Cultural engagement
The Bakken Trio is one of the Twin Cities' premier chamber music groups. It plays an adventuresome mix of contemporary and classical music, some of which requires additional musicians beyond the three permanent members of the ensemble (two of whom are members of the Minnesota Orchestra and the third a leading local pianist and teacher).
Perhaps the Bakken's most common guest is Korey Konkol, who is Professor of Viola in the University of Minnesota School of Music. He also plays frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and will perform Bach's Brandenberg Concerto No. 6 with the SPCO at its final concert next weekend.
Another connection between the Bakken Trio and the University of Minnesota is Robert Solotaroff, emeritus Prof. of English, who writes the program notes - adroit mixtures of biographical information, historical context, and musical analysis - for the Trio.
Solotaroff also is an instructor in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI),, where this winter he led discussions of two Chekhov plays: Uncle Vanya and The Cherry Orchard. OLLI is an affiliated program of the University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education, and is run entirely by volunteers. According to the OLLI web site, "The membership is comprised of intellectually curious people who are vitally interested in the world around them. OLLI programs focus on active learning in dynamic and respectful environments. No tests, no prerequisites--this is learning just for the joy of it."
Note the intertwinings and reciprocal partnerships between community and university at work in these examples, with both sides bringing expertise and deep involvement to the partnership. On a small scale (much good stuff is on a small scale), this is what we mean by engagement. Replicated many times in many ways, formal and informal, the university partners with the community to enrich our cultural and civic life.