Bertram Studio, Grand Forks

10/12/2026

10/02/2026

Congratulations Vedant

The mission of the MSO is to provide opportunities for musicians and patrons.

CONGRAULATIONS Vedant Srivastava, the winner of this years' Young Composer Competition👏

The MSO will premier his piece, Praestolatio, at the Nov. 14 performance.

Vedant Srivastava is a senior at Red RIver High School in Grand Forks, ND. Vedant started his musical studies at a young age, learning piano at age 5 and writing his first compositions at age 6. A multi-instrumentalist, Vedant is proficient at trombone, guitar, and double bass. He frequently performs with community and school ensembles on these instruments, including serving as principal bassist of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, playing bass in the Dick King Classic Swing Band, and playing trombone in the University of North Dakota’s Trombone Octet. Some honor ensembles include the NDMEA All-State Jazz Band, Concordia Honor Orchestra, UND’s Honor Band, and Minot State University’s Honor Jazz Band. All through high school, Vedant has participated in the Eastern Dakota Conference and has won multiple Outstanding Performance awards. As a composer and arranger, Vedant writes for school ensembles, namely the RRHS Drumline and RRHS Trombone Choir. Vedant studies trombone with Dr. Joel Pugh and double bass with Mr. Jeff Seabloom. Vedant has had the opportunity to study with or play in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Bruce Stark, Eliot Fisk, Peter Steiner, Michael Mulcahy, Doug Wright, Adam Rainey, Brian Wendel, Stephen Lange, Mark Fisher, and members of the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band. After high school, Vedant plans on pursuing a degree in trombone performance, with the end goal of becoming an orchestral conductor.

He will also receive a $500 honorarium from the Merritt and Annie Warner family.

Don't miss this world premiere!! Book your ticket at www.minotsymphony.com for live or livestream performance on Nov. 14 at 7pm in MSU's Ann Nicole Nelson Hall 🎵

View his program notes in the comments below 👇

09/01/2026

08/15/2026

08/13/2026

Congratulations Samhita and Gus

Grand Forks and Langdon students receive awards for piano and violin performances during the North Dakota Music Teachers Association conference here.

08/09/2026

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time: What if music practice didn’t have to be a battle?

As a teacher, I see how much children can love music and how quickly that joy can disappear when practice at home becomes reminders, resistance and frustration.

I see the pressure it puts on parents too. Most parents want to help their child succeed, but no one hands you a toolkit for how to make daily practice work with a young child.

So I decided to build one.

I’m creating Play Based Practice, an app that gives families simple games, challenges and creative ways to practice the things young musicians already need to work on.

The bigger vision is not just to make practice fun.

It’s less nagging and frustration for parents. More ownership and confidence for kids. More positive experiences with music. And ultimately, more children who stick with it long enough to discover how rewarding making music can be.

I’m building the app myself, and I’ve decided to try something important. I want to keep the core app free for families.

Instead of putting another subscription in front of parents, I’m asking my studio families and community to help me launch it and make it accessible to as many children as possible.

If you believe practice can be something children grow through, rather than something families simply have to get through, I’d love your support. A donation helps, but sharing this with other parents, teachers and musicians helps enormously too.

Let’s take the battle out of music practice.

Learn more or support Play Based Practice⁠

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Gus on earning 2nd Prize in the Elementary Division and to Samhita on receiving an Honorable Mention in the Junior High Division at tonight’s Popplers Competition!

I’m so proud of all the hard work, dedication, and musical growth you’ve both shown. It was wonderful to see your efforts recognized. Congratulations on a fantastic performance! 🎻🎉

08/06/2026

Amazing show

Mean Girls is on the marquee and we open tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you there!!

08/03/2026

I’m so excited to see this beautiful commissioned work, A Dialog on Hope by North Dakota composer Emily Black Driscoll, premiere this Wednesday, August 5, at 7:00 p.m. at Popplers Music!

This free concert is part of the North Dakota Music Teachers Association Conference and will also feature performances by the talented winners of the Popplers Competition.

If you’re in the Grand Forks area, come celebrate new music and support North Dakota musicians and young performers. It promises to be a wonderful evening!

📍 Popplers Music, 1726 S. Washington St.
🕖 Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the public

The concert is part of the North Dakota Music Teachers Association annual conference. which will also feature a free piano teachers workshop, led by noted pianist and educator Helen Marlais.