FREE Courtroom Concert: Jake Endres, baritone; Gary Briggle, tenor; Casey Rafn, piano

Hosted by composer Abbie Betinis, our popular Courtroom Concerts take place at noon most Thursdays in the Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul. This series features accomplished musicians and composers from the Twin Cities and surrounding area, as well as occasional musical newcomers to the area. These one-hour concerts are free and open to the public.

About the Artists:

Jake Endres lives in St. Paul, MN and splits his time between the musical and theatrical worlds, freelancing as a singer, actor, music director, and composer. He has appeared with many regional organizations, including The Minnesota Orchestra, The Flying Foot Forum/Guthrie Theater, the Metropolitan Symphony (as a regular creative partner), The Children’s Theatre Company, History Theatre, Frank Theatre, Park Square Theatre, G.R.E.A.T. Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Skylark Opera, Dakota Valley Symphony, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, and Sapphire Chamber Consort. Since the pandemic began, he has produced an eclectic series of backyard concerts called Smoke House Stage. Jake sings regularly with Border CrosSing and serves on their Board of Directors, and is most proud to be the papa of Annabelle and Gavia.

Gary Briggle, tenor, is a nationally renowned singer-actor, stage director and coach, with over 45 years of professional experience in the full range of music-theater genres. 

Upon graduation from St.Olaf College in 1975, he began working with The Minnesota Opera Company, under the visionary guidance of H.Wesley Balk. He sang with the resident company for the next decade, in diverse roles such as Monastatos in Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE, Goro in Puccini’s MADAME BUTTERFLY, the Witch in Humperdinck’s HANSEL & GRETEL, and Andrew in the premier of William Mayer’s A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. 

In 1982 he began the peripatetic life of a freelance artist, performing with regional theaters and opera companies from Alaska to Virginia, finding artistic homes in West Palm Beach, Tucson/Phoenix, Sacramento, Cleveland, Dayton and Milwaukee.

Locally he has been fortunate to work with Nautilus Music-Theater for decades, thanks to Ben Krywosz. And he has frequently appeared at History Theater, The Ordway, Frank Theatre, The Jungle Theater, Northstar/Skylark Opera Theatre, among numerous others. Career highlights include 21 productions of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, premieres of Libby Larsen’s BARNUM’S BIRD (with VocalEssence) and MRS DALLOWAY, and Elvis Costello’s THE JULIET LETTERS, produced by his best friend Jake Endres’ TheatricalMusic company.

Minneapolis-based pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career both in the US and abroad. As a collaborative pianist, he has performed at venues in Latin America, Canada, New York City, and across the US. He is a member of the saxophone-piano trio {Trés}, which is currently nominated for a Grammy for their work with jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenon. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, and can often be found as a chamber musician with members of that orchestra, as well as members of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and also faculty from the University of Minnesota. Apart from his collaborative work, he enjoys solo playing, having taken top prizes at the International Liszt-Garrison Competition in Baltimore, as well as appearing as a soloist with Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. He has held positions at the University of Minnesota School of Music, SPCPA, and Lundstrum Performing Arts in North Minneapolis.