Best of 2022
What a year! As December draws to a close, we’re looking back on highlights from the last year, and there are a lot to choose from!
This past year marks our 23rd year of inspiring children through the craft of musical theater. The Lundstrum Legacy of excellence, hard work and personal responsibility has provided a direction forward for thousands of young people. It has been a remarkable experience to be a part of so many lives. Like our mentors before us, we are committed to our vocation and the importance of beauty in the lives of children.
It starts with baby steps week after week, and then year after year, until suddenly… they’re flying! These tiny seeds of possibility planted so many years ago have taken root and are blooming before our eyes.
we are committed to our vocation and the importance of beauty in the lives of children.
We continue to believe that artists play an essential role in our world. They unite us in our common humanity by reflecting what is good, true and beautiful.
We are grateful for your friendship and all the beautiful people who make up our wonderful community!
Chrissy Fournier with her Broadway Arts Conservatory at the 2022 Winter/Spring Showcase.
We made some bold new moves!
Our 2022 Rollin on the River Gala raised over $200,000 dollars for a new Northside Strong Scholarship. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Our Northside Strong Scholarship means students from the Northside––North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center or Robbinsdale––can take classes at a pay-what-you-can rate.
It’s not too late to give to the scholarship fund and support Lundstrum’s mission.
Lundstrum Performing Arts' Annual Fundraising Gala is a joyful evening of performance and supporting young performers. Lundstrum students take the stage with Broadway professionals and regional artists.
Said goodbye to a dear friend…
As we celebrate the highlights of 2021-22, we also mourn the loss of beloved performer, choreographer, and mentor Patrick Moore. Originally from East St. Louis, Patrick trained with the legendary Katherine Dunham. He was a talented artist with a unique ability to forge meaningful connections to children. “If you can count to eight, I can make you great.”
…But kept dancing in this Circle of Life
The cast of Lundstrum’s 2022 production of Lion King Jr. performs “The Circle of Life.”
This summer, Lundstrum students presented a production of Lion King Jr. we could all take pride in! They followed it up with a wickedly good production of Disney’s Descendants: The Musical.
“I LOVE HOW THE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND REALLY TAKE THEIR ROLES SERIOUSLY.”
- DISHAE SANDERS, CHOREOGRAPHER
Brianna-Marie Mraz as Maleficent and the Lundstrum cast of Disney’s Descendants
And not to brag, but our students are pretty incredible!
Lundstrum instructor and alum Minika Warden was part of the Ordway’s inaugural GreenRoom Fellowship.
Lundstrum Alum Maria Briggs was cast as a swing and dance captain in The Music Man with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.
The Lundstrum Board added new perspectives this year…
Monisha Dunn and her husband attend the 2022 gala in support of Lundstrum’s scholarship program.
We welcomed two new members to Lundstrum’s board of directors.
Monisha Dunn is a Senior Director at Best Buy. She brings a lifelong passion for the performing arts and is excited to blend to her love of children with her expertise in marketing strategy.
Northside artist Charles Caldwell joined the board in August. Caldwell has been a longtime staple of the Northside community and has several grandchildren enrolled at Lundstrum.
Artist and new board member Charles Caldwell presented a portrait he created in Patrick Moore’s honor at the 2022 Gala.
…and continued to build STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
We continued our partnership with the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE). Together, we hosted the 5th annual Shine On Talent Show.
We made friends and found new supporters at our annual Inspiring Dreams Breakfast. This year we had a visit from our wonderful alum Kaia Fitzgerald.