Oregon ArtsWatch

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Weekend MusicWatch

By Brett Campbell
May 27, 2015
Music

This weekend’s Oregon music calendar features music from around the world, from Mumbai to Brazil to Broadway and beyond. Please tell our readers about other shows we may have missed in the comments below, and also check the following resources:

Oregon Percussion Ensemble performed in Portland's Celebration Works series.

Oregon Percussion Ensemble performed in Portland’s Celebration Works series last year.

Oregon Percussion Ensemble 
May 28
Beall Concert Hall, Eugene.
The ever-exciting ensemble’s show this time comprises music written or arranged by UO percussion students.

Yejin Noh
May 30, Willie Hall, Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, and May 31, Portland Piano Company, 711 SW 14th Ave., Portland.
The prize-winning young Seoul-born pianist performs music by Stravinsky, Liszt, Ravel, Albeniz and more in Portland Piano International’s new Rising Stars series.

Sangam
May 29
First Baptist Church, 909 SW 11th Ave., Portland.
Read my Willamette Week preview of this Hindustani music concert brought by Kalakendra.

The Piano Music of Heitor Villa-Lobos
May 29
Aasen-Hull Hall, Frohnmayer Music Buiding
UO prof Alexandre Dossin and his students play piano music by the famed Brazilian composer, including the “Ciclo Brasileiro” (Brazilian Cycle), a group of four pieces performed by the studio’s four Brazilians (Dossin, along with Ednaldo Borba, Priscilla Dantas, and Eduardo Moreira.


“Global Rhythms PDX IV”
May 29 and May 31
Portland State Man Choir, Vox Femina and University Choir, Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave., Portland.
Always one of the most ear-expanding and exhilarating choral concerts in Oregon, this show usually features ingenious choral arrangements (often by PSU prof and conductor Ethan Sperry) of traditional and classical music from across the globe, including a South African freedom song and folksong, originals by Portland composer Joan Szymko (who also conducts Vox Femina), Haitian voodoo music, a Filipino folk song, music by the great contemporary Estonian composer Veljo Tormis, South American music, and much more, including a sea shanty.

“Hear My Song” 
May 30
Evynne Hollens, The Shedd, E. Broadway & High Street, Eugene.
With other Shedd regulars like Shirley Andress and Bill Hulings, plus other young guest performers in a musical tribute to one of contemporary Broadway’s hottest composers, Jason Robert Brown, the renowned UO alumna and a cappella singer performs tunes from the Tony Award-winning songwriter’s popular musicals like The Last Five Years, The Bridges of Madison County, and Honeymoon in Vegas, along with Brown’s award-winning song cycle Songs for a New World.

Evynne Hollens and friends perform music of Jason Robert Brown at The Shedd.

Evynne Hollens and friends perform music of Jason Robert Brown at The Shedd.

Spring Concert
May 30
Hult Center, Eugene
The University of Oregon’s University Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Wind Ensemble, and University Singers perform music from Stravinsky’s Firebird, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, music by Saint-Saëns, Eriks Essenvalds, Vincent Persichetti and more.

Metropolitan Youth Symphony
May 30, Maranatha Church, Portland and May 31, St. Mary’s Academy, Portland.
The young musicians’ jazz and band ensembles perform Saturday, while the orchestras play on Sunday, including MYS Concerto Competition runner-up Amaya Smole starring in the Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns.

“The Music of Spring”
May 31
Aaron David Miller, First Presbyterian Church, 1200 SW Alder, Portland.
Read my Willamette Week preview of this Celebration Works concert featuring one of the country’s top organists.

Want to read more about Oregon music? Support Oregon ArtsWatch! 

Want to learn more about contemporary Oregon classical music? Check out Oregon ComposersWatch. 

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