November 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Kids and adults alike can experience the joy of a classic Paddington Bear story set to music as Conducting Assistant Jonathan Pasternack leads the Oregon Symphony in a special Kids Holiday Concert, “Paddington Bear’s First Christmas Concert,” on Sunday, December 22 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This concert is sponsored by Meier & Frank.
Symphony President Tony Woodcock, the concert’s storyteller, shares Paddington’s British heritage and is a devoted fan: “Paddington Bear stories are some of the greatest, as they manage to fascinate not just children but adults as well,” he explains. “The stories combine a wry sense of humor with the wonderful charm of its central character who goes through life creating mayhem and finding friends and adventures in equal measure, in a philosophical and almost Taoist manner.” Composer Herbert Chappell wrote a score that reveals Paddington’s wonder of discovery in experiencing his first live orchestra concert's native Peru to further enhance the story.
As Paddington encounters the orchestra, audiences will enjoy many of their favorite holiday carols, including “Frosty the Snowman” and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and a special appearance by Santa Claus. In addition, one lucky child at each performance will go home with a three-foot stuffed Paddington Bear.
Paddington’s creator, British author Michael Bond, began writing Paddington stories after he bought a stuffed bear for his wife as a Christmas present in 1957. The bear, which they named Paddington for the subway stop near their apartment, inspired Bond to turn out eight stories in just one week. Bond continued to write numerous adventures for his now world-famous bear, and after almost 50 years, Paddington continues to delight children and adults around the world.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys for the Northwest NewsChannel 8 Toy Drive and canned food for the Oregon Food Bank are accepted at all Oregon Symphony Holiday concerts. Performances are scheduled for Sunday, December 22 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range from $6 to $30 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Tony Woodcock joined the Oregon Symphony in Portland, Ore., as President in 1998. Since that time the Symphony has undergone a process of considerable development, with improvements to the annual fundraising drive; growth of the Endowment Fund; a new strategic plan; a ground-breaking new three-year contract with the musicians that has grown internal relationships and provided a major foundation for the future; and the appointment of Vienna’s Carlos Kalmar as Music Director Designate to succeed 23-year Music Director James DePreist in 2003-2004. Plans for the immediate future include a large-scale celebration of DePreist's 23 years with the Orchestra; a new community education initiative; further regional touring; and a series of recordings. Woodcock serves on the boards of Business for Culture and the Arts, where he is a member of the executive committee, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic.
Before moving to America, Woodcock was the Managing Director of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Bournemouth Sinfonietta for eight years. During this time he took the BSO on two American tours including debuts at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer; tours of Germany and Spain; a residency at the Theatre de Champs Elysee, Paris; first visits to the Musikverein Vienna and the Concertgeboew Amsterdam; and a Grammy-award-winning series of recordings with Andrew Litton and Richard Hickox. Woodcock led the searches in Bournemouth which resulted in the appointments of Yakov Kreizberg and Alexander Polianichko as Principal Conductors of the two orchestras. Prior to Bournemouth Woodcock was the Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, where he led the £10 million capital campaign for the renovation of the Philharmonic Hall. He planned the orchestra’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which included commissioning Paul McCartney to write the Liverpool Oratorio. Other appointments have included General Manager of Saint David's National Concert Hall of Wales; General Manager of the City of London Sinfonia; Assistant Director of South East Arts, and the position of Music Officer for the Welsh Arts Council.
A violinist, Woodcock holds an honors degree in music from University College Cardiff, Wales. He and his wife Virginia reside in Portland, Oregon, with their 19-year-old son Thomas.