Mississippi Valley Orchestra

Fifty-one years ago, a high school music teacher brought together a collection of community musicians and former students to form the Mississippi Valley Chamber Orchestra.  From this modest beginning, MVO has grown into one of the Twin Cities’ preeminent civic orchestras.

Over the years, MVO has benefited from the leadership of a distinguished succession of Artistic Directors: Ed Schlueter, Christina Chen-Byers, Henry Charles Smith, Brian Dowdy, Ho-Yin Kwok, and our current Artistic Director, Kornel Thomas.

Today, MVO’s amateur and professional musicians present five thoughtfully curated concerts each season.  Our orchestra is known for its collegial culture, collaborations with guest soloists, and partnerships with arts and educational organizations.

One of MVO’s defining initiatives is our Foreground Composer Series, which showcases the work of one underrepresented composer throughout each season.  This commitment expands the orchestral repertoire while deepening audience engagement and bringing greater recognition to vital musical voices that are too often left at the margins of the canon.

Our concerts are always free, and we charge no dues to musicians.  Instead, audiences and musicians contribute what they can, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to experiencing and participating in classical music. 

 Find out why we're so excited about the season's repertoire and fantastic guest artists here!