Rural and Community Art Project Grant

We seek to celebrate and acknowledge a premier performance space that has served the community well for 100 years. In Phase I we will oversee the commission of a multi-movement orchestral tone poem for orchestra and chorus by internationally known composer, Dr. Rene' Clausen. Our measurable outcomes are (1) the resulting composition through thorough research will reflect the history and culture of the Iron Range; and (2) by working with the directors involved the resulting composition will be interesting and within an appropriate difficulty range for the combined community and school orchestras and the combined community and school choirs; and (3) the score and parts will be professionally Finale engraved and delivered to the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra by January, 2023. To measure the outcomes, we will have MSO and some singers do a read through of the rough draft in the fall of 2022, and again after the final work is completed in January, 2023. The Mesabi Symphony Orchestra conductor, Ben Nilles, along with Sheila Wilcox, Betsy Olivanti and Dominick Olivanti will give Dr. Clausen input after each read through. We will consider the project a success by (1) receiving the commissioned piece in professionally engraved Finale score and parts by January 1, 2023, (2) by having a composition that powerfully reflects the rich and diverse history and culture of the Iron Range, (3) by having an interesting composition that is at the appropriate difficulty level for the combined school and community ensembles who will be performing the work.