Lots Happening
Outside the Hall

As the Oregon Symphony’s Education & Community Engagement Program Director, I have many opportunities to bring together some very talented people with some very eager music lovers. Through collaboration with the Oregon Symphony musicians, visiting guest artists, schools and local communities we reach a large number of people who want to learn about and experience classical music. Some examples:

• When Edgar Meyer, the virtuosic double-bass soloist, came to town to play with the Oregon Symphony this season, he also led a master class with four accomplished high school and college students. This was one of a series of master classes we offer in collaboration with the Community Music Center in Southeast Portland. The master classes are free and open to the public, and that day it was standing-room only! The audience was made up of all ages, and they came to witness Meyer’s great capacity to share his expertise and passion for music of all genres.

• The very next week our woodwind quintet did one of the 36 Kinderkonzert performances that take place throughout the season for the youngest pupils in area schools. This one, in North Portland’s Peninsula School, happened to occur  on Jan. 20, and at the very moment the performance was ending our new president took his oath of office. So of course there was special excitement in the air: The 350 students and adults in the auditorium stood with hands over hearts and sang the Star Spangled Banner, accompanied by our own woodwind ensemble. It was a completely impromptu performance, filled with great significance for all. We then joined the upper-grade students to watch President Barack Obama’s inaugural address. I don’t think anyone will forget what we were doing on that day in history.

• Our Community Music Partnership, in Tillamook this year, will bring together 25 orchestra musicians and Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda to perform for and meet with students, the woodwind and string quintets will offer evening chamber concerts and the full orchestra will present a Young People’s Concert on May 1/ Then, on May 2, the year will culminate with a concert of the full Oregon Symphony, playing alongside community and student musicians, all conducted by Vajda. The Tillamook musicians are already rehearsing for this collaborative concert, and Oregon Symphony musicians will coach them during residency visits to Tillamook throughout the winter and spring.

• Musicians are collaborating with youth librarians at four Multnomah County libraries this year as they present 16 Symphony Storytimes to pre-schoolers and their parents. These events offer the audience a chance to get to know the musicians, hear music and stories together and try out each instrument.

We couldn’t do all this, of course, without the very diligent musicians and volunteers who make these events run smoothly. They’re offering a lifetime of memories to future music-lovers – and maybe even instilling the spark that will lead to some new musicians along the way.

Monica Hayes
Education & Community Engagement
Program Director