The Mississippi Valley Orchestra is a civic orchestra whose star is rising. 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 Concertmaster Sarah Grimes (Minnesota Orchestra) and Artistic Director and Conductor Kornel Thomas, prepare five excellent 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.
