OES prepares for youth symphony
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 6th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – (News release from Oregon East Symphony) The Oregon East Symphony Youth Orchestra will present their free Winter Concert at 7pm, Thursday, January 22, 2025, at the Vert Clubroom (345 SW 4th St, Pendleton, OR). They will be joined by the beginner level Preludes Orchestra. The concert will be followed by a reception with punch and cookies.
The intermediate level OES Youth Orchestra, under the direction of OES Assistant Conductor Zack Banks will perform arrangements of Johannes Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5,” “Scherzo” from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, “Andante” from Pytor Tchaikvosky’s Sixth Symphony, and the first movement from Antonin Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony.
The beginner level Preludes Orchestra, under the direction of OES Section Violinist and McKay Creek Elementary Music Teacher Emma Norquist with assistance from Journey Hahn, will perform “La Rejouissance” from Handel’s “Royal Fireworks Music,” theme music from the film “How to Train Your Dragon” by Michael John Mollo and John James Powell, and “The Bringer of Joy, an arrangement by Roy Phillippe of Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter.”
Both the OES Youth Orchestra and Preludes Orchestra are activities within Playing For Keeps, OES’s classical music initiative for rural youth. The OES Youth Orchestra and Preludes are open to string instrument playing students (violin, viola, cello, double bass) who can play their instrument and read music at an elementary level. Students audition to determine their placement in the two ensembles. Both ensembles are open to accepting new students for the spring concert rehearsal series which begins on Monday, February 3rd. Rehearsals take place at the Pendleton High School Music Department on Mondays at 6:30pm.
For more information on the Oregon East Symphony’s education and concert programming, or to donate in support of OES’s education programming, visit www.OregonEastSymphony.org, call 541-276-0320, or email info@oregonEastSymphony.org.
Photo: The OES Youth Orchestra performing in the Vert Auditorium in May 2024. (Credit: May Benson)
