The fun in hiking is not, often, the walking.

It's the surroundings. And the people you're with. It's the satisfaction of a journey undertaken and a goal completed.

Likewise, as Gustav Mahler put it, what's best in music is not to be found in the notes.

And it's in that spirit - of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts - that the Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra announces its 2005-06 concert season.

The MVCO's sixth season will be one of collaboration and experimentation. It will begin with two performances during the last weekend in September.

On Sept. 24, the chamber orchestra will be the guest of the Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus, opening for the latter at its first show of the season. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Belle Mehus Auditorium.

The MVCO kicks off its season the next day, at a joint concert with the University of Mary Steel Drum Band. Yes, the steel drummers.

"It's an opportunity to share the stage with what I think is an elite performing group," said Scott Prebys, director of the U-Mary band. "I think it'll be such a fun afternoon."

Prebys said classical music certainly isn't out of his band's realm of appreciation or ability. Indeed, the Steel Drum Band added pieces by Mozart and Beethoven to its repetoire at last year's Panorama concert.

And it will be Beethoven's Fifth Symphony that the chamber orchestra will feature at its season-opener. The joint venture will begin at 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church.

The MVCO's next concert will be Nov. 13, and will be the final concert of the fourth season of the Bismarck Baroque Festival. The Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus will join the orchestra to perform Vivaldi's "Gloria." Tonya Mertz will be the featured soloist on a Handel oboe concerto.

Other concerts of the sixth season, all to be performed at 4 p.m. at Trinity:

3 Jan. 8 - A celebration of Mozart's 250th birthday. Conductor Curtis Peacock (who also will be celebrating a birthday then) will step down from the podium to perform Mozart's "Concerto No. 3 in G Major for Violin and Orchestra." Guest conductor Dennis Gowen will hold the baton for the first half of the concert.

3 Feb. 12 - This is the annual chamber fund-raising concert, where members donate their time to play several pieces in smaller groups.

3 April 2 - The season finale will feature violinist Paul Rosenthal, who will return to Bismarck after a successful performance with the MVCO last season. Rosenthal will play Mendelssohn's violin concertini.

MVCO member Kathy Murphy said the sixth season should be a fun one.

"Players really enjoy the Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra," Murphy said. "We strive for high quality. Curtis is a good conductor. He brings out the best in people in a very user-friendly way."

Prebys said the chamber orchestra is known among musicians in town as being open and inviting.

"I think every one of our faculty members has played with the MVCO over the years," Prebys said. "It's the players' choice. It has a great home quality to it, it's the place where the musicians hang out."

(Reach Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tspilde@ndonline.com.)