Summer Solstice benefits young lakes area musicians

Tickets are on sale now for "Summer Solstice at St. Mathias," an event staged by the Lakes Area Music Festival scheduled June 23 on the Farm at St. Mathias.

Proceeds from the event will support the Music Mentors Project, an educational program of the Festival that brings professionals into central Minnesota schools to work with young musicians in the lakes area.

A gourmet dinner will be served and entertainment by opera superstars performing familiar arias and ensembles from operas by Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet and more. The quartet of singers will include soprano Karen Barraza from Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts; mezzo-soprano Victoria Vargas, from Minnesota Opera; tenor Mackenzie Whitney of the Academy of Vocal Arts; and baritone and festival associate director John Taylor Ward from the Parisian ensemble Les Arts Florissants.

A cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner and music at 7 p.m. A silent auction featuring opportunities to socialize with professional musicians from the festival roster will be open throughout the event.

Tickets are $85 for individual, general admission, or $75 if purchased by June 14; or $600 for a reserved table of eight. Visit www.lakesareamusic.org/summer-solstice for tickets.

The Lakes Area Music Festival created the Music Mentors Project in order to provide local youth with the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by professional musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Opera. Throughout the 2016-17 school year this program reached more than 2,000 elementary and high school students through performances, coaching and private instruction. All proceeds raised at this event will support continued expansion of the project to more students and more schools in the upcoming school year.

Summer Solstice kicks off the summer events of the Lakes Area Music Festival. The annual season will run July 30 through Aug. 20; three full weeks of concerts, educational programs and social opportunities. A prelude series of concerts will take place in communities around the area earlier in July.

Visit www.lakesareamusic.org for more information.

1/3: Soprano Karen Barrazafrom Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts will be among the performers in the June 23 “Summer Solstice at St. Mathias,” event staged by the Lakes Area Music Festival. The event will be at the Farm at St. Mathias. Submitted

2/3: Tenor Mackenzie Whitney of the Academy of Vocal Arts will be among the performers in the June 23 “Summer Solstice at St. Mathias,” event staged by the Lakes Area Music Festival. The event will be at the Farm at St. Mathias. Submitted

3/3: Baritone John Taylor Ward from the Parisian ensemble Les Arts Florissants will be among the performers in the June 23 “Summer Solstice at St. Mathias,” event staged by the Lakes Area Music Festival. The event will be at the Farm at St. Mathias. Submitted