September 1, 2013 — 2015-16 Season Begins With New Faces
We welcome new musicians joining the orchestra at the outset of the season: violins Fangyue He and Samuel Park, viola Ningning Jin and cello Antoinette Gan.
2014-15 Season Changes
Cellist Timothy Scott and Yoshi Nakao, Principal Clarinet both retired from the orchestra this season after over 65 combined years of service. Principal Flute Jessica Sindell also left the orchestra this season. We wish them well. Joining us this year is violin Laura Ha, bass Nina DeCesare and trumpet Doug Reneua.
September 1, 2013 — 2013-14 Season Begins With Changes
A number of musicians well-known to Portland audiences will not be on stage with us this season. Retiring this year are violist Stephen Price, violinist Kathryn Gray and Principal Bass Frank Diliberto. They have contributed over a century of combined years of service. Also leaving the orchestra are violinist Eileen Lande and Trumpet Michah Wilkenson. We wish them well.
April 4, 2013 — Announcing Classical Up Close
Making an opportunity out of disappointment is the impetus behind a new musician-run chamber music series called Classical Up Close. The idea for the series began after the Oregon Symphony canceled its return to Carnegie Hall that was slated for May 2013. That opened a free week for Oregon Symphony musicians. Classical Up Close is the resulting week–long series that includes six evening concerts and a couple of “blitz” concerts each day.
“We want to make the symphony visible to everybody, and to thank our supporters by going to them instead of them always coming downtown,” says Concertmaster Sarah Kwak. “We hope to make new friends and reach as many people as possible.”
For more information, please visit ClassicalUpClose.com.
February 21, 2013 —Coming in with a bang
We welcome our newest member of the orchestra, Michael Roberts to the Percussion section.
February 11, 2013 — Remembering Maestro James de Preist
We are greatly saddened by the news of the death of the Oregon Symphony’s former Music Director James de Preist. His leadership from 1980 until 2003 shaped the orchestra into the nationally–recognized ensemble that it is today. We are proud of the orchestra’s achievements during Maestro DePreist’s tenure: the 15 CD recordings, the move to the orchestra’s home at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the orchestra’s 1992 performance at the Hollywood Bowl and our community engagement throughout Oregon. Jimmy’s rapport with the audience was legendary, and his way with words, spellbinding. We remember most of all the sweeping gestures, the great arches and the power of his music making, his humanity and matchless charisma, and his genuine and tireless support for the Oregon Symphony and its mission to bring great music and great music–making to our community and beyond.
December 6, 2012 — Grammy nominations!
The Oregon Symphony has learned that its first CD released under the musical direction of Carlos Kalmar, Music for a Time of War, has received two Grammy award nominations: for Best Orchestral Performance and for Best Engineered Album, Classical.
September 2, 2012 — starting the 2012-13 season with change
At the end of last season we said farewell to two long-time players: Carla Wilson, piccolo and Mary Ann Coggins Kaza, violin. We wish them well in their future endeavors. Coming to the orchestra this fall is Zachariah Galatis, piccolo.
May 23, 2012 — 2011-12 season changes
Many Changes to the orchestra have taken place. Sarah Kwak will join the orchestra in the fall as our new Concertmaster, taking the place of Jun Iwasaki who is now Concertmaster in Nashville, Tennessee. (Mr. Iwasaki made a final guest appearance with the Oregon Symphony for our last concert of the season). Also new to the orchestra in the fall will be violinist Vali Phillips, husband of Ms. Kwak.
Already onstage are Principal Flute Jessica Sindell, English Horn Kyle Mustain, Second Bassoon Adam Trussell, Violins Ruby Chen, Emily Cole and Ryan Lee, new percussionists Matthew McKay and Sergio Carreno.
Oregon Symphony radio broadcasts are back! Please see Here us on the Radio for more information.
September 17, 2009 — Musicians Vote for the Sake of the Orchestra
On September 8, musicians voted to alter the current contract. The resultant two-year financial saving of $1.4 million, made possible by the reductions of season length for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, compensations, and benefits, is considered a contribution by the musicians to stabilize and improve the current economic condition of the Oregon Symphony Association, and as a collective gift to assist fundraising efforts by the Association to improve the future strength of the Association.
September 5, 2009 — New Season Brings Several Personnel Changes
New to the orchestra this year is our new Assistant Principal Cello, Marilyn de Oliviera. Her husband, Trevor Fitzpatrick, returns to the cello section from his leave last season. (Read about other Oregon Symphony musician couples in Married, with Music).
Harris Orem has retired from the oboe section after many seasons as the orchestra’s English Horn. We wish him well in his future endeavors. An audition for his successor will occur later this season.
Three musicians are taking sabbatical years this season: Violist Masayo Higuchi, Principal Trombone Aaron La Vere and violinist Virginia MacCarthy. Taking the stage for this season are Mac Kim, Acting Violin and Steve Menard, Acting Trombone.
March 17, 2009 — Orchestras Feeding America.
Come to a concert, feed your soul and your fellow Oregonian. Bring three cans of food to your next Oregon Symphony concert to support your local food bank.
During March and early April of 2009, the musicians of the Oregon Symphony are joining orchestras across America in a national food bank drive called Orchestras Feeding America. This venture is a joint project between the League of American Orchestras and Feeding America, the country’s largest food bank network. We are collecting food at concerts for the Oregon Food Bank. Concertgoers can be a part of this food drive by bringing three cans of food to concerts during March and April. Read more here.
November 15, 2008 — New Bassoon Principal.
We’re happy to welcome our newest member, the leader of our bassoon section, Principal Bassoon Carin Miller. She comes to us from the Jacksonville Symphony. Evan Kuhlmann, who has been Acting Principal for more than a season, will return to his Contra Bassoon position.
October 31, 2008 — The Trumpets Shall Sound.
We are pleased to welcome to the orchestra our new Third Trumpet, Micah Wilkinson. He comes to us from the Tucson Symphony.
October 25, 2008 — CD release.
The last CD has recently been released in the series of recordings under Music Director Laureate, James DePreist. It includes Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Berlioz’ Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17 and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture from the orchestra’s 1988 private recording. You’ll find information about other Oregon Symphony recordings here.
October 6, 2008 — Orchestra Loss.
Ken Baldwin, Assistant Principal Bass since 1985, succumbed to cancer this weekend. He contributed to the orchestra in so many ways, not only as a talented bassist and genial colleague, but also with countless hours of committee work and as a musician member of the Symphony Board. We will miss him.
September 20, 2008 — Two-Year Contract Ratified.
Musicians ratified a new two-year contract which trades a continued reduction in orchestra size (from 88 to 76 players) for a 5 percent salary increase this year and a cost-of-living increase in the second year. Read more here.
July 26, 2008 — Orchestra Family Grows.
We welcome four new players to the stage for the 2008-09 season, plus two orchestra family members who are not musicians (yet). Alicia Waite and Graham Kingsbury join the horn section, Mark Dubac becomes our new 2nd Clarinet and Alicia DiDonato Paulsen becomes our new 2nd Flute in the newly named Martha Herby Flute Chair.
Two babies were born to orchestra musicians this summer. Chien Tan has a new baby girl and Joseph Berger now has a second boy in his family. Perhaps you will see this next generation on stage in twenty years or so…