(gentle music) - What I love about Minnesota at this time of year is nature and being out in this calm beauty that's around us, is very similar to experiencing music.

(orchestral music) Because it kinda transports you to a different part of yourself and kind of allows you to step out of all the busy-ness of your mind, and the stresses of the world.

(orchestral music begins) - Every day in the future is a gift.

The joy is coming very much from family, to grand daughters and be together with Erin.

- Our lives are quite different, so now it's simple things like reading a book, sitting in front of a fireplace, going for a walk.

(orchestral music continues) - It's brought me a lot of joy that I've had the time to sort of pursue some of my other interests that I don't normally have the time for, so I've been taking a few online classes and studying languages, and just catching up with friends that I haven't talked to in a long time.

- On the longer term the thing that gives me hope is watching my kids interact in the world and their friends, and folks their age.

They're just more in touch with the world than I ever was at their age and they're bound, and determined to do whatever they can to make it a better place.

So I think future generations give me hope.

- I think that staying healthy, staying fit is a big part of battling this pandemic.

Staying strong for me means, practicing and making sure, that when I get back into my chair the audience deserves to expect everything to just take over from where it was, and that's kind of my commitment.

- I have been hopeful by this collaboration we have, between the Minnesota Orchestra and TBT and MPR, because it really shows that everyone has faith in music and its power to help, to give hope, to heal.

- It makes me think, wow, we can rise to any challenge in the future, because look at everyone's dedication and making our music happen and bringing it to people.

- When I think about the audiences I must say, these are people that are rather extraordinary.

Being a hearty Minnesotan, doesn't just mean surviving the weather and all sorts of stuff.

It's a commitment to keeping Minnesota a great place to live and they see the orchestra as part of this being a great place to live.

- I really want you people in audience to know that we miss you, we miss you very much.

- I know that everyone in the Minnesota Orchestra is looking forward to having our audience back in the hall.

You can't replace the feeling of a live audience and the energy it brings to us, and I think that we can bring to an audience.

So I know when we're back, we will play with even more passion than we have in the past and I'm really looking forward to that day.

- To the audiences, I wish calm, I wish peace, I wish smiles for you.

- All the best wishes to all of you and our audience, we love, we miss you.

- We wanna wish you a very Happy New Year.

Stay safe, stay healthy and we can't wait to see in person.

- (speaking in foreign language) Happy New Year and let's the new year be better than this year and please stay safe and hope to see you in new year together.

(orchestral music ends)