A More Accessible Lakes Area Music Festival with Christian Reif

Lakes Area Music Festival aims to make classical music accessible to all
By Heidi Holtan
KAXE
July 23, 2024

BRAINERD — “It's a celebration of love and brotherhood and community.”

That’s how John Taylor Ward describes the Lakes Area Music Festival, now in its 16th season in the Brainerd area. In conjunction with the Summer Olympics, this year’s theme is "Heroic Journeys."

Lakes Area Music Festival has a core goal to eliminate cultural, economic and geographic barriers that often make classical music inaccessible. Ward said performances do take place in typical venues like performing art centers, but they try to keep the entire community in mind.

"We're performing in breweries, in people's homes and all over the place," he said.

Most of the concerts are on a pay as you wish basis, and the festival also performs outside during yoga classes.

Ward not only organizes the festival, but also participates as an opera singer.

“My family were mostly bluegrass musicians and actors and things like that, and so I grew up doing a lot of musical theater as a kid, but also really surrounded by American roots music," he said. "And that's still something that I love and like to bring into my performances.”

In a KAXE Morning Show conversation, Ward answered a question about the practice of opera.

“I would say definitely it takes a lot of energy, because you’re not only working physically, you’re oftentimes thinking in a foreign language and singing in a foreign language, remembering where you’re supposed to go on stage, and what your intention is as an actor,” he said.

“It really is a fully body and mind experience, so it is fatiguing after awhile, but it’s super rewarding, too.”

Ward will perform in the opera The Rake’s Progress with music by Igor Stravinsky on Aug. 10 at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.

Over 250 professional classical musicians will come together to perform chamber music, orchestra, and opera starting Friday, July 26. Ward said it’s not just musicians who keep the festival going; the 250 volunteers and hosts involved are also vital.

Each year, artists stay with members of the community. “It’s really fun, I think both for the musicians getting to connect with the community members. Some of them have formed years long bonds.”

Participants come from all over the world, like conductor Christian Reif from Germany, and his wife, Julia Bullock. Reif and Bullock will return to Lakes Area Music Festival as first-time Grammy winners. They won for Best Classical Vocal Album.