Notes to Jere

This season, we celebrate Jere Lantz’s 25th year with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra. Audience members were invited to write Jere a note in honor of this anniversary. Here are some of the things people said:

Congratulations on your 25^th anniversary! My daughter and I came to our first Pops concert tonight and what a delight it has been! We were invited by a friend who has been coming to Lake Harriet to hear the Pops for 20+ years. You can count on us becoming faithful fans—and thank you for such a wonderful concert!

Thank you for so much enjoyment! What a great treat to hear awesome music sitting outside near a lake! I am so appreciative for your time, commitment, and great music. What an opportunity for many people to be exposed to this type of music who might never otherwise get the opportunity! I love seeing people of all ages enjoying your concerts! Thank you!

You enhance your audiences experience not just through your conducting, but by your incredibly rich and erudite commentary—never pedantic, always interesting and informative. Thank you!

I like your songs
~ 6 year old fan

We love the concert at Lake Harriet. But what we love the most is your input about the pieces that you are about to play as well as the composers. The Minneapolis Pops concerts are full of the energy that you exude. They are very enjoyable and full of vivacity.

Thank you so much. You often share information about composers. You also are very handsome STILL! I think you should wear your hair in a pony tail! You would look so handsome!!

BRAVO JERE! Thanks for you enthusiasm, energy, entertainment and education each summer. May your next 25 years be as popular as your last 25. Your concerts are a musical treasure. May you conduct long and strong!

Fantastic performances over the years! We know we can depend on you and the Minneapolis Pops for an outstanding concert every time!!

We have only lived in Minneapolis 7 yrs. And now lament the years we missed listening to the orchestra! Your welcome, warm, ad witty presence enhances the music greatly. My children, ages 10, 8, and 5 have had a terrific start to their music appreciation course of a lifetime. J Thank you for blessing us with your talent and energy.

Many, many thanks for years of conducting wonderful Minneapolis Pops Orchestra concerts at the Lake Harriet Bandshell! The Twin Cities’ cultural life has been immeasurably enriched summer after summer by this very special orchestra that comes together. In July, I brought my dad to most of the concerts from 2001-2010, after my mom died, and he always enjoyed your humor and stories about the composers’ lives and the creation of individual pieces of music, one of my favorite memories is the concert for which you acted the role of Beethoven—loved every minute!

Jere—I’ve been watching you conduct for years, fabulous. You and your orchestra are a Minneapolis treasure!!

Dear Jere: We look forward to summer at Lake Harriet with your excellent choice and variety of music, your charming stories that entertain and inform and the music that transports us to Vienna, Saltzburg, or Broadway. Congratulations and we look forward to 25 more summers with you.

Certain voices are iconic, like Walter Cronkite or Dave Moore to news broadcasting, and several people to sports broadcasting. Your voice is iconic to live music performance. We love ‘the Pops.’ Thanks for the past 25 years.

God bless you and the orchestra! You bring such joy to our community! Thank you and NEVER lose your passion for great music!

July is the best summer month at the Bandshell because you’re here with your fabulous orchestra. Thank you so very much for you dedication to bringing classical music to all. We love the pops. Congratulations on 25 years and here’s to 25 more!