The Northern Lights Music Festival is a three week classical music performance program and music school which is held each summer on the Minnesota Iron Range.

Schedule of Events:

June 27, 2024:

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Rhapsody At The Ridge

Benefit for Northern Lights Music
Honoring Barbara Baldrica
President, Northern Lights Music
President, Arrowhead Concert Association

Social Hour and Silent Auction
Music by Northern Jazz
Three-course Dinner with choice of entree:
Beef kabobs, Champagne Chicken, Cedar Plank Salmon, Vegetable Lo Mein, Cash bar
Exquisite entertainment by the renowned opera stars of Candide.

Location: Giant’s Ridge, 6329 Wynne Creek Drive, Biwabik, MN 55708.

Tickets: $90 per person / Table of eight: $700
All Tickets Must Be Purchased By June 13.

Purchase Tickets

July 1, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Opening Chamber Music Concert

Our opening concert features solo and chamber performances by our illustrious faculty.

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

Tickets: Adults $15 | $5 Students under 18.

July 2, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music at B’nai Abraham

Legendary pianist Mikhail Voskresensky in recital.

Program:

Sonata in e minor,  Hob.XVI/34 - Haydn
Sonata in c# minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27, No.2 - Beethoven
Kreisleriana, Op. 16 - Schumann

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

Tickets: Adults $15 / Students Under 18 $5

July 3, 2024:

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Concerto Competition

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

July 4, 2024:

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Festive Fourth Concert

Featuring Veda Zuponcic and the NLMF Orchestra; Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

July 6, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music at B'nai Abraham

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

July 7, 2024:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Alexander Markov, Violin and Friends

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Cabaret Night at The Androy

Our Opera Apprentices perform in a causal cabaret setting. Presenting a program to engage and enchant with familiar and classic tunes, something for everyone.

Cash bar / Appetizers

Location: The Androy, 2010 5th Ave East, Hibbing, MN 55746.

Tickets: $20

July 8, 2024:

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Kids for Kids Concert

Location: Gilbert Public Library, 17 Broadway, Gilbert, MN 55741.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Alexander Markov, Violin and Friends

Location: Minnesota North College, 1900 E Camp Street, Ely, MN 55731.

July 9, 2024:

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Kids for Kids Concert

Location: Virginia Public Library, 215 S 5th Ave, Virginia, MN 55792.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music at St. Mary’s

Location: Lake Vermilion Cultural Center, 705 Main Street, Tower, MN 55790.

July 11, 2024:

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Lecture by Aaron Brown

American Values: How early Iron Rangers fought the KKK and anti-Semitism

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

July 12, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: NLMF Opera: Leonard Bernstein’s Candide

Candide
A comic operetta in two acts.

Director: A Scott Parry
Conductor: Gavriel Heine
Set Design: Bart Healy

Cast:
Voltaire/Pangloss
Daniel Narducci
Candide
David Walton
Cunegonde
Robin Steitz
The Old Lady
Claudia Chapas
Maximilian/Captain
Tim McDevitt
Grand Inquisitor/Governor/Vanderdendur
Jonathan Elmore

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

Tickets: Adults: $60 / Students under 18: $15

10:00 pm - 11:30 pm: Post Opera Gala at The Hive

After Opera Gala at The Hive
Join the cast of Candide for a gastronomic trip around the world!

Location: The Hive, 103 Main St N, Aurora, MN 55705.

Tickets: $30 per person / Cash Bar

July 13, 2024:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Chamber Music at The Coppertop Church

The best of NLMF Chamber Music.
Free Will Offerings Gladly Accepted.

Location: First United Methodist Church, 230 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN 55811.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music Concert at B'nai Abraham

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

July 14, 2024:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: NLMF Opera: Leonard Bernstein's Candide

Candide
A comic operetta in two acts.

Director: A Scott Parry
Conductor: Gavriel Heine
Set Design: Bart Healy

Cast:

Voltaire/Pangloss
Daniel Narducci
Candide
David Walton
Cunegonde
Robin Steitz
The Old Lady
Claudia Chapas
Maximilian/Captain
Tim McDevitt
Grand Inquisitor/Governor/Vanderdendur
Jonathan Elmore

Tickets: Adults: $60 / Students Under 18:  $15

After Opera Gala at The Hive
Join the cast for a gastronomic trip around the world!

Ticket: $30 per person
Cash Bar

Location: Chisholm High School Auditorium, 301 4th St SW, Chisholm, MN 55719.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Post opera Italian Buffet at Valentini’s

Join the cast after the matinee performance of Candide in Chisholm for an Italian Buffet.

Location: Valentini’s Super Club, 31 W Lake St, Chisholm, MN 55719.

Ticket: $20 per person / Reservations required.
Call Valentini’s Supper Club to make reservations. (218) 254-2607

July 15, 2024:

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Lecture by Aaron Brown

Best in the Nation: How Iron Range Education Led the Nation and Could Again

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music at Ely

Location: Minnesota North College, VermilioFine Arts Center, 1900 East Camp Street, Ely, MN 55731.

July 16, 2024:

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Young Artists at the Copper Top Church

Location: First United Methodist Church, 230 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN 55811

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Chamber Music at Buhl Public Library

Location: Buhl Public Library, 400 Jones Avenue, Buhl, MN 55713.

July 17, 2024:

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Kids for Kids Concert

Location: Ely Public Library, 224 E Chapman Street, Ely, MN 55731.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: An Evening of Opera Arias

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Chamber Music at B’nai Abraham

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

July 18, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: NLMF Orchestra, featuring Winners of the Helen Bradach Zuponcic Concerto Competition

Location: Hibbing High School Auditorium, 800 E 21st St, Hibbing, MN 55746.

July 19, 2024:

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Student Farewell Chamber Music Concert

Location: Veda Zuponcic Auditorium, Mesabi East, 601 N 1st St W, Aurora, MN 55705.

July 20, 2024:

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Finnish American Band

Fun music for a summer’s afternoon. Coffee, lemonade and cookies … or bring your own picnic.

Location: Wirtanen Pioneer Farm, 5312 Markham Rd, Makinen, MN 55763.

July 21, 2024:

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Red Thread Vocal Ensemble with Sarah Larsson

Location: B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, 328 5th St S, Virginia, MN 55792.

Dates: July 1 - 21, 2024

Location: Various Venues in MN

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