Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Josh Arie, conductor.  A 50-member ensemble presenting three concerts in Brainerd and Little Falls in October, December, and April in its 35th season. www.heartlandsymphony.org 800.826.1997

The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota, Sarah Aamot, Artistic Director. The Brainerd Lakes’ own 64-voice ensemble presenting concerts in Brainerd, Baxter, Walker, Aitkin, Staples, and Nisswa.  A 2009 invitee to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association annual meeting in Minneapolis. www.legacychorale.org

Nisswa-Stämman, Paul Wilson, Artistic Director. A celebration of Scandinavian and Scandinavian/American folk music here in northern Minnesota in its 12th season. www.nisswastamman.org

Great River Strings, Richard Aulie and Arne Anderson, conductors. Two community-based orchestras for all levels of ability serving the Aitkin and Crosby regions presenting fall and spring concerts in both communities. www.aitkin.com/greatriver 218.678.3034

Geritol Frolics, Ed Yunker, Producer and Director, Lynn Olson, Music Director. An all-over-55-year-old cast in its 22nd year presenting a theatre, dance and music performance October 18-28, 2012 at Brainerd’s Franklin Arts Center. www.geritolfrolics.com

Central Lakes College Cultural Arts Series, Patrick Spradlin, Producer. The goal is to bring to local stages professional artists of national and international reputation. www.clcmn.edu/arts/culturalarts.html 218.855.8199

The Lakes Area Concert Association sells subscription memberships for a concert series that includes concerts in Brainerd, Sauk Centre, Alexandria, Wadena and Park Rapids. For more information on the concert series, call Betty Alderman at 218.829.3379. www.concertassociation.net/brainerdMN/index.cfm 218.829.3379.

Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra, Justin Kennedy, conductor. A community orchestra in its 39th year presenting November, December and April concerts. www.thelpco.org 218.371.7915

Alexandria Festival of the Lakes, Nathan Doege, music director.  In its 21th season, five concerts each August with small professional ensembles and vocalists. www.alexfest.org

Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud, Susan Dubin, executive director. Six chamber music concerts by professional, visiting quartets or small ensembles from October through May. www.chambermusicstcloud.org 320.253.3683

St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Altenbach, conductor.  In its 35th season, the orchestra presents four concerts in October, December, April and May.  www.stcloudsymphony.com 320.252.7276

Northfield Youth Choirs, Elizabeth Shepley, Artistic Director. Founded in 1986, this organizations consists of 5 choirs and 200 children from grades K-12 with weekly rehearsals with nationally renowned directors and educators. www.northfieldyouthchoirs.org 507.664.9335

Minnesota Opera, Dale Johnson, artistic director.  Fifteenth-largest opera company in the US presenting September through April: Nabucco, Anna Bolena, Doubt, Hamlet, Turandot www.mnopera.org 612.333.6669

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, multiple artistic partners, Steven Copes, concertmaster. America’s premier professional chamber orchestra performing at ten Twin Cities metro sites with 26 concerts from September through June.  www.thespco.org 651.291.1144

Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, music director. One of America’s great orchestras with a comprehensive music program including Family Concerts, Jazz, Pops, and Sommerfest. www.minnesotaorchestra.org 612.371.5656