Salem Chamber Orchestra (SCO) will open all its dress rehearsals to the public. This is a unique opportunity to hear how an orchestra prepares for a concert, as well as hear fantastic orchestral music.  Audience members will get to observe how the conductor, soloist, and orchestra musicians all interact and work together to perform a concert.

The first dress rehearsal is for “An Afternoon in New York,” on Saturday, September 11 from 2:30-5pm in Hudson Hall at Willamette University.  This all-American program features violinist Dr. Daniel Rouslin in Samuel Barber’s Concerto for Violin, op. 14 and one of George Gershwin’s most famous pieces, Rhapsody in Blue, with pianist Victor Steinhardt.  Please visit SCO’s website for the detailed rehearsal schedule.

Tickets are $5 adults, $3 students, and are only available at the door. General admission.  Cash, checks, and all major credit cards will be accepted.  For more information, visit www.salemchamberorchestra.org or call (503) 480-1128.

Salem Chamber Orchestra is Salem’s local professional orchestra, providing outstanding music and education to the Mid-Willamette Valley since 1984.

Dress Rehearsal Schedule 2010-2011

An Afternoon in New York – Saturday, September 11 from 2:30-5pm at Hudson Hall, Willamette University

Orchestral String Favorites – Saturday, November 20 from 10am-12:30pm at Hudson Hall, Willamette University

Valentine’s Day Pops Concert & Dance – Saturday, February 12 from 10am-12:30pm at Hudson Hall, Willamette University

An Afternoon Abroad – Saturday, April 16 from 7:30-10pm at the Elsinore Theatre

Salem Chamber Orchestra presents Cirque: An Instrumental Affair on Saturday, October 9 at 6pm at the Grand Ballroom in downtown Salem. This gala evening of expression, creativity, and imagination benefits Salem Chamber Orchestra.

The evening includes a gourmet dinner by Willaby’s Catering, wine by Cristom and other Willamette Valley wineries, and beer by Seven Brides Brewing Company. Members of the jazz-classical crossover group Unbande and dancers from Starr Studios Salem School of Dance will provide entertainment. Throughout the evening, hundreds of beautiful watercolor paintings by artist Sam Rouslin will be on display and available for purchase in all price ranges.

In addition, the evening will include a live auction of “Instrumental Art” – musical instruments transformed by artists into creative pieces of art. These works, designed by Catherine Alexander, Thom Cory, Kristin Kuhns, and Gail Siptak will be on display in select locations in downtown Salem during the week prior to the event.

Individual tickets are $75; tables of 8 are $500. Call (503) 480-1128 to reserve your tickets. Reservations must be made by October 1. The Grand Ballroom is located at 187 High Street NE in downtown Salem. For more information, visit salemchamberorchestra.org.

Cirque: An Instrumental Affair is generously sponsored by The H Group.

Oregon Arts Commission announced recently that they have awarded Salem Chamber Orchestra an operating support grant of $5,000.  From the Commission’s press release, “The Commission’s Operating Support grants support the operations of Oregon’s leading arts groups and recognize artistic excellence as well as the role that arts organizations take in the broader social, educational and economic areas of community life.”  SCO is one of dozens of organizations statewide, and only one of five organizations in Salem to have received an award.

Click here to see the article in the Statesman Journal: SJArticle-7130322 (SCO receives OAC grant)

Click here to visit the Oregon Arts Commission’s website: www.oregonartscommission.org

Congratulations to SCO musicians Daniel Rouslin, Cathy Heithaus, Danny Seidenberg, Georgienne Young, and Jenny Gleason for an incredible performance of Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major at the Wild Pear last night!  We enjoyed a full house and a delicious reception provided  by Wild Pear.

Check out some photos of the event on our facebook page!

Cascadia Concert Opera will present selections from Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman on Thursday, August 12 at 7:30pm. The soiree will be held at Delia Miller’s home in the Candalaria neighborhood.

Cascadia Concert Opera is a non-profit, co-operative concert opera company based in Eugene, Oregon.   They are a professional ensemble made up of local opera singers who present entire operas in a more intimate, concert form and in English.  CCO is committed to sharing opera as an art form in various venues throughout the Oregon/Washington Cascades area, to bring opera to new audiences and do their part to help keep opera’s presence in our Pacific Northwest arts culture. Visit their website for more information.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students in advance, $30 for adults and $20 for students at the door. You can purchase tickets at Travel Salem at 181 High St NE, buy calling them at 503-585-4325 ext 21, or online (available online soon!)

At Salem Chamber Orchestra’s annual meeting on May 19, the board of directors elected Keith Putman as their new president. He will serve as president for two years. Putman has served on SCO’s board of directors since 2005 and has 34 years of Oregon state government experience, including serving as State Health Administrator, State Welfare Director, and Deputy, Department of Human Resources.

Barbara Jo Smith, attorney at Heltzel Williams Law Firm, was elected as Vice President.  Chad Campbell, a trust officer at West Coast Trust, was re-elected as Treasurer. Jeanne Collins will remain as Secretary until spring 2011.

Rosemary Wood, board president from 2008 through 2010, will remain on the board as Immediate Past President.

The board welcomes two new directors: George Puentes, president of Don Pancho Foods, and Richard Harcourt, former executive director of Evergreen Aviation Museum and Salem Art Association.

Sorry! Due to a venue double-booking problem and some other logistical issues, the May 23rd Unbande concert is cancelled.  We will reschedule this concert for sometime in the summer as part of our Summer Soirees series, so be on the lookout for that new date!

Salem Chamber Orchestra’s 26th season will feature talented musicians right here in Oregon, as well as repertoire by beloved composers. SCO’s Artistic Advisory Committee, comprised of SCO musicians, staff, and community members, worked in collaboration with the orchestra and conductors to arrange the 2010-2011 season. The orchestra will have four subscription concerts again, although will only offer one performance of each program. All concerts will be on Sunday afternoons, except for the February concert which will be in the evening. (more…)

Salem Chamber Orchestra (SCO) proudly presents its second annual Summer Soirées series. This series of chamber music recitals features SCO musicians and friends of the orchestra performing intimate recitals of chamber music. Taking place during June, July and August, each recital will be hosted in a lovely home or local restaurant in Salem, followed by a complimentary light dessert reception. (click “more” to read about each of our Summer Soirees) (more…)

Some people who can’t come to the concerts are starting to turn back in individual tickets! Check out our online box office periodically, and you might be able to snag one that was just turned in!