Christmas came a few days early for Dessa fans as she just announced plans to record a live album with the Minnesota Orchestra for the upcoming year. The rapper and singer will return to Orchestra Hall on March 26 and 28 to record two performances with the Orchestra, showcasing beloved songs from previous projects and new original material, according to Star Tribune.

The upcoming spring concert will mark Dessa’s fourth collaboration with the Minnesota Orchestra, after performing two sold out concerts in April 2017 and October 2018, along with the 2017 Symphony Ball. For the spring performances, Dessa will be accompanied by familiar collaborators, including vocal arranger/singer Aby Wolf, vocalists Ashley DuBose, Cameron Kinghorn and Matthew Santos, along with percussionist Joey Van Phillips and arranger Andy Thompson.

News–like glassware and the teenage heart—is meant to break. Here’s today’s:
On March 26th and 28th, I’ll be recording live with the @mn_orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Tickets are on sale now at https://t.co/wPCcqM0F89 and 612-371-5656. pic.twitter.com/cWZeP9Tpvu

— Dessa (@dessadarling) December 17, 2018

“Following Dessa’s previous performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, social media has blown up with the question ‘when can you make a recording?’ – and now we can answer ‘later this year,’” said Grant Meachum, the Orchestra’s director of Live at Orchestra Hall. The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra has recorded more than 450 works with artists, but this will mark the ensemble’s first ever recorded collaboration with a rapper.

Dessa has been keeping herself busy this year from the national publication of her memoir, “My Own Devices,” to the release of her third, full-length album Chime and the international tour accompanied by the release to promote the album. She touched based on countries from Europe to North America. But that hasn’t stopped Dessa to continue putting out new material, performing for her audiences across the globe and collaborating with new and old faces.

“Collaborating with the Minnesota Orchestra has made for some of the most memorable performances of my life,” said Dessa in the announcement. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done together, excited to take the stage with Sarah [Principal Conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall] and the Orchestra again, and am still sort of stunned we get to cut a record together.”

The live-in-concert album won’t be released under Doomtree Records until later in 2019, and will be produced by Lazerbeak and Andy Thompson. Tickets are available for around $31 to $125 a piece on the Orchestra Hall’s website, box office (open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or by calling the phone number 612-371-5656.

Photo Credit: Marisa Rose Ficara