The Twin Cities Reading Orchestra
Skilled musicians. Challenging repertoire.
To “read” music is to play it through without stopping—meeting it fresh, navigating it in real time, and challenging one’s musical skills. Improved technical capability, along with a broader understanding of the repertoire and performance styles, results.
About MRO
The Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra brings together skilled musicians to explore challenging orchestral repertoire in a unique reading-session format. Rather than focusing on repeated rehearsal of a few works, musicians develop their sight-reading, adaptability, and ensemble skills while performing a broad range of music throughout the season.
From September through April, the orchestra meets biweekly and studies approximately 20 or more works before presenting a public concert featuring guest soloists and selections from the season's repertoire. Participation is free and open to musicians of all ages whose skill level is sufficient.
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DONATESupport the MRO
The Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra is a non-profit organization that depends on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. Through our partnership with the Edina Community Foundation, we're able to keep operating costs low — so more of your gift goes directly to the music.
Classical music thrives when communities choose to sustain it. Every contribution, at any level, makes the next season possible.
Upcoming Events
Experience the joy of live orchestral music. Browse upcoming concerts, discover featured guest artists, and explore opportunities to perform with the orchestra.
MRO Symphony Concert | Featuring Nathan Salazar
January 24, 2027 | 3:00 pm
Normandale Lutheran Church, Edina
Heard from Our Musicians
“The repertory orchestra is really a golden opportunity to play the best of the orchestral literature with a wonderful group of talented musicians who are there simply for the pleasure of playing great music with other like-minded musicians. Craig’s vision for having the group be a repertory-reading orchestra makes it a unique ensemble, and because we aren’t rehearsing every piece for a public performance, it allows us to play even more of the orchestral repertoire.”
— Trudi Anderson, Flute"Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra helps me read well-known repertoire, as well as gems that classical musicians don't come by very often. It's amazing to broaden my connections and make music with such wonderful musicians, and it's very informative as a composer to play such repertoire routinely. There has never been a session I haven't enjoyed."
— Tim Guillaume, Violinist and Composer “The Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra provides an unique opportunity for both seasoned professionals and early career musicians to "sight-read" repertoire they may not have had a chance to play in an ensemble setting. It is a forum that builds not only musical skills but friendships and intergenerational dialogue! “
— Merilee Klemp, Oboist and English Hornist