Photos: A look back at the orchestra's trip to Cuba


Champagne toasts as the orchestra headed to Cuba.
1 Champagne toasts as the orchestra headed to Cuba. 
A first glimpse of Cuba
2 A first glimpse of Cuba 
Loading up the car
3 Loading up the car 
Arriving in Cuba
4 Arriving in Cuba 
Street scene from the bus
5 Street scene from the bus 
Stilt-walkers and musicians greeted the group.
6 Stilt-walkers and musicians greeted the group. 
The Malecón, seen from a cocktail reception
7 The Malecón, seen from a cocktail reception 
Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Manny Laureano
8 Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Manny Laureano 
Students from the Escuela Nacional de Arte
9 Students from the Escuela Nacional de Arte 
Carrying the drum back to the classroom
10 Carrying the drum back to the classroom 
French horn player Herb Winslow and student
11 French horn player Herb Winslow and student 
An ensemble played for the students.
12 An ensemble played for the students. 
Members of the press interviewed Vänskä.
13 Members of the press interviewed Vänskä. 
View of Havana from the hotel
14 View of Havana from the hotel 
Acoustic shell borrowed from Champlin High.
15 Acoustic shell borrowed from Champlin High. 
The National Choir of Cuba joined the orchestra
16 The National Choir of Cuba joined the orchestra 
Orchestra cases backstage
17 Orchestra cases backstage 
Dusk on the Malecón
18 Dusk on the Malecón 
An apartment building hallway in Old Havana.
19 An apartment building hallway in Old Havana. 
Dinner in the Plaza de la Catedral
20 Dinner in the Plaza de la Catedral 
Local Cuban band Septeto Habanero
21 Local Cuban band Septeto Habanero 
A bartender poured Cuban rum for a mojito.
22 A bartender poured Cuban rum for a mojito. 
Principal cellist Tony Ross with a student
23 Principal cellist Tony Ross with a student 
Percussionist Kevin Watkins with a student
24 Percussionist Kevin Watkins with a student 
Side by side rehearsal with the youth symphony.
25 Side by side rehearsal with the youth symphony. 
Inside the broadcast booth at the Teatro Nacional
26 Inside the broadcast booth at the Teatro Nacional 
Media gathered to report on the concert.
27 Media gathered to report on the concert. 
Concert audience watched.
28 Concert audience watched. 
The Minnesota Orchestra took the stage
29 The Minnesota Orchestra took the stage 
The orchestra received several standing ovations.
30 The orchestra received several standing ovations. 
Members of the People to People group
31 Members of the People to People group 
The owner of a 1948 DeSoto convertible
32 The owner of a 1948 DeSoto convertible 
The facade of one of a number of cigar factories
33 The facade of one of a number of cigar factories 
Cigars and cigarillos for sale
34 Cigars and cigarillos for sale 
An outdoor market in old Havana
35 An outdoor market in old Havana 
A woman sat under an awning at a jazz cafe.
36 A woman sat under an awning at a jazz cafe. 
Boys swam and dived off the Malecón.
37 Boys swam and dived off the Malecón. 
Violinist Arnold Krueger had a quiet moment.
38 Violinist Arnold Krueger had a quiet moment. 
The view from the Teatro Nacional theater lobby
39 The view from the Teatro Nacional theater lobby 
A boy took a photograph before the concert.
40 A boy took a photograph before the concert. 
The audience applauded during the Cuban anthem.
41 The audience applauded during the Cuban anthem. 
Orchestra members stood while they played anthems.
42 Orchestra members stood while they played anthems. 
Osmo Vänskä conducted the Minnesota Orch
43 Osmo Vänskä conducted the Minnesota Orch 
The audience stood to applaud.
44 The audience stood to applaud. 
Orchestra musicians joined a jam session.
45 Orchestra musicians joined a jam session. 
Vänskä joined the jam session on clarine
46 Vänskä joined the jam session on clarine 
A late-night jazz concert
47 A late-night jazz concert 
Orchestra members board their charter flight home.
48 Orchestra members board their charter flight home. 
Welcomed home
49 Welcomed home 
Bass player Robert Anderson shook hands.
50 Bass player Robert Anderson shook hands.