Turns out that if you go into IOS 18.2 settings, go to Privacy and Security, and disable Bluetooth for the Singular Sound MIDI Maestro app, and then re-enable it, I got it to work. It’s still working… very slowly… but at least it’s trying. Thanks for the help – it gave me the idea to mess with the permissions. The MM App really should be more explicit about checking the availability of Bluetooth access and say something if it is not available – and offer to turn it on.
That’s just my 2cents. Thanks everyone.