TWIN PORTS CHORAL PROJECT

What TWIN PORTS CHORAL PROJECT does

Twin Ports Choral Project (TPCP) is a nonprofit choral organization founded circa 2011 and headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, currently operating in its 14th season. The organization stages a seasonal concert series of approximately four major productions per year — exemplified by the 2025-26 lineup including 'Virtues of Resistance' (October), Handel's Messiah in collaboration with Borealis Chamber Artists (December), 'All Days Illumining' (February), and 'The Sun Never Says' (April) — performed at Duluth venues such as Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, First Lutheran Church, Saint Michael's Catholic Church, Mitchell Auditorium, and NorShore Theatre. Repertoire spans classical works (Handel, Bach) and contemporary choral music by living composers including Jake Runestad, Bob Chilcott, and Tara Mack, with thematic programming that engages social and community subjects. The ensemble maintains an audition program (Sunday evening rehearsals) and offers educational outreach clinics with regional schools including Duluth East, Duluth Denfeld, and multiple Minneapolis-area and Virginia-area high schools.

The organization's core products are ticketed live concert performances, free community sing-along events (such as the Messiah Singalong), and audio live recordings distributed via its website and YouTube channel. Underlying technology is limited to a Wix-hosted website, Eventbrite ticketing, GiveMN donation processing, Google Forms email-list capture, and standard social media platforms — there is no proprietary technology, software product, or AI component. Business model revenue mechanics combine Eventbrite ticket sales (transaction-based), individual donations via GiveMN, and grant funding distributed from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. Primary customer segments are Northern Minnesota general-public concert attendees and arts patrons (horizontal), with educational institutions (vertical) as a secondary audience for outreach programming. The organization does not have venture, private equity, or institutional investment ownership.

Name

TWIN PORTS CHORAL PROJECT

Legal name

Twin Ports Choral Project

Website

https://twinportschoralproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Twin Ports Choral Project is a nonprofit choral ensemble in Duluth, Minnesota that presents seasonal collaborative concerts and educational outreach programs serving Northern Minnesota audiences and regional schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local) (MPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Choral music performances
• Concert season programming
• Music education outreach
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Live choral concerts

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The organization sells tickets to concert performances through Eventbrite and other ticketing platforms. Concerts include individual events like Virtues of Resistance, Messiah performances, All Days Illumining, and The Sun Never Says.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through GiveMN platform, functioning as a nonprofit choral ensemble supported by individual contributions from patrons and community members.
3. Grants and Arts Funding: The Twin Ports Choral Project receives grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, representing public arts funding for their programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Twin Ports Choral Project presents collaborative choral concerts and educational outreach programs in the Twin Ports (Duluth-Superior) region of Northern Minnesota. The organization delivers a seasonal concert series (typically four concerts per season) featuring innovative choral repertoire, including contemporary works, classical masterworks, and thematic programming, supported by community donations, ticket sales, and arts grants.

Product overview

Twin Ports Choral Project is a choral music performance organization offering seasonal concert series featuring innovative and informed choral performances. The core offering consists of four major concerts per season, each centered on a distinct artistic theme. The 2025-26 season includes: 'Virtues of Resistance' (October), 'Handel's Messiah' in collaboration with Borealis Chamber Artists (December), 'All Days Illumining' (February), and 'The Sun Never Says' (April). Additional offerings include live recordings and an audition program for prospective singers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtues of Resistance Concert Opening concert of the 2025-26 season featuring choral works that amplify voices of faith, community, love, and joy in pursuit of justice and peace, centered around composer Tara Mack's work. Performed for general audiences in the Twin Ports region.
• Handel's Messiah Performance Collaborative performance with Borealis Chamber Artists featuring Handel's Messiah, including a free Singalong event and a full concert performance with orchestra and soloists. Targeted at Twin Ports audiences and classical music enthusiasts.
• All Days Illumining Concert Choral and organ concert celebrating the joys of singing together and hope for a brighter world, featuring works by contemporary composers including Jake Runestad, Bob Chilcott, and Nico Muhly. Targeted at regional audiences.
• The Sun Never Says Concert Meditation concert exploring themes of community building, dignity, and compassion in times of violence and division, inviting audiences to reflect on what it means to be human together. Targeted at Twin Ports and Northern Minnesota audiences.
• Live Recordings Audio recordings of live choral performances available for listening on the organization's website. Targeted at audiences who cannot attend in-person concerts and music enthusiasts nationally.
• Audition Program Audition process for prospective singers including prepared piece, sight-reading, musical excerpt, and vocalizations. Rehearsals held Sunday evenings from 7:30-9:30PM. Targeted at community singers seeking performance opportunities.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Borealis Chamber ArtistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaborative partnership for performances including Handel's Messiah. The two organizations combine forces for major productions, with Borealis Chamber Artists co-presenting concerts with Twin Ports Choral Project.
• Lyric Opera of the North (LOON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on J.S. Bach's St. John Passion with LOON Opera and DSSO Maestro Dirk Meyer. LOON is a professional opera company in the region.
• Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with DSSO for performances including Bach's St. John Passion. Twin Ports Choral Project serves as chorus for DSSO productions.
• The College of St. ScholasticacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the revival of Sister Martina Hughes' The Highwayman with the College's Early Music Orchestra and choirs. Many TPCP musicians are affiliated with the college.
• Lake Superior Chamber OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOccasional performances with the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra for collaborative orchestral concerts.
• Duluth East High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrequent educational collaborations with Duluth East High School for student engagement and mentorship.
• Lake Superior Youth ChoruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on educational outreach and youth development in choral music. Several TPCP members serve in leadership roles with LSYC.
• Arrowhead Regional Arts CouncilcoreOthersDistributes National Endowment for the Arts grants to Twin Ports Choral Project, providing essential funding for programming and operations.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersFederal arts agency providing grant funding through the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to support Twin Ports Choral Project's artistic programming.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Chorale: Minnesota's premier professional choir based in the Twin Cities, with a substantially larger budget, broader statewide reach, and frequent orchestral collaborations (including Minnesota Orchestra). Comparable as a professional choral ensemble with similar repertoire and educational programming.
• VocalEssence: Well-established Minneapolis-based choral organization known for innovative programming, community engagement, and educational outreach. Comparable in artistic mission (innovative choral programming) and nonprofit funding model, but operates at a larger scale and broader geography.

Direct peers

• Cantus: Minnesota-based professional male vocal ensemble that tours nationally and produces themed concert programming. Comparable as a small professional vocal ensemble producing innovative choral programming, though at a more touring-oriented scale.
• The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists: Minnesota-based professional choral ensemble performing a wide range of repertoire. Comparable as a professional regional choral nonprofit producing innovative concerts with collaborative programming.
• Lyric Opera of the North (LOON Opera): Professional opera company serving the Twin Ports region and a documented co-production partner with TPCP (Bach's St. John Passion). Comparable as a regional vocal/opera performing arts nonprofit with similar funding and audience model.
• Lake Superior Youth Chorus: Regional youth choral organization with overlapping leadership and a co-production relationship with TPCP. Comparable choral nonprofit serving the Twin Ports community with similar educational outreach mission.
• Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony in the Twin Ports area that has co-produced choral-orchestral works with Twin Ports Choral Project (e.g., Bach's St. John Passion). Most direct comparable as a regional performing arts organization sharing the same audience base and venues.
• Borealis Chamber Artists: Duluth-based chamber music ensemble that collaborates with TPCP on major productions including Handel's Messiah. Comparable as a small professional regional performing ensemble with shared artistic leadership (Patrick Russell is co-founder).

Regional players

• College of St. Scholastica Music Program: Duluth-based educational institution whose music faculty and choirs frequently collaborate with TPCP (e.g., The Highwayman revival). Comparable in regional arts ecosystem role and overlap of musicians, but its primary mission is academic rather than performance.

Others

• Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Regional arts funding agency that distributes NEA grants to Twin Ports Choral Project. Not a competing peer but a key ecosystem participant and grant intermediary comparable to other state/regional arts councils supporting choral organizations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/twin_ports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbrtvr1KBKMsZSwmtuzKbxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/twinportschoralproject
• Instagraminstagram.com/twinportschoralproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/twin-ports-choral-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TWIN PORTS CHORAL PROJECT