TANGO MUSIC IN MINNEAPOLIS
Twin Cities Tango Collective is creating a thriving culture of tango musicians in Minneapolis and St Paul.
TCTC hosts community ensembles, live performances, and classes dedicated to the art and culture of Argentine tango music. All musicians and all levels are welcome in our groups. Ensembles play custom arrangements, perform for seated audiences, invite guest artists, and organize milongas (social dances) to collaborate with the local tango dance community.
TCTC has been featured on Minnesota Public Radio, KFAI Corazón Latino, and produces the widely-acclaimed Minnesota Tango Music Festival every Spring. The group is fiscally-sponsored by Springboard For The Arts and is possible almost exclusively through grassroots fundraising and small donations.
Argentine tango music is incredibly rich and deep, with a wide appeal and a vibrant contemporary scene. For interested musicians in Minnesota, entry points into playing tango can be limited due to the lack of scores, teachers, and general resources necessary to play the music. TCTC creates this entry point for local musicians of all levels in an inclusive and supportive way, and strives to build a central tango music community that collaborates within and beyond our own structures.
Groups meet on Wednesdays between 6-9 pm at Center For Performing Arts, room 105:
Community Tango Ensemble 6:15-7:15pm
Northwoods Ensemble 7:30-8:45pm
Each season consists of 8 consecutive weekly rehearsal classes and a Friday night concert/milonga (party). We host 3 seasons a year: Fall, Winter, Spring. We host the Minnesota Tango Music Festival to close our year in May.
Musicians are welcome to join for a single season, or stay on for all of them. Community is the active word: we are relaxed and open about participation.
What instruments are invited?
Piano - Guitar - Violin - Viola - Cello - Double Bass
Bandoneon - Accordion - Saxophone - Clarinet - Flutes- Voice
This program is for everyone: all ages, all levels, all backgrounds. If you’re thinking about it, we want you!
Sign up here.
Email Charles directly with any questions: redwoodtango@gmail.com
About Organizer
Charles Gorczynski is a life-long tango enthusiast, bandoneonist, composer, and music educator. As the leader of the acclaimed Charles Gorczynski Tango Quartet and Redwood Tango Ensemble, he has released five albums of original tango compositions and toured dozens of times in North America and Europe. Charles has been a bandoneon soloist with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Bear Valley Orchestra, Vocal Essence at Orchestra Hall, Chicago Chorale, California Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and many others. He has collaborated, recorded, and toured with many international tango projects, including Redwood Tango Ensemble, Mariano Barreiro Tango Trio, Tango BC, Alejandro Ziegler Cuarteto, Maxi Larrea Trio, Maldito Tango Duo, and Los Tangueros Del Oeste. Charles has served as community ensemble faculty with Tango Sin Fin at Tango For Musicians Reed College, and as primary bandoneon faculty with Julián Peralta’s Tanguero Workshop.
Charles is passionate about music education and community building, and is excited to collaborate on a project that brings together the larger local community, musicians from classical or jazz backgrounds, amateur musicians, tango dancers, and tango DJs.
Charles believes in supportive and inclusive structures that can expand and inspire tango music and community on the local level.
Pricing and Structure
Twin Cities Tango Collective is organized in seasons: a group of 8 consecutive weekly rehearsals, followed by a Friday concert and milonga. Each season will be different, and tailored to the musicians involved.
Tuition: $110 per season
All scores and materials provided
Bring your own instrument and music stand (we have a few extras)
Why is there a tuition element?
Having every member chip in allows us to rehearse in a quality performance space (including piano, sound equipment), funds score production, program building, and other necessities.
Keeping tuition low is a priority to encourage accessibility to everyone.
If the tuition is not affordable, or if this element discourages you for another reason, please get in touch directly and we can work it out.
There are limited scholarships available each season