PAST SEASONS: 2013 - 2021
2013-2014 Season
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Greatest Symphonic Hits - Mozart in Person
Sunday, November 17, 2013 First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Noah Deets, young Mozart Wagner: Prelude to Act 3 from Lohengrin Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1st mvt) Mozart: Symphony No. 1 (1st mvt) Tchaikovsky: "Scena" and "Czardas" from Swan Lake Willson: "76 Trombones" from Music Man Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Rimsky-Korsakoff: Russian Easter Overture |
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Honor, Adulation, Praise
February 23, 2014 First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Jeffrey Van, guitar Two Rivers Chorale Chorus Polaris Brahms: Academic Festival Overture Ponce: Guitar Concerto Mendelssohn: Hymn of Praise |
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Brilliance: Orchestra, Organ, Piano
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118 Sunday, April 6, 2014 First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Michael Tang, piano, winner of St. Paul Piano Teachers Association concerto competition Dee Ann Crossley, organ Forsberg: Choral Symphonic on "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star" Grieg: Concerto in A minor, movements 2 & 3 Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 "Organ" |
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Music on the Breeze
Sunday, June 8, 2014 Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Dvorak: In Nature's Realm Gounod: Petite Symphony for Wind Instruments Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 |
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2014-2015 Season
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Happy: Music for a Cheerful Spirit
Sunday, October 19, 2014 First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Henry Charles Smith, conductor John Snow, oboe Shostakovich: Festive Overture Grieg: "Last Spring" from Two Elegiac Melodies Marcello: Oboe Concerto in D Minor (in memory of MVO Oboist Liza Berry) Dvorák: Symphony No 8 |
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Holiday Gems
Friday, December 12, 2014 Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Yarbrough: Alleluias for Orchestra Vaughn Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves Bizet: Farandole from L'Arlesienne Herman: Winter Wonderland Christmas Sing-Along Coots/Gillespie: Santa Claus is Coming to Town Anderson: Sleigh Ride Tchaikovsky: Selected movements from The Nutcracker |
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Exceptional Americana
Sunday, February 22, 2015 First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Doug Wright, trombone Collin Jinks, piano, winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association concerto competition Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 (1st mvt) Hanson: Symphony No. 2, Romantic Pugh: Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra |
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Metamorphosis, Apotheosis, Let it Swing!
Sunday, May 3, 2015 Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Tony Ross, cello Beth Rapier, cello Cathy Larsen, soprano Colonial Chorale Chorus Polaris Christ Presbyterian Chancel Choir Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Cellos Faure: Elegy Poulenc: Gloria |
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2015-2016 Season
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One Thousand and Five Arabian Nights
Sunday, October 25, 2015 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Cecilia Belcher, violin Denis Evstuhin, piano Chorus Polaris, John Hoffacker, director Henry Charles Smith: Fanfares for MVO ROYALTY Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade Beethoven: Choral Fantasia |
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A Festive Holiday
Friday, December 11, 2015 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Megan Dvorak, oboe Morricone: Gabriel's Oboe Red McLeod: Scandinavian Holiday Ramirez: Navidad Nuestra Anderson: Sleigh Ride Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker |
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Angel Voice
Sunday, February 21, 2016 Henry Charles Smith, conductor Maria Jette, soprano Nita Qiu, piano, winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association concerto competition Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Gabrieli: Sonata and Canzon Verdi: "Triumphal March" from Aida St. Saens: Piano Concerto No. 2 |
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Prelude To The Next 40
Sunday, May 1, 2016 Brian Dowdy, associate conductor Cecilia Belcher, violin Henry Charles Smith, conductor Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger Forsberg: Choral Prelude "Was Gott tut, das ist Wohlgetan" Vaughan Williams: Lark Ascending Liszt: Les Preludes |
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2016-2017 Season
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Homelands
Sunday, October 30, 2016 - 3 pm St. Paul United Church of Christ 900 Summit Avenue, St. Paul 55105 Brian Dowdy, conductor Ellen Dinwiddie Smith, horn Sibelius: Karelia Overture Borodin: Symphony No. 2 Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 |
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A Christmas Fantasy
Friday, December 9, 2016 - 7 pm Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118 Brian Dowdy, conductor Jeffrey Martin, soloist Abigail Martin, soloist Humperdinck: Scenes from Hansel and Gretel Anderson: Sleigh Ride Tchaikowski: "Waltz of the Flowers" from The Nutcracker Suite, Op 71a Debussy: The Snow is Dancing Rimsky Korsakov: "Polonaise" from Christmas Eve Suite Christmas carol sing along |
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Let the Spirit Sing Free!
Sunday, February 26, 2017 - 3 pm First Lutheran Church 1555 40th Ave. NE, Columbia Hts., MN 55421 Brian Dowdy, conductor Abigail Martin, soprano Yun Kyong Lee, mezzo soprano Joshua Diaz, tenor Jeffrey Martin, bass Chorus Polaris, John Hoffacker, artistic director University of Minnesota Campus Singers Maroon, Amanda Weber, director Daniel Stein, piano, winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association concerto competition Beethoven: Egmont Overture Coleridge-Taylor: Danse Negre Copland: Variations on a Shaker melody Tippett: 4 Spirituals from A Child of Our Time "Steal Away" "Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen" "Go Down, Moses" "Deep River" Sibelius: Finlandia Schumann: Concerto in A minor |
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Heroes
Sunday, May 7, 2017 - 3 pm
Augustana Lutheran Church
1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118
Brian Dowdy, conductor
Cecilia Belcher, violin
Richard Belcher, cello
Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Brahms: Double Concerto
Sunday, May 7, 2017 - 3 pm
Augustana Lutheran Church
1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 55118
Brian Dowdy, conductor
Cecilia Belcher, violin
Richard Belcher, cello
Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Brahms: Double Concerto
2017-2018 Season
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Pictures at an Exhibition
Sunday, October 22, 2017 - 3 PM Simley Theater of Performing Arts 2920 80th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Richard Belcher, cello Suppé: Poet and Peasant Overture Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition |
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A Christmas Sing-Along
Friday, December 8, 2017 - 7:30 PM Immanuel Lutheran Church 16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie, MN 55346 Friday, December 15, 2017 - 7:30 PM Lake Harriet United Methodist Church 4901 Chowen Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Chorus Polaris, William Mathis, conductor Smith: Christmas Sing-along Waldteufel: Les Patimeurs (The Skaters' Waltz) Tchaikovsky: "Trepak" and "Waltz of Flower" from The Nutcracker 14th Century (arr. Custer): Gaudete Sweelinck: Hodie Christus Natus Est Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium Welsh Carol (arr. Wiberg): Suo-gân Hagen: Deck the Hall Handel: "For unto us a child is born" and "Hallelujah" from Messiah Smith: Santa Claus is Coming to Town Anderson: Sleigh Ride Mozart: Ave verum corpus Anderson: A Christmas Festival |
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Guilmant Symphony No. 1
Sunday, March 4, 2018 - 3 PM Benson Great Hall, Bethel University 3900 Bethel Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Dean W. Billmeyer, organ Glinka: Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila Guilmant: Symphony No. 1 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 |
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Brahms Symphony No. 2
Sunday, May 6, 2018 - 3 PM Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Women of Chorus Polaris Aurora Wang, 2017 St. Paul Piano Teachers Association Concerto Competition winner Debussy: Nocturnes Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1, movement 3 Brahms: Symphony No. 2 |
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2018-2019 SEASON
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Isle of the Dead
Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Simley Theater of Performing Arts 2920 80th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Hisham Bravo Groover, guest conductor William LaRue Jones and Ye Yu, bassoons Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Dietter: Concerto for Two Bassoons Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead Barber: Medea's Dance of Vengeance |
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Season of Bells
Sunday, December 2, 2018 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Bells of the Lakes, William Mathis, music director Tew: An Overture for Hanukkah Menotti: Introduction, March, Shepherd Dance from Amahl and the Night Visitors Berlioz: The Shepherds' Farewell from The Childhood of Christ Tchaikovsky: Pas de deux, Final Waltz, and Apotheosis from The Nutcracker Enescu: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 Anderson: Sleigh Ride Mendelssohn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing English folk song (arr. Moklebust): What Child Is This Admundson: Ring, Gladsome Bells German carol (arr. Garee): Silent Night Anderson: A Christmas Festival |
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Grant Us Peace
Sunday, March 3, 2019 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University 3900 Bethel Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Andrew Staupe, piano Chorus Polaris Walker: Lyric for Strings Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem |
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Appalachian Spring
Sunday, May 5, 2019 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Sarah Grimes, violin Jacqueline Pham, piano Maconchy: Two Dances from "Puck Fair" Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2, movement 1 Jacqueline Pham, the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association Concerto Competition Winner Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite (1945) |
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MVO Crewtet at Wooden Hill Brewery
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - 6 p.m.
Wooden Hill Brewery Company
7421 Bush Lake Rd, Edina, MN 55439
An evening of classic popular music and movie themes played by MVO Crewtet.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - 6 p.m.
Wooden Hill Brewery Company
7421 Bush Lake Rd, Edina, MN 55439
An evening of classic popular music and movie themes played by MVO Crewtet.
Orchestral Maneuvers in the Park
Sunday, August 18, 2019 - 6:30 p.m. Parkway Theater LLC 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417 An eclectic evening of music with members of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Sweet Stache, Mill City Caravan and the Brothers Smitty with tangos, film scores, classics and contemporary rock and everyone playing on the finale! Special drink courtesy from Tattersall Distillery! Ticket: $25 Advance, $30 Door |
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MVO Crewtet at Modist Brewing
Friday, August 23, 2019 - 6 p.m. Modist Brewing Co. 505 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Last chance to catch MVO Crewtet before first concert of the 2019-2020 season! |
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2019-2020 sEASON
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Petrushka
Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Simley Theater of Performing Arts 2920 80th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Jotaro Nakano, guest conductor Ketèlbey: Sanctuary of the Heart Nielsen: Aladdin Suite Stravinsky: Petrushka (1911 concert version) |
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Season of Celebration
Sunday, December 8, 2019 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Lake Harriet United Methodist Church 4901 Chowen Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Smith: Christmas Sing-Along Chadwick: "Jubilee" from Symphonic Sketches Tailleferre: "Waltz of the Telegrams" from Les mariés de la tour Eiffel Stanford: Irish Rhapsody No. 1 Tchaikovsky: "Forest of Firs in Winter" from The Nutcracker Stokowski: Traditional Slavic Christmas Music Chadwick: "Noel" from Symphonic Sketches Hellem: The First Noel Hellem: "Winter" from Four Turns of Time Anderson: Sleigh Ride Anderson: A Christmas Festival |
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Beethoven 7
Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church 1400 S Robert St, West St Paul, MN 55118 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Fanya Lin, piano Orion Kim, student of Dr. Joseph Zins, winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association Concerto Competition, piano Xian Xinghai: Yellow River Piano Concerto Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement 1 Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 |
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Bach Double (Cancelled)
Sunday, April 5, 2020 - 3 p.m. Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University 3900 Bethel Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112 Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor Susie Park, violin Sarah Grimes, violin Smyth: "On the Cliffs of Cornwall" from The Wreckers Bach: Concerto for Two Violins Mahler: Symphony No. 1 |
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Alexander Nevsky (Cancelled)
Sunday, May 17, 2020 - 3 p.m.
Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m.
Benson Great Hall, Bethel University
3900 Bethel Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112
Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor
Andrew Sords, violin
Chorus Polaris
Wagner: Prelude to Act 1 of Parsifal
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky Cantata
Sunday, May 17, 2020 - 3 p.m.
Pre-concert talk - 2:15 p.m.
Benson Great Hall, Bethel University
3900 Bethel Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112
Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor
Andrew Sords, violin
Chorus Polaris
Wagner: Prelude to Act 1 of Parsifal
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky Cantata
Pop-up Performances at Bauhaus July 23, Aug 20, and Sep 24, 2020
Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, August 20, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Bauhaus Brew Labs
1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
The Crewtet of Mississippi Valley Orchestra and the Dolce Wind Trio and Quartet (Aug 20 and Sep 24) performed at Bauhaus Brew Labs for socially-distanced showcases this summer. Performances were at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, featuring classical favorites and popular music. For every beer sold during the performance, Bauhaus donated $1 to #RestoreNorth to help rebuild businesses in North Minneapolis.
Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, August 20, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 6 p.m.
Bauhaus Brew Labs
1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
The Crewtet of Mississippi Valley Orchestra and the Dolce Wind Trio and Quartet (Aug 20 and Sep 24) performed at Bauhaus Brew Labs for socially-distanced showcases this summer. Performances were at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, featuring classical favorites and popular music. For every beer sold during the performance, Bauhaus donated $1 to #RestoreNorth to help rebuild businesses in North Minneapolis.
2020-2021 SEASON
Video: MVO - The Story of 2020
This video is a special message for all the friends of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra. It is a story about how we worked together to maintain our identity as an orchestra for the community since the pandemic cancelled our concerts and other events in the spring. Please enjoy it! We invite you to help us achieve even more in the future.
All background music tracks are excerpts from MVO concerts.
GiveMN: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Mississippi-Valley-Orchestra
This video is a special message for all the friends of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra. It is a story about how we worked together to maintain our identity as an orchestra for the community since the pandemic cancelled our concerts and other events in the spring. Please enjoy it! We invite you to help us achieve even more in the future.
All background music tracks are excerpts from MVO concerts.
GiveMN: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Mississippi-Valley-Orchestra
Regular Rehearsals under COVID-19
During the pandemic, MVO was determined to serve the music community of the Twin Cities by offering regular rehearsals and other musical activities. Health safety remained to be the top priority and the orchestra took serious precautions to prevent the spread of virus. All of MVO activities were optional to our musicians in accordance to information and guidelines from the CDC and the State of Minnesota.
During the pandemic, MVO was determined to serve the music community of the Twin Cities by offering regular rehearsals and other musical activities. Health safety remained to be the top priority and the orchestra took serious precautions to prevent the spread of virus. All of MVO activities were optional to our musicians in accordance to information and guidelines from the CDC and the State of Minnesota.
Videos: Christmas with MVO (at home)
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"Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" played by Principal Horn Don Feeney.
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"Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen" played by Second Violin Emily Ruggles Johnson.
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"White Christmas" played by Artistic Director and Conductor Ho-Yin Kwok.
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Hit the High Note Virtual Hangouts and "Christmas in March" Bonfire Event (Mar 2-Mar 27)
To stay connected with our friends and musicians, MVO hosted four virtual hangouts in March. We were delighted to have wonderful guests, such as Ed Schlueter, founder of MVO, and Christina Chen-Beyers, former Artistic Director, to join us online. The virtual activities also included musical storytellings, rare videos revealing, trivia quizzes, and amazing door prizes. The Grand Finale of the Hit the High Note campaign was a festive "Christmas in March" in-person outdoor bonfire extrordinaire (Mar 27)!
To stay connected with our friends and musicians, MVO hosted four virtual hangouts in March. We were delighted to have wonderful guests, such as Ed Schlueter, founder of MVO, and Christina Chen-Beyers, former Artistic Director, to join us online. The virtual activities also included musical storytellings, rare videos revealing, trivia quizzes, and amazing door prizes. The Grand Finale of the Hit the High Note campaign was a festive "Christmas in March" in-person outdoor bonfire extrordinaire (Mar 27)!
MVO Season Finale 2020-21: William Grant Still's "Danzas de Panama"
Led by Artistic Director Ho-Yin Kwok, MVO found ways to make music during the pandemic of 2020-21. Released for our community near and far on the day that would have been our season finale concert—May 23, 2021—our performance of William Grant Still's warm, hopeful Danzas de Panama was recorded on May 11, 2021 after four socially distant one-hour rehearsals.
Thank you to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota, for your hospitality; to Mary Madson, our manager, who made it possible to have rehearsals at all; and to recording engineer Phillip O'Toole.
Led by Artistic Director Ho-Yin Kwok, MVO found ways to make music during the pandemic of 2020-21. Released for our community near and far on the day that would have been our season finale concert—May 23, 2021—our performance of William Grant Still's warm, hopeful Danzas de Panama was recorded on May 11, 2021 after four socially distant one-hour rehearsals.
Thank you to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota, for your hospitality; to Mary Madson, our manager, who made it possible to have rehearsals at all; and to recording engineer Phillip O'Toole.
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MVO 2021 Summer Crewtet Series
The popular MVO Crewtet Series returned in the summer of 2021 bigger than ever with 9 performances in 3 esteemed Twin Cities local breweries. |
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Bauhaus Brew Labs
1315 Tyler St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Thursday, May 20 - 6 p.m. Thursday, June 17 - 6 p.m. Thursday, July 15 - 6 p.m. Thursday, August 19 - 6 p.m. |
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Lake Monster Brewing
550 Vandalia St #160, St Paul, MN 55114 Tuesday, June 8 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 3 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 14 - 6 p.m. |
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MVO Crewtet at the Baseball Field!
360 N Broadway Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 Friday, August 20 - 7:05 p.m. Come join us as MVO Crewtet makes our sporty debut at CHS Field in the game of St. Paul Saints vs. Iowa Cubs! Also stay behind for the fireworks powered by Xcel Energy. Visit here for St. Paul Saints' schedule. |
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Outreach: Lakeshore Players Theatre
4941 Long Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 Sunday, August 29 - 2:00 p.m. MVO Crewtet will partner with Capital City Brass Quintet for a musical presentation and Q&A session for students of the Children's Theatre Company. |
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Contribute to our mission through GiveMN.org. Your donation supports concerts and performances throughout the Twin Cities.
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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. |
Support: kkoConsulting