August 6, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore.... Portland's neighborhood parks will again be the summertime stage for "Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods," an annual series of free Symphony concerts and community events that will begin in North Portland's Pier Park on Sunday, Aug. 18, continue at northeast Portland's Glenhaven Park on Sunday, Aug. 25, and culminate at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Thursday, Aug. 29, with the kickoff of the James DePreist Tribute Season. A collaboration with the city of Portland and the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) to bring the Symphony's music "to the people," "Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods" is sponsored by KOIN 6, kinkfm102 and NW Natural. Educational activities are supported by the Patty Vemer Education Fund.
Afternoon festivals, showcasing neighborhood talent and resources, will precede the Symphony performances in Pier Park (corner of N. James St. and N. Bruce Ave.) and Glenhaven Park (N.E. 82nd Ave and N.E. Siskiyou St.). Beginning at 3 p.m., the festivals will include performances by community arts groups and artists, as well as opportunities to learn and create through Oregon Symphony "Instrument Petting Zoos," neighborhood-sponsored workshops and information/activity booths. All activities have been planned with the leadership of Neighborhood Advisory Committees representing each of the communities served by the parks.
In addition to the festivities that take place at the parks concerts, "Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods" features a year-long educational partnership between neighborhood schools and the Symphony's Education and Community Programs department, as well a Stagecraft Apprentice program for at-risk youth.
The afternoon festival at Pier Park will be emceed by Robin Plance of the St. Johns Neighborhood Association. Performers will include Isaac Trimble (Native American flutes); Imagen Latina (Mexican folk);the Farnell Newton Jazz Trio; Conjunto Principe Maya (Latin American folk); Uluwehi Hula Halau O Kapukui (Hawaiian Dance); and Portland Taiko. Workshops and activities will include the Robin Chilstrom Story Circle; an art activity table sponsored by the University of Portland School of Education; the Ethos Musicmobile, featuring a collaborative effort with Oregon Symphony musicians; face painting with Ping Khaw-Sutherland; the Rec and Roll Bus (various games and activities hosted by the St Johns Community Center); mime Omar Vargas; Jason Ropp and his puppets; an Hawaiian Dance Workshop; Lorna Miller's Little Kids' Jamboree. Scheduled demonstrations include: Native American flute making; Art on the Peninsula; and Hmong Fabric Art demonstration/display. In addition, several community groups and organizations will host information booths.
The 7 p.m. Symphony concert will be conducted by Guest Conductor Timothy Hankewich, a graduate of the Oregon Symphony Conducting Apprenticeship program who now is Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony. The program will feature light classics with a Latin flavor, including selections from Bizet's "Carmen" and Bernstein's "West Side Story" Overture.
The Pier Park Neighborhood Advisory Committee is: Mike Verbout; Robin Plance; Pamela Plance; Ray Piltz; Ellie Piltz; Janet Vanek; Frank Vanek; June Perkins; Keola Morley; Barbara Quinn; Michael Kaufman; Bill Smith; Rodney Weber; Joe Annett; Gyrid Hyde-Towle; Leah Siebert; Jackie Singleterry; Mary Jaron Kelley; and Jane Bogus.
The afternoon festival at Glenhaven Park will be emceed by Sean Batty and Leslie Waygren from the Roseway Neighborhood Association; the Symphony's presence coincides with the Roseway Neighborhood's annual Neighbor Fair. Performers will include Mirage (jazz trio); Bella de Clara Vista (traditional Mexican dance); Sam Kama and Ohana (Hawaiian music and dance); traditional Hmong dance; the Viet Youth Connection (traditional dance); and the Viet Hung Lion Dance Team of Madison High School. Workshops will include the Lorna Miller Little Kids' Jamboree; an "Instrument Petting Zoo" with Oregon Symphony musicians; art activity tables sponsored by the Montavilla and East Portland Community Centers as well as by the Gregory Heights Library; and Hawaiian leis and coconut palm weaving. Photography, Mexican wood carving and Hmong needlework demonstrations and exhibit are tentatively schedule at the time of this release.
The 7 p.m. Symphony concert will be led by Associate Conductor Norman Leyden and will feature light classics and popular selections with vocalist Shirley Nanette. Included will be selections by Duke Ellington and a George M. Cohan sing along with "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "You're A Grand Old Flag."
The Glenhaven Park Neighborhood Advisory Committee is: Sean Batty; Sue Berg; Phill Colombo; Ruben Garcia; Kathy Gordon; Bonnie LaDoe; Sandra LeFrancois; Bac Ai Nguyen; Melinda Palmer; Katy Philp; William Warren; Curtis Waterbury;Leslie Waygren; and Catherine Wilson.
This year's Waterfront Concert will serve as a community kickoff for the James DePreist Tribute Season, a season-long celebration of DePreist's immeasurable contributions and achievements during 23 years as Oregon Symphony Music Director and Conductor. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and Portland Mayor Vera Katz are among the scheduled speakers, and the concert will conclude with DePreist's traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" with fireworks and National Guard canons.
The 2002-2003 season marks DePreist's last as Music Director, though his relationship with the orchestra and the community will continue indefinitely in his new role as Laureate Music Director. During his transformational tenure, DePreist has guided the Oregon Symphony to major orchestra status, with a national reputation for quality and innovation, while increasing concert activity and even greater service in the areas of education and community programs such as Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods.
The Symphony concert is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by a performance by the Portland Youth Philharmonic, under the direction of new Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, and Portland Taiko from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The Symphony's program also will feature John Williams' Suite from "Superman" and the Scherzo movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.