Learn which groups benefited from this musical event – featuring an evening of music by the East County Community Orchestra and David Douglas High School Concert Choir. You can’t hear the great music here, but we do have nifty photos …
-1 Kiwanians all – Jewell Bailey, Harold Stoffer, and Carol Bailey – welcome guests to the “Evening of Music” presented by the Portland Peninsula Kiwanis Club, at David Douglas High School’s Horner Auditorium.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
For the second year, the East County Community Orchestra and David Douglas High School Concert Choir presented an “Evening of Music” on April 11.
“The donations for the program tonight,” noted Kiwanian Jewell Bailey, “benefits the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp and Kiwanis Doernbecher Children’s Cancer Program.”
Bailey reminded us that his unique musical pairing was the idea of fellow Kiwanian Harold Stoffer, a member of the orchestra. “He thought it would be a good idea, and it has turned out quite well. We had 100 guests last year, and it looks like we’ll have the same this year.”
The first half of the program is presented by the East County Community Orchestra, under the baton of their conductor, Jack Mahoney.
“Our orchestra loves to perform,” Mahoney said, before taking the conductor’s stand in the Horner Auditorium at David Douglas High School. “And, it’s even better, when we get to perform to support such a good cause.”
As the auditorium lights dimmed, the East County Community Orchestra’s program began.
The East County Community Orchestra plays both classical and popular selections.
David Douglas High School’s first principal, before he was named the school district’s superintendent, Dr. Howard Horner, plays the Sousaphone – at a concert in the auditorium named in his honor.
It featured works such as Florentiner – Grande marcia Italia and Espana Cani. The musical selections then moved to a more popular realm with the lively Salute to Cinema, Grand March from “Aida” and Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.
The orchestra finished their part of the performance with Fanfare and March from “Iolanthe”.
Members of the East County Community Orchestra stand to receive the audience’s ovation.
Christopher D. Silva conducts the David Douglas High School Concert Choir.
After a brief intermission, the second half of the program was presented by the David Douglas High School Concert Choir, under the direction of Christopher D. Silva, and accompanied by Marcia Thomas.
“We’re so pleased to be on this program with the Community Orchestra,” Silva told us during the intermission. “And, it brings a broader group of the community to our school to hear our great student choir. But the most important factor tonight is that we’re supporting local charities that do good for Portland’s disadvantaged and health-challenged youth.”
With concert choir members standing on the steps of the side aisles on either side of the seats, the audience was treated to a performance in live stereo.
Instead of their gathering under the choral shell on stage, the second half of the program began with the DDHS Concert Choir members lining the stairs, up both sides of the Horner Theatre. They sang, a cappella, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Bogoroditse Devo. The sound of their voices in this presentation was exquisitely beautiful and emotionally evocative.
After reassembling on stage, choir members took turns introducing the musical works that followed, including Mendelssohn’s Verleith Unos Frieden; a traditional Russian railroad song by Mikael Glinka, Poputnaya pesuia; The Seal Lullaby; closeing with the lively traditional American spiritual, My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.
With a choir of this caliber, it’s clear why David Douglas School District took state-wide awards this year.
© 2010 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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