THE ART OF COLLABORATION
Experience the power of musical partnership this season, as Artistic Directors Stephanie Arado and Pitnarry Shin welcome guest Artistic Partner Hanna Hyunjung Kim alongside an extraordinary lineup of top Twin Cities talent.
At its heart, chamber music is a conversation — a shared dialogue among artists, audiences, and masterworks across centuries. Known for high-caliber artistry and adventurous programming, the Bakken Ensemble centers its 2026–2027 season on this spirit of musical partnership.
We are thrilled to collaborate with renowned pianist Hanna Hyunjung Kim, whose extraordinary musicianship embodies our vision this year. We are also pleased to partner with Pro Musica, by welcoming Bethel Balge to join us in honoring 200 years of Beethoven. Alongside a stellar lineup of local luminaries, we bring you three distinct, powerful concerts that seamlessly blend cherished classical masterpieces with bold, visionary modern works.
Season 2026-2027
November 1, 2026
Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for Music 501 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis
Johannes Brahms:Songs Without Words for Cello and Piano
(Op. 70, No. 2 “Lerchengesang” & Op. 71, No. 5 “Minnelied”)
Dmitri Shostakovich:Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor
Josef Suk:Elegie for Piano, Violin, and Cello
Gustav Mahler:Piano Quartet in A minor
Ottorino Respighi:Piano Quintet in F minor
Hanna Hyunjung Kim, piano
Rui Du, violin
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
January 24, 2027
Westminster Hall, 1200 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis
Jeffrey Brooks:“What Bird Am I Thinking Of?” for piano trio
Krzysztof Penderecki:Ciaccona for Violin and Viola
Krzysztof Penderecki:String Trio
Ludwig van Beethoven:Piano Trio Op. 70, No. 1 “Ghost”
Vijay Iyer:“Mozart Effects” for string quartet
Guest Artists:
Pro Musica’s Bethel Balge, piano
Sarah Grimes, violin
Lydia Grimes, viola
March 21, 2027
Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for Music
501 S 2nd St, Minneapolis
Ludwig van Beethoven:Cello Sonata in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2
Caroline Shaw:Three Essays for string quartet (Nimrod, Echo, Ruby)
Arno Babadjanian:Piano Trio in F-sharp minor
Guest Artists:
Natsuki Kumagai, violin
Marlea Simpson, viola
Hanna Hyunjung Kim, piano
Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Trio No. 32 in A major, Hob. XV:18
Johannes Brahms
Clarinet Trio in A minor, op. 114
TJ Cole
Fly Away Moon for Violin and Cello
These videos are available due in part to the generous support of David Miller, in honor of Mary Dew.
Contributions in any amount will help us to continue to offer these spectacular musical moments from Minnesota musicians.
Bakken Ensemble remains committed to supporting artists and artistic programming of the highest quality. We are also committed to keeping our ticket prices affordable, and to presenting high-quality recordings of our concerts in order to serve our patrons who cannot join us in person.
With your support, Bakken Ensemble will remain a welcoming home for innovative chamber music performed by world-class artists. that are living and working right here in the Twin Cities.
Help us support work by Minnesota artists by donating today, in any amount, knowing that there has never been a more important time to partner with us.
Season 2025-2026
April 12, 2026
Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for Music 501 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis
Bohuslav Martinu
String Sextet H. 224
TJ Cole
Playtime: 10 Miniatures for String Sextet
Anton Arensky
String Quartet No. 2 op. 35
Guest Artists:
Matt Haimovitz, cello
Lydia Grimes, viola
Daniel Orsen, viola
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
March 1, 2026
Westminster Hall, 1200 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis
Sebastian Currier
Night Time Suite for Violin and Harp
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
String Quintet No.2 in C minor, K.406
Giacomo Puccini
Crisantemi for String Quartet
Andre Caplet
Conte Fantastique for Harp and String Quartet
Guest Artists:
Cheryl Losey Feder, harp
Yi Zhao, violin
Grace Takeda, viola
Daniel Orsen, viola
November 2, 2025
Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for Music
501 S 2nd St, Minneapolis
Grażyna Bacewicz
Violin Duets on Folk Themes
Robert Schuman
Fantasy Pieces Op. 73 for Cello and Piano
Caroline Shaw
Plan and Elevation for String Quartet
Sergey Taneyev
Piano Quintet in g minor, Op. 30
Guest Artists:
Rui Du, violin
Kyu-Young Kim, viola
Hanna Hyunjung Kim, piano
Past events 2023-2024
October 22, 2023
Jean Françaix
String Trio in C major
Wynton Marsalis
Meeelaan for Bassoon and String Quartet
Sergei Prokofiev
String Quartet No. 2 in F major, op. 92
Jean Françaix
Divertissement for Bassoon and String Quintet
Guest Artists:
Fei Xie, bassoon
Sophia Mockler, violin
Marlea Simpson, viola
Zachary Cohen, bass
February 25, 2024
Sarah Miller
Remembering
(Dedicated to Mary Dew)
Ludwig van Beethoven
"Heiliger Dankgesang" from String Quartet in A minor, op. 132
Billy Childs
String Quartet No. 2 “Awakening”
Johannes Brahms
String Quintet No. 2 in G major, op. 111
Guest Artists:
Natsuki Kumagai, violin
Marlea Simpson, viola
Sabina Thatcher, viola
Sarah Miller, piano
April 7, 2024
Kaija Saariaho
Nocturne for solo violin
Max Vinetz
Stars on the Ground for string quartet
Ludwig van Beethoven
Molto adagio from String Quartet in E minor, "Rasumovsky", op. 59 no. 2
Stephen Hartke
The King of the Sun: Tableaux for violin, viola, cello and piano
Franz Joseph Haydn
Allegro con spirito from String Quartet in B-flat major, "Sunrise", op. 76 no. 4
Guest Artists:
Emily Switzer, violin
Daniel Orsen, viola
Timothy Lovelace, piano
Past events 2022-2023
Nov 6, 2022
Leonard Bernstein
Piano Trio
Jessie Montgomery
Duo for Violin and Cello
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
String Quartet No. 2, op. 26
Guest Artists
Sarah Grimes, violin
Hyobi Sim, viola
Hanna Hyun-Jung Kim, piano
Jan 22, 2023
John Corigliano
The Red Violin Caprices for Solo Violin
Billy Childs
String Quartet “Unrequited”
Zhao Lin, Zhao Jiping
Red Lantern for Pipa and String Quartet
Guest Artists:
Cece Belcher, violin
Dan Orsen, viola
Gao Hong, pipa
Apr 16, 2023
George Crumb
Sonata for Solo Cello
Gabriela Lena Frank
Leyandas: An Andean Walkabout for String Quartet
Bernard Herrmann
Souvenir du Voyage for Clarinet and String Quartet
Guest Artists:
Kyu-Young Kim, violin
Jenni Seo, viola
Sangyoon Kim, clarinet