Mission

The Lakes Area Music Festival sparks connections between its central Minnesota community and the nation's top classical performers to create transformative musical experiences.

This mission is carried out with three fundamental core values:

EXCELLENCE. We believe in creating the highest quality of experience for our musicians and audiences as measured against any international standard.

ACCESSIBILITY. We believe in eliminating cultural, economic, and geographic barriers that often make classical music inaccessible.

COMMUNITY. We believe that creating lasting relationships between artists and audiences leads to a shared sense of purpose and long-term commitment to our region.

What We Do

Over three weeks each August, 200 all-star musicians from the nation's top orchestra and opera companies converge in central Minnesota to collaborate on chamber music, symphony orchestra, opera, and ballet performances. Each performance is offered without tickets or set fees in order to make the Arts accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status.

In addition, year round concert, education, and outreach activities connect our musicians with our community in unique ways. We transform our region through unique cultural excellence and economic development as a result of arts tourism.