About Us:

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.

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.