Making Sweet Music in Owatonna

The Owatonna Symphony Fall Concert is this Sunday, 3:00 p.m. in St. John's Lutheran Church, Owatonna.  It's free.

Phil Burkhart is a retired music teacher from Austin and has been helping the Owatonna music department out by conducting the fall concert for about thirteen years.

The adult community orchestra has many levels of talent with people from all walks of life.

They come from as far away as Decorah, Iowa to be in the symphony

Burkhart used to work with community orchestra in Austin and has been judging and guest conducting for many years throughout southeast Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and North Dakota.

I asked Burkhart what he enjoys more, conducting or judging.

He replied he enjoys both because you get to work with young musicians.

The beauty surrounding adult community orchestra he says is, "this is professional level music."

Burkhart gets to choose the music they play and the title for Sunday's concert is. "Beethoven, The Beatles, and All That Jazz."

There will be a great variety of works including some Beethoven, Beatles, Duke Ellington.

His friend Peter Guenther leads the spring Owatonna Symphony Concert and will continue performing music brought to America because next year marks the 250th birthday for the United States of America.

Music will include the theme from the movie, E.T. which Burkhart says was written by John Williams, one of the great modern composers.

The veteran music educator grew up in Lacrosse, Wisconsin and joined the orchestra to be near his high school sweetheart who was a violinist.

Burkhart started om the trombone in band.  His girlfriend, who would later become his wife of 41 years also joined the trombone section in the band to be near him.

Burkhart's oldest son plays cello on New York City's Broadway district.

The former Austin orchestra leader tells us St. John's Lutheran Church in Owatonna is an excellent facility acoustically and people will love the selection entitled "Adoration" when 112 Owatonna High School string players will join the community orchestra.

He says studies show music makes people more disciplined and helps develop their emotional intelligence.

His favorite composition on the concert is the Theme from the Movie E.T.

Burkhart says it's the only instance he is aware of where the music was written before the scenes were shot.

The Vikings are on a bye week this week so there is no excuse to miss this free concert Sunday, October 12, 2025 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 1301 Lincoln Avenue SE, Owatonna, Minnesota.