ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ORCHESTRA

The Mississippi Valley Orchestra is a civic orchestra whose star is rising. Founded as a chamber group in 1976 by Edward Schlueter in West St. Paul/Mendota Heights, MVO is now a polished symphony orchestra that performs in venues throughout the Twin Cities. The amateur and professional musicians of MVO, along with artistic director Ho-Yin Kwok, prepare five invigorating concerts each year, performing a wide variety of classical music and partnering with soloists and groups from the Minnesota Orchestra, the University of Minnesota, and other local arts and educational organizations. Also, every spring MVO plays one movement of a piano concerto with the winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association concerto competition - often the student’s first experience playing with an orchestra.
 
MVO has achieved a reputation among its partners and supportive, growing audiences for serious music making, and also for sincere collegiality within the orchestra and its all-volunteer yet professional board of directors. We are proud to be the only community orchestra in the area that charges no dues and whose concerts are all free.

MISSION

Our mission is to infuse the lives of dedicated musicians, and their neighbors in the Twin Cities, with the creative insights, emotional energy, and camaraderie that come from experiencing classical music together.

HISTORY

The orchestra was founded by Edward Schlueter in 1976 as a chamber group.  Over its 40 year history, it has evolved into a polished symphony orchestra performing a broad repertoire ranging from baroque Bach orchestral suites to romantic Mahler symphonies of gargantuan proportions. The orchestra has also performed new works, many by local composers, and has a long tradition of performing modern works from the twentieth century.

MVO has performed in many venues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community, including the Walker Art Center, Landmark Center, Dakota County Fair and Festa Italiana. It has also performed at many area schools and churches, earning a solid reputation for high quality, musically varied performances that cultivate strong community support.