Classical MPR and The Water Main look back on bringing music to Minnesota

From Aug. 1 through Aug. 4, Classical MPR partnered with The Water Main to go on the road and celebrate Minnesota's most loved lakes with a series of Pop Up Classical concerts performed by The Concert Truck. From Prokofiev on Lake Pepin to Schubert along Superior, audiences were captivated by the cascading tones of classical music. Additional stops on our trip included Excelsior Brewing on Lake Minnetonka, a visit to Paul and Babe alongside Lake Bemidji, and visits to Tettegouche State Park and downtown Duluth.

In addition to the performances, MPR News, Classical MPR and The Water Main held a Lake Superior-inspired poetry contest. The contest was judged by Sun Yung Shin, winner of the 2017 Minnesota Book Award for her book of poetry titled "Unbearable Splendor," and were read aloud at the Saturday Lake Superior Celebration. Audiences at these events also got the opportunity to hear and see a performance by Larry Yazzie, two-time World Champion Fancy Dancer from the Meskwaki Nation in Tama, Iowa.

Special thanks to our partners for making these events possible: Excelsior Brewing, Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce, Lake City Market by the Lake, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, City of Bemidji, Duluth Coffee Company, Native Pride Arts, Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota State Parks & Trails, Two Harbors Lake County Historical Society, Minnesota DNR and Duluth Parks and Recreation.

The Water Main is an initiative from Minnesota Public Radio that aims to connect Minnesotans to the value of water in our lives. We do this as a hub for reporting, convening, research and engagement that brings people together to mobilize new thinking and action that secures clean, abundant, accessible water for all. Tap into the Water Main by following @thewatermain on Twitter or by visiting www.thewatermain.org.