The Saint Croix Valley Orchestra is a regional volunteer organization formed in 1991. It has drawn musicians from all walks of life in the St. Croix Valley and adjoining area. The orchestra provides a rare opportunity for amateur and professional musicians living in rural Wisconsin and Minnesota with the chance to play with a fully orchestrated, professionally directed ensemble. Since its beginning, the Orchestra has provided quality concerts in many locations in this area to the public free of charge.
The orchestra's director, Randolph Elliott, is one of the founders. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental and Choral Conducting and Music Administration, with High Honors, from the University of Montana, and earned a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he began forming and directing orchestras and choral groups. He has been a church music director and organist, taught public school music for a dozen years and private lessons for about three dozen years, and continues to be active as a workshop director, composer, and arranger. He selects and arranges the music, schedules concerts, recruits musicians, and conducts the orchestra.
The Orchestra rehearses weekly from September through June at the St. Croix Falls High School on Mondays at 7 p.m. Any musician serious about performing in ensemble is invited to contact us or come to rehearsal.
A board of directors governs the non-profit corporation that supports the orchestra.
Concert performances begin early in March, June and December at different sites throughout the St. Croix Valley. The summer concerts are performed outdoors when weather permits. (Watch for announcements in local papers and posted at area businesses). Concert performances are drawn from the music of the Baroque and Classical periods, ranging from serious symphonies to dance numbers. Come join us to hear music from the masters!