July 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … A summer tradition born of community collaboration is marked by the inaugural concert of the Oregon Symphony's 10th Music Director & #8212; Carlos Kalmar!
Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods 2003, a community program hosted by the Symphony's Education and Community Programs department, celebrates the power of art and music in our lives with an afternoon and evening of events in Irving Park on Saturday, Aug. 23. Local neighborhood leaders, community organizations and neighborhood arts groups collaborate to present a free Symphony concert preceded by performances by community groups, opportunities for children and their parents to become acquainted with orchestral instruments at "instrument petting zoos," arts activities, food booths and local service information booths. Guest conductor Robert Moody, associate conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, will conduct the 7 p.m. Symphony concert.
Then it's on to Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Thursday, Aug. 28 for an exciting evening of introduction for Music Director Carlos Kalmar. The Portland Youth Philharmonic will perform at 5 p.m. under the direction of Mei-Ann Chen, PYP Music Director and newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the Oregon Symphony. Kalmar takes the stage at 7 p.m. to present a free Symphony concert designed to preview his inaugural season with the orchestra. The evening will culminate with the traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, complete with fireworks and canons. PYP members will join the Symphony for this special performance.
Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods is a city-funded neighborhood revitalization project established in collaboration with the city of Portland, Portland Parks and Recreation and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). Media support is provided by KOIN 6 and KINKfm102.
The afternoon festival activities and performers at Irving Park will include Lorna Miller's Little Kid's Jamboree, an interactive music improvisation program for babies and toddlers, hip-hop dancer and teacher D.J. Rayley and her dance students from Dishman Community Center performing a jazz version of "Singin' in the Rain" and a hip-hop dance, Afro-Cuban and African dancer Habiba, as well as several hands-on art activities including artist Robin Chilstrom teaching mask making to kids and adults, a Symphony instrument "petting zoo," and the Portland Parks and Recreation's Rec 'n' Roll Bus featuring games and activities. African-American step dancers, youth and gospel choirs, spoken word artists and Native American storytelling are also tentatively scheduled at the time of this release. There is still booth space available for neighborhood non-profits, children's programs, arts organizations, and community development groups. Food will be available for purchase throughout the afternoon.
All the performing artists and activities reflect the rich diversity of the neighborhoods surrounding Irving Park, and have been planned by a committee of representatives from the many neighborhood associations around the park, the Matt Dishman Community Center, the Multnomah County Library, and local cultural and arts organizations.
Guest conductor Robert Moody leads the Symphony in a festive concert beginning at 7:00 p.m. The program features American and American-inspired music, including works of Gershwin, Dvorák, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington.
The Irving Park Neighborhood Advisory Committee includes Elimy Ziglinski, Sabin Community Playground Improvement Project; Jane Corry, Multnomah Co. Library, Albina Branch; JJay Lincoln, Matt Dishman Community Center, Portland Parks and Recreation; Kim Calame, Matt Dishman Community Center, Portland Parks and Recreation; John Wolz, Irvington Community Association; Carol Chism, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center; Keith Dempsey, African American Health Coalition and Calvin Walker, Albina Rotary and Billy Reed's Restaurant.
This year's Waterfront Concert will serve as a community welcome to incoming music director Carlos Kalmar, who makes his official debut in that role at this performance. The concert will feature previews of works Kalmar will perform with the Symphony throughout the 2003-04 Classical season, including excerpts from Holst's "The Planets," Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony, Bizet's opera "Carmen," Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Dvorák's "New World" Symphony, Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" and the annual performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" with fireworks and National Guard canons.
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 Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, who is also the Symphony's newly appointed Assistant Conductor. Chen will lead the PYP in a program that features Mozart's Overture from "The Marriage of Figaro," the symphonic dances from "West Side Story," and excerpts from Brahms' Symphony No. 2.
