Orchestra performs ‘Winter World’ concert

Here’s what you missed, if you didn’t make it to the first concert of the East County Community Orchestra, not long ago …

In the Hazelwood neighborhood of outer East Portland, the East County Community Orchestra begins its winter concert.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Members of the all-volunteer, 60+ member East County Community Orchestra gathered on the stage of the David Douglas High School Horner Auditorium on Sunday, January 19, to present a concert entitled, “Winter Around the World”.

At 3:00 p.m., Conductor David L Kinch took the podium, and with a wave of his baton started the concert with The Star-Spangled Banner. The concert then took on an Asian flair with Warrior Legacy followed by Ya La Suo (also known as Ji Xiang Ru Yi Ya La Suo).

ECCO tuba player Katrina Chapple adds a mellow bass line for a song.

The concert proceeded to take on a Russian winter motif with the song Fandango & Alborada by Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakov. The first half of the program ended with the tune, In a Persian Market.

Concertgoers find tables full of cookies loaded with treats set out for their enjoyment during the concert’s intermission.

During the intermission, guests were again treated to tables laden with cookies of all varieties, as well as coffee, all provided by the orchestra members’ families.

“The orchestra is phenomenal this year; and it’s an incredibly good performance today – it sounds so musical that I’m really, really thrilled,” said ECCO Director David Kinch.

Conducting the orchestra through another great melody is ECCO Director David Kinch.

“This organization is important because music is ‘a lifelong thing’; and ECCO gives people of all ages and skill levels – from professionals to amateurs – the opportunity to continue to learn music and to perform it in public,” Kinch told East Portland News.

“As a ‘volunteer’ orchestra, I thank them so much for coming every week for rehearsal, and doing their best,” Kinch lauded. “They’re lovely people, there’s no place I would rather be on a Thursday evening than with them – especially in a delightful concert, like we’re having here today!”

Guest Director Curt Cassingham leads the orchestra, featuring a euphonium trio, through the lively melody Bugler’s Holiday.

As the lights dimmed, and the second half of the concert began, guest Director Curt Cassingham took over, conducting the LeRoy Anderson tune Bugler’s Holiday, but, instead of being played by musicians with trumpets or coronets, it featured a euphoniums – played by David Kinch, Roger Rees, and Steve Wolf.

This number was followed a song, Kinch told the audience, penned in July of 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heat wave: Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” “Despite the lyrics making no mention of any holiday, the song has come to be regarded as a Christmas song in North America, due to its winter theme – being played on radio stations during the Christmas and Holiday Season,” the Kinch expanded.

The ECCO takes audience members on a “musical journey” during their “Winter Around the World” concert.

The next number was composed by another talented Rimsky-Korsakov, this one Nikolay – Dance of the Tumblers, from “The Snow Maiden”.

The audience were intrigued by the song, The Dance of the Thieves, from “The Snow Queen”. Then the concert climaxed with the orchestra playing the “Radetzky March” by Johan Strauss, Sr.

Learn more about the East County Community Orchestra, including how yourself to become a ECCO Member and Patron, by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

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