PRINCIPAL VIOLA JOËL BELGIQUE TO HOST
DISCUSSION ON BEETHOVEN'S THIRD SYMPHONY
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Portland, Ore. … Cutting through the classical "mystique," Oregon Symphony Principal Viola Joël Belgique will host a free discussion on Beethoven's legendary Symphony No. 3 during Fortissimo's Listening Group meeting Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. at Classical Millennium Northwest (801 NW 23rd Ave.). Fortissimo, the Oregon Symphony's young professional volunteer organization, offers the Listening Group as a monthly, open forum for people with little or no formal music education to discuss works featured in upcoming Oregon Symphony performances. Fortissimo's Listening Group is sponsored by Classical Millennium Northwest.

Belgique will discuss Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica," in the context of music's classical period. The work will be conducted by Music Director Candidate Enrique Diemecke in a Symphony Classical Concert featuring guest soloist David Shifrin Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10, at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, March 11, at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

ed the Oregon Symphony as Principal Viola in 1997. An active chamber music performer, Belgique has played in several Chamber Music on Tap concerts at BridgePort BrewPub and as a guest with Portland's Ethos Quartet and Third Angle. He is also a member of "Fear No Music," a local chamber ensemble consistently praised for its unusual and innovative programming. Belgique is an active teacher both in his private studio and on faculty at Portland State University. In June of 2002 Belgique will participate in the International Viola Congress in Seattle by leading the Oregon Symphony's viola section in an ensemble piece, co-leading a read-through of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 with Seattle Symphony Principal Viola Susan Gulkis and appearing as soloist with his Oregon Symphony stand partner, Assistant Principal Viola Charles Noble.

Fortissimo Listening Group meets at Classical Millennium once a month (801 NW 23rd Ave.) and is free and open to the public. The forum was designed for people to share thoughts on music and expose themselves to new perspectives in a friendly environment. For more information and a schedule of meetings, call 503-228-4294, e-mail fortissimo@orsymphony.org or visit the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org.

Joël Belgique

Joël Belgique joined the Oregon Symphony as principal violist in 1997. Before coming to Portland, Belgique played with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra for several seasons. He has participated in several music festivals as principal violist throughout his career, including Interlochen's National Music Camp in Michigan, Round Top Music Festival in Texas, National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado, and the Spoleto "Festival dei due Mondi" in Italy. He has also performed with the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, California, the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Festival of the Lakes in Alexandria, Minnesota. His performances in Minnesota have been broadcast on radio for Minnesota Public Radio, and at the Grand Teton Music festival he was invited to perform a chamber music recital with violinist Elmar Olivera.

Raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, by French parents, Belgique studied viola with Mikhail Boguslavsky before attending the Interlochen Arts Academy. His viola studies went on to include undergraduate work at the Eastman School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music with renowned viola pedagogue Heidi Castleman. He later continued with distinguished violists Clyn Barrus and David Dalton at Brigham Young University where he received his Masters Degree in Performance and Pedagogy. Belgique has appeared as soloist with several orchestras including the National Repertory Orchestra, the Utah Symphony with Joseph Silverstein conducting, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the Oregon Symphony on several occasions.