ELY- The Mesabi Symphony Orchestra filled the fine arts theater at Vermilion Community College with the sound of music last Saturday afternoon as the 2021-2022 season, Return to Harmony, continued.
Two concerts were held in the North Country last weekend, here and at Goodman Auditorium in Virginia, featuring the Young Artist Competition winners, Natalie Sandor on violin, and Rufina Robbins, soprano.
Robbins has also made her mark as a singer in the Twin Ports. She has been a finalist at the Minnesota NATs competition for the past three years, a recipient of the 2020 Matinee Musicale Scholarship and a winner of the 2018 Schmidt Vocal Competition. As a winner of PBS’s talent show Celebration of Music in 2018, she was featured on live TV.
“As we continue this season after an unthinkable 18-month hiatus, I want to thank you for your continued support of this organization,” said Ben Nilles, MSO artistic director.
“Now more than ever, the MSO wouldn’t be able to reunite to provide the Iron Range with amazing musical experiences without the support and dedication of the community. On behalf of the musicians and of the Board of Directors, I thank you for helping the MSO thrive and remain a cultural pillar of our communities,” he said.
Due to public health precautions of the coronavirus pandemic, the MSO was on a virtual lockdown from public performances for the past year and a half. “The past 18 months have been unprecedented in a multitude of ways, but it’s hard to overstate the impact it has had on performing arts organizations,” Nilles said.
“Thankfully, the MSO has been able to weather much of the storm, but not without enduring hardships. That’s why we are beyond excited to bring the full orchestra back to the stage. Our season theme, Return to Harmony, is meant to encapsulate all of the feelings I, and the orchestra, have about this season as we work toward an end to the pandemic.” 
The 2022 MSO season closes in April:
• Saturday, April 23 -A Musical Jubilee, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Goodman Auditorium at Virginia Secondary School.
• Sunday, April 24 - A Musical Jubilee 2-4 p.m., Moose Lake Community School.
For ticket information, go to https://www.mesabisymphonyorchestra.org/.