September 9, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … An evening of 1970s-flavored pre- and post-concert parties and a Pops concert by legendary performer Roberta Flack are the focus of the 2005-06 season-opening event for Soirée, the Oregon Symphony’s group for young professionals, on Saturday, Oct. 8 in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Corporate sponsorship for Soirée is provided by the American Express Company and Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Attorneys at Law.
Soirée has been redesigned for the 2005-06 season, after extensive input from participants, to make events more accessible to a broader range of people. Instead of a full-season membership to all three events, participants can now pick and choose which events they want to attend, paying for each individually. Soirée, designed for young professionals aged 21 to 39, includes exclusive parties, discounted concert tickets and the opportunity to meet others interested in arts and culture with a dose of fun, said the Symphony’s Director of Corporate Development Jennifer Schlobohm. Soirée and the Symphony are also extending a welcome to members from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)’s “New Professionals” group, who will be in attendance for the first event. “This is exactly the kind of synergy we want to make happen with other organizations like the PRSA,” said Schlobohm.
“We have spent a lot of time talking to young professionals about the type of events they find most interesting,” Schlobohm added. “They are definitely interested in attending concerts, but it’s an overall experience they’re after. Especially important is the opportunity to socialize and to gain behind-the-scenes insight into the Symphony and its artists.”
Soirée participants will meet at 6 p.m. at Alexander’s at the top of the Hilton Hotel in downtown Portland for happy hour-priced specialty cocktails, including luminescent alcohol. “Alexander’s has a fun ‘70s feel with its mirrored walls and views of the city,” says Schlobohm. “1970s attire, jewelry and makeup are all encouraged.” They will then attend the 8 p.m. concert, for which they will have discounted reserved seats and enjoy an exclusive intermission party on the mezzanine with complimentary wine. After the concert, Symphony musicians will join Soirée members at a post-concert reception at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts’ Art Bar, across Main Street from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Soirée events will continue throughout the 2005-06 season on January 23, 2006 with a Classical series concert featuring the legendary tales of Scheherazade and an Arabian Nights-themed party. The final Soirée event of the year will take place on March 31, 2006 at a Front Row Center concert featuring four different musical versions of Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed young love, “Romeo and Juliet.” All will feature pre- and post-concert parties and intermission receptions. Participants will also receive a 15% discount on concert tickets for seats in the lower balcony on Soirée event nights.
Tickets for the Roberta Flack Soirée are $50 and include admission to both pre- and post-concert parties. Participants who only wish to attend the Soirée pre-and post-concert receptions can do so for $12. For more information, call (503) 228-1353 or visit the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org/soiree.
