BRAINERD — The Lakes Area Music Festival kicks off its 2026 season with the Prelude Series, a tradition that brings chamber music directly to communities across central Minnesota.
On Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, the Thalea String Quartet will present three free concerts in Aitkin, Nisswa and Bemidji. No tickets are required, and all performances are open to the public with free-will donations accepted.
“These concerts are an incredible way to warm up to the mainstage season while engaging with communities throughout the region,” Scott Lykins, LAMF founder and artistic and executive director, said in a news release. “Whether you’re a lifelong fan of chamber music or new to classical performance, these programs are designed to connect, inspire and welcome all.”
Prelude Series dates and locations are:
- Aitkin: Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ripple Center, 301 Minnesota Ave. N.
- Nisswa: Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 5064 County Road 13.
- Bemidji: Sunday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 505 Bemidji Ave. N.
Winners of the 2021 Ann Divine Educator Award from the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Thalea String Quartet brings vibrancy and emotional commitment to every performance.
Their Prelude Series program will include Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet in F, alongside works that reflect the past, present and future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world.
Composed of violinists Christopher Whitley and Kumiko Sakamoto, violist Lauren Spaulding and cellist Alex Cox, the quartet has performed at major venues across North America, Europe and China, including the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and Massey Hall.
The ensemble is also widely recognized for its commitment to education and community engagement.
Following the Prelude Series, the Thalea String Quartet will return to the Lakes Area Music Festival stage for Lovers in the Night on Aug. 5 at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts.
Joined by violist Masumi Rostad and cellist Coleman Itzkoff, the ensemble will perform Arnold Schoenberg’s spellbinding Transfigured Night, the centerpiece of a program inspired by passion beneath the stars.
In addition to these performances, the quartet will carry out numerous community outreach activities throughout the region, including visits to eldercare facilities, libraries, shelters and the Crow Wing County Jail.
To learn more about the Prelude Series and see all upcoming LAMF events, visit
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