Presenting the very best in classical music and opera on northeastern Minnesota’s historic Iron Range.

Schedule of Events:

June 27, 2025

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm - Rhapsody at the Ridge

A benefit for Northern Lights Music Festival, honoring Alan Hodnik.

Social Hour begins with Silent Auction and appetizers accompanied by the Northern Jazz Express. A three-course dinner follows with entertainment by the renowned opera stars of Northern Lights’ The Marriage of Figaro.

Location: Giant's Ridge 6329 Wynne Creek Drive, Biwabik, MN, United States

July 1, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Opening Night Concert

Opening night chamber music concert of the 2025 season including performance by our renowned performing faculty, along with prize-winning students of Northern Lights Young Artists Program.

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

July 2, 2025

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

Chamber music concert featuring performance by our renowned faculty, along with prize-winning students of Northern Lights Young Artists Program.

Location: B'nai Abraham Cultural Center 328 5th St S,, Virginia, MN, United States

July 3, 2025

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Concerto Competition

The Helen Bradach Zuponcic Concerto Competition gives participants in the Young Artists program the opportunity to compete for a chance to appear in concert with the Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra, along with cash awards. Now in its second year the competition is named after Helen Bradach Zuponcic, (b. 1915, d. 2014), piano teacher who taught hundreds of young people in the city of Aurora. She accepted her first student in 1945, and taught for 70 years, until her retirement in 2005 at age 90.

The competition is free and open to the public.

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

July 4, 2025

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

Celebrate Independence Day with Northern Lights! Our Festive Fourth! Concert features the Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra under the baton of Music Director & Conductor Gavriel Heine. Performing with the orchestra will be cast members from this season’s opera Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

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

July 5, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Chamber Music at Mesabi East

Chamber music concert featuring faculty member and classical guitarist Carlos Bedoya.

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

July 6, 2025

4:00pm - 6:00pm - Chamber Music at B’nai Abraham

Chamber music concert featuring members of our renowned faculty along with members of our Young Artists Program.

Location: B'nai Abraham Cultural Center 328 5th St S,, Virginia, MN, United States

July 8, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Concerto Winners Concert

Winners of the 2025 Helen Bradach Zuponcic Concerto Competition perform with the Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra under the director of Music Director Gavriel Heine.

Location: Hibbing High School Auditorium 800 East 21st Street, Hibbing, MN, United States

July 9, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Chamber Music at Lake Vermilion Cultural Center

Chamber Music Concert featuring members of our performing faculty, along with participants in our Young Artists Program.

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

July, 10, 2025

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Drumming in Central Park

Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy Indigenous American drumming led by Ryan Bajan. This is a free event.

Location: Central Park 309 Central Ave W, Aurora, MN, United States

July 18, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm - The Marriage of Figaro – Aurora

Mozart’s comic opera The Marriage of Figaro is filled with love, deception, and brilliant music. Scheming servants, a jealous Count, and outrageous disguises create a whirlwind of comedy and romance!

Performed in Italian with English supertitles, full orchestra, costumes and sets.

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

July 20, 2025

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm - The Marriage of Figaro – Chisholm

Mozart’s comic opera The Marriage of Figaro is filled with love, deception, and brilliant music. Scheming servants, a jealous Count, and outrageous disguises create a whirlwind of comedy and romance!

Performed in Italian with English supertitles, full orchestra, costumes and sets.

Location: Chisholm HS Auditorium 301 4th St SW Chisholm, 55719

July 21, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm - The Marriage of Figaro – Ely

Mozart’s comic opera The Marriage of Figaro is filled with love, deception, and brilliant music. Scheming servants, a jealous Count, and outrageous disguises create a whirlwind of comedy and romance!

Performed in Italian with English supertitles, full orchestra, costumes and sets.

Location: Washington Auditorium 600 East Harvey Street Ely, MN 55731

Date: June 27 - July 21, 2025

Location: Various Venues in MN

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