Upcoming Events
Brahms & Schumann
A Season of Mastery Kicks Off!
Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concertmaster, University of Wisconsin Superior professor, and virtuoso violinist Erin Aldridge joins us as we open our ‘26-27 season! A phenomenal artist and always an audience favorite, she’ll be performing Johannes Brahms’ iconic Violin Concerto. Famously written for, and premiered by, the renowned Joseph Joachim, it is a beloved work that seamlessly integrates the Romantic orchestra with the solo violin.
For the second half of the program, we turn to Brahms’ friend and colleague Robert Schumann. His Fourth Symphony (later found to actually be the first symphony he wrote) perfectly encapsulates the Romantic era: A melodramatic journey that brings the listener through an array of emotions. It’s a symphony full of excitement, beauty, darkness, and joy!
PROGRAM
Rossini: Overture to La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
—INTERMISSION—
Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120
Brahms & Schumann
A Season of Mastery Kicks Off!
Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concertmaster, University of Wisconsin Superior professor, and virtuoso violinist Erin Aldridge joins us as we open our ‘26-27 season! A phenomenal artist and always an audience favorite, she’ll be performing Johannes Brahms’ iconic Violin Concerto. Famously written for, and premiered by, the renowned Joseph Joachim, it is a beloved work that seamlessly integrates the Romantic orchestra with the solo violin.
For the second half of the program, we turn to Brahms’ friend and colleague Robert Schumann. His Fourth Symphony (later found to actually be the first symphony he wrote) perfectly encapsulates the Romantic era: A melodramatic journey that brings the listener through an array of emotions. It’s a symphony full of excitement, beauty, darkness, and joy!
PROGRAM
Rossini: Overture to La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
—INTERMISSION—
Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120
MSO Christmas Spectacular 2026
‘Tis the Season!
Our annual Christmas Spectacular will be sure to lift your spirits this holiday season! It’s an evening full of great music and fun festivities. The program is always jam-packed with music that is a spectacle, cinematic, nostalgic, heartwarming, and just plain fun! This year The Polar Express will take center stage: In addition to playing the suite from the movie, there will be a multimedia presentation during the performance, and we’ll have The Big Guy (ho ho ho..!) reading the story to kids on stage. For the second half of the program, the MSO will join with The Range of Voices chorus, which will only add to the grandeur and splendor of the evening!
More exciting news is yet to come as we get closer to the holiday season!
An Evening with Mahler
Song and Symphony
Gustav Mahler famously opined that “his time would come.” During his lifetime, his works were not overwhelming critical successes and often faced harsh criticism; decades later, his music has become more popular and successful than he could have ever imagined. Orchestras around the world routinely fill concert halls when Mahler’s name is on the program!
We’re excited to welcome back tenor Brian Wallin to sing with the MSO! A gifted and versatile artist, he will be singing selected songs from Mahler’s different song cycles written for voice and orchestra. Mahler is usually known as the ultimate symphonist, but he was also an expert at setting poetry to his unique orchestral palette.
The program will conclude with the first movement from his First Symphony. Mahler once told fellow composer, Jean Sibelius, that “A symphony must be like the world; it must embrace everything.” Mahler’s First certainly embodies that ethos! It opens softly with 7 octaves of the note A, which Mahler called the “tuning of the universe.” From there, we get treated to orchestral colors, melodies, and excitement that only Mahler can give us. This is not to be missed!
More program details TBA.
An Evening with Mahler
Song and Symphony
Gustav Mahler famously opined that “his time would come.” During his lifetime, his works were not overwhelming critical successes and often faced harsh criticism; decades later, his music has become more popular and successful than he could have ever imagined. Orchestras around the world routinely fill concert halls when Mahler’s name is on the program!
We’re excited to welcome back tenor Brian Wallin to sing with the MSO! A gifted and versatile artist, he will be singing selected songs from Mahler’s different song cycles written for voice and orchestra. Mahler is usually known as the ultimate symphonist, but he was also an expert at setting poetry to his unique orchestral palette.
The program will conclude with the first movement from his First Symphony. Mahler once told fellow composer, Jean Sibelius, that “A symphony must be like the world; it must embrace everything.” Mahler’s First certainly embodies that ethos! It opens softly with 7 octaves of the note A, which Mahler called the “tuning of the universe.” From there, we get treated to orchestral colors, melodies, and excitement that only Mahler can give us. This is not to be missed!
More program details TBA.
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
The Grand Finale
We close our season with Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, his Symphony No. 6. He subtitled it “a passionate symphony,” which was then translated to French and labelled the Pathétique Symphony. And passionate it is! When we think about music and symphonies written during the Romantic era in the 19th Century, we expect music that is dramatic, beautiful, emotional, sorrowful, jubilant, full of storytelling, and much more. Tchaikovsky’s Sixth has all of this, and more, but think about all of that but on overdrive! It is one of the most intense and gorgeous pieces of music ever written.
His final symphony tragically ended up being his final completed composition as Tchaikovsky would die only 9 days after the premiere. Tchaikovsky wrote, “Without exaggeration, I have put my entire soul into this work,” and his masterpiece brings us along on a gripping musical journey from the opening notes to the closing pages.
PROGRAM
(Presented without intermission)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 Pathétique
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
The Grand Finale
We close our season with Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, his Symphony No. 6. He subtitled it “a passionate symphony,” which was then translated to French and labelled the Pathétique Symphony. And passionate it is! When we think about music and symphonies written during the Romantic era in the 19th Century, we expect music that is dramatic, beautiful, emotional, sorrowful, jubilant, full of storytelling, and much more. Tchaikovsky’s Sixth has all of this, and more, but think about all of that but on overdrive! It is one of the most intense and gorgeous pieces of music ever written.
His final symphony tragically ended up being his final completed composition as Tchaikovsky would die only 9 days after the premiere. Tchaikovsky wrote, “Without exaggeration, I have put my entire soul into this work,” and his masterpiece brings us along on a gripping musical journey from the opening notes to the closing pages.
Individual tickets only available at Agate Encores!
PROGRAM
(Presented without intermission)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 Pathétique
Orchestra Meets Funk & Soul - Duluth
Lets Get Funky!
The MSO’s annual fundraiser gala is back with the MSO Pops Orchestra returning to the stage with Jumpsuit!
Join us for a funky evening of music as we join with Jumpsuit, one of the hottest bands in Duluth! The night will be full of your favorite music, complete with Jumpsuit's funky takes on all of the hits. With a reception and cash bar following the show, you won't want to miss this fun & exciting event!
Buy your tickets online now here for $35! Tickets will be $40 at the door.
Tickets available in person at Brainstorm Bakery & Boundary Waters Kitchen & Market in Ely, Schmitt Music in Virginia, and Carmen’s Bar & Restaurant in Cloquet!
Check out and follow Jumpsuit on their Instagram and Facebook
Orchestra Meets Funk & Soul - Ely
Lets Get Funky!
The MSO’s annual fundraiser gala is back with the MSO Pops Orchestra returning to the stage with Jumpsuit!
Join us for a funky evening of music as we join with Jumpsuit, one of the hottest bands in Duluth! The night will be full of your favorite music, complete with Jumpsuit's funky takes on all of the hits. With a silent auction and a reception full of fine food & drinks, you won't want to miss this fun & exciting event!
Buy your tickets online now here for $35! Tickets will be $40 at the door.
Tickets available in person at Brainstorm Bakery & Boundary Waters Kitchen & Market in Ely, Schmitt Music in Virginia, and Carmen’s Bar & Restaurant in Cloquet!
Check out and follow Jumpsuit on their Instagram and Facebook
Brahms: The Towering Giant
It Was Worth the Wait!
Our season concludes with the towering First Symphony by Johannes Brahms. It famously took Brahms 21 years to write this epic symphony, but it was worth the time and effort! The shadow of Beethoven loomed large for composers in the 19th Century - finding a true successor to the symphonic master was a daunting undertaking. Brahms, even while feeling the weight of history, nevertheless produced a heroic & valedictory masterpiece. You won’t want to miss this special evening of music!
Brahms: The Towering Giant
It Was Worth the Wait!
Our season concludes with the towering First Symphony by Johannes Brahms. It famously took Brahms 21 years to write this epic symphony, but it was worth the time and effort! The shadow of Beethoven loomed large for composers in the 19th Century - finding a true successor to the symphonic master was a daunting undertaking. Brahms, even while feeling the weight of history, nevertheless produced a heroic & valedictory masterpiece. You won’t want to miss this special evening of music!
Brilliant Artistry
Celebrate the Artistry!
Join us as we begin our concerts in 2026 and celebrate the artistry of our Young Artist Competition winner Toko Nakajima! A Duluth-based cellist, Toko our featured soloist and she will perform the 2nd movement from Dvorák’s iconic Cello Concerto. This will be a performance not to be missed. Toko’s performance will be passionate as she performs this intensely romantic music.
Featured on the program will be Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs & Dances Suite No. 2. Respighi was a master artist at turning the orchestra into a vibrant palette of colors and sounds. Respighi went back to the Renaissance era to find inspiration for this suite of music. The second of three suites with the same title, Respighi took music originally written for lute and other Renaissance instruments and orchestrated them for the modern orchestra. The music is nothing short of kaleidoscopic!
Rounding out the program will be Sibelius’ Overture to Karelia and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.
Brilliant Artistry
Celebrate the Artistry!
Join us as we begin our concerts in 2026 and celebrate the artistry of our Young Artist Competition winner Toko Nakajima! A Duluth-based cellist, Toko our featured soloist and she will perform the 2nd movement from Dvorák’s iconic Cello Concerto. This will be a performance not to be missed. Toko’s performance will be passionate as she performs this intensely romantic music.
Featured on the program will be Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs & Dances Suite No. 2. Respighi was a master artist at turning the orchestra into a vibrant palette of colors and sounds. Respighi went back to the Renaissance era to find inspiration for this suite of music. The second of three suites with the same title, Respighi took music originally written for lute and other Renaissance instruments and orchestrated them for the modern orchestra. The music is nothing short of kaleidoscopic!
Rounding out the program will be Sibelius’ Overture to Karelia and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.
New Year's Eve!
New Year’s Eve with Ian Francis Lah & the MSO Pops Orchestra!
The Mesabi Symphony Orchestra and Northern Lakes Arts Association are pleased to present a New Years Eve concert featuring Ely's own Ian Francis Lah, other local stars, and the Mesabi Pops Orchestra.
Our stage will come alive with enchanting and engaging music. Before the curtains rise, indulge your palate with a lavish spread of delectable hors d’oeuvres and meticulously crafted cocktails from Ely's Historic State Theater bar. As the final encore fades away, join us in raising your glass to toast the approaching New Year. Let the jubilation fill the room as we bid adieu to the old and embrace the possibilities of the new year.
Tickets are $50 and include a reception with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and the concert. Reception - 5:30pm -- Concert - 7:00pm
Join us for a night of music, culinary delights, and a New Year’s Eve celebration that promises to be nothing short of spectacular. Purchase tickets now and make memories that will last a lifetime! Tickets only available online here!
MSO Christmas Spectacular
The Festivity Returns!
Our audience-favorite Christmas spectacular returns this season! Join us for a fun, family-friendly evening of holiday music with lots of special goodies in store to make sure we kickstart the holiday season in grand fashion! Decorations, treats, festive drinks, other festivities, and even a visit from the Big Guy (ho ho ho), are all in store for this fun night! Come and revel in the holiday spirit with us!
Rachmaninoff & Dvořák
Join us for our season-opening concert weekend!
We open our 2025-2026 season with exciting, beloved, and iconic music! Johann Strauss, Jr.’s charming and whimsical Overture from his operetta Die Fledermaus begins the program. Dr. Hector Landa, professor of piano at the University of Wisconsin Superior, will then join us to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s epic Piano Concerto No. 2. One of the most celebrated concertos of all time, you won’t want to miss it!
Finishing the evening, we will feature one of the most recognizable and iconic works ever written - Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”. Written as a gift to America while visiting and living here, the premiere was an immediate success and has remained an audience (and musician) favorite ever since.
Rachmaninoff & Dvořák
Join us for our season-opening concert weekend!
We open our 2025-2026 season with exciting, beloved, and iconic music! Johann Strauss, Jr.’s charming and whimsical Overture from his operetta Die Fledermaus begins the program. Dr. Hector Landa, professor of piano at the University of Wisconsin Superior, will then join us to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s epic Piano Concerto No. 2. One of the most celebrated concertos of all time, you won’t want to miss it!
Finishing the evening, we will feature one of the most recognizable and iconic works ever written - Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”. Written as a gift to America while visiting and living here, the premiere was an immediate success and has remained an audience (and musician) favorite ever since.
North of Broadway
NORTH OF BROADWAY 2025
ELY
The MSO’s annual fundraiser gala returns as the MSO Pops Orchestra returns to the stage with local stars!
Join us for a fun evening of music, a silent auction, and a reception full of fine food & drink! Support the MSO at this exciting event!
Get your tickets online here! Also available at Brainstorm Bakery in Ely.
North of Broadway
NORTH OF BROADWAY 2025
Virginia
The MSO’s annual fundraiser gala returns as the MSO Pops Orchestra returns to the stage with local stars!
Join us for a fun evening of music, a silent auction, and a reception full of fine food & drink! Support the MSO at this exciting event!
Get your tickets online here! Also available at Schmitt Music in Virginia.
Beethoven’s 5th
Our season closes with a masterpiece!
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony hardly needs an introduction. One of the most beloved works in the entire orchestral repertoire, the MSO will end the 2024-2025 season with a thrilling performance of Beethoven’s ground-breaking work.
Filling out the rest of the program will be the Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppé and three Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvorák!
Beethoven’s 5th
Our season closes with a masterpiece!
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony hardly needs an introduction. One of the most beloved works in the entire orchestral repertoire, the MSO will end the 2024-2025 season with a thrilling performance of Beethoven’s ground-breaking work.
Filling out the rest of the program will be the Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppé and three Slavonic Dances by Antonín Dvorák!
Young Artist Competition Winners
Come celebrate and enjoy the artistry of our Young Artist Competition winners!
Our featured soloists, Keegan Foster & Elsa Persson, will perform with the MSO on this special concert. Always committed to advancing young musicians through education programs and outreach, the MSO’s Young Artist Competition is one of the premier opportunities on the Iron Range for student musicians.
Other music on the program will include Verdi’s exciting Overture to Nabucco, the Prelude to Pietro Mascagni’s romantic Cavalleria Rusticana, and highlighting the evening will be music from Georges Bizet’s beloved opera, Carmen.
Give to the Max Day 2024
The MSO is again participating in Give to the Max this month!
Each time you make a gift during Give to the Max, you could help us win part of the $100,000+ Prize Pool! In fact, there are nearly 150 chances to win during Give to the Max Day!
On Give to the Max Day, the most popular prizes are Golden Tickets. These are random chance drawings and each gift you make during Give to the Max enters you to win money for the MSO! If they randomly draw your gift, the MSO will receive an additional prize grant!
All you have to do is make a gift (or lots of gifts!) and it will be entered into the prize drawings for each associated prize grant. This means your gift could be eligible for as many as three drawings!
$500 Early Giving Golden Tickets
Did you know you can make your Give to the Max gifts early? They start counting the total and giving out prizes on November 1, and they’ll be drawing one gift each day for a $500 Early Giving Golden Ticket.
$500 Golden Tickets every 15 minutes on Give to the Max Day
They’ll be drawing Golden Ticket winners every 15 minutes on November 21! Every 15 minutes is a new chance to win, and registered Minnesota-based organizations are eligible to win one or more!
$1,000 Hourly Golden Tickets on Give to the Max Day
Back again this year, they’ll also be giving away the traditional $1,000 Hourly Golden Tickets on November 21. Your donation to any registered Minnesota-based nonprofit or school will be boosted by $1,000 if we draw your gift!
$10,000 Super-Sized Golden Ticket
The grand prize of Give to the Max, you could turn any gift of $5 or more into $10,000 for the MSO! This prize will be drawn from all gifts made during Give to the Max Day and Early Giving, from November 1-21.
A Night at the Movies
Join us for a fantastic, family-friendly experience of soaring & popular music from the Big Screen!
Music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Superman, The Dark Knight, The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, Spider-Man, and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial will be featured!
Kids (and adults!): We invite you to dress up as your favorite movie character (either from the program or your favorite in general) and come to the concert in costume!
Movie refreshments will be available in the lobby
A Night at the Movies
Join us for a fantastic, family-friendly experience of soaring & popular music from the Big Screen!
Music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Superman, The Dark Knight, The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, Spider-Man, and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial will be featured!
Kids (and adults!): We invite you to dress up as your favorite movie character (either from the program or your favorite in general) and come to the concert in costume!
Movie refreshments will be available in the lobby
A special multimedia presentation will be shown during the concert! (Virginia only)