakan Hagegard in Stockholm Sweden. In addition to singing, Ms. Ardalan is an accomplished violinist, pianist and conductor.
Please note Sofia has cancelled due to illness.
Arianna Wegley is an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, studying Cello Performance with Tanya Remenikova in the School of Music. She is a member of the University Symphony Orchestra, an active soloist and chamber musician in the Twin Cities, and teaches cello at the City of Lakes Waldorf School in Minneapolis. For many years, she has been affiliated with, and performed in concert for, local music organizations such as Thursday Musical, The Schubert Club, and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, among other music programs and festivals across the United States. Her secondary major at the University of Minnesota is English. In the summer of 2016, she studied theater in London, researching music and Shakespeare; she hopes to pursue further studies that build upon the intersection of music, literature, and theater.