Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra

The Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, an instrumental voice for the GLBTQA community.

The Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra (originally Minnesota Philharmonia)  was founded in 1993 by Kevin Ford, a gay man who had a vision of a gay and lesbian orchestra that would build community and fellowship through the performance of classical music.

Although Kevin succumbed to complications from HIV-AIDS in 1995, the organization he created continues to grow and diversify 15 years later. Today, the MPO includes players from a wide variety of backgrounds and orientations who share a commitment to inclusivity, nondiscrimination, and to the performance of works by underrepresented composers.

The Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra seeks to provide diverse arts entertainment of the highest quality, resulting in increased visibility for the musical talents of the GLBTQA community.