Oregon Mandolin Orchestra seeking players with plenty of pluck

Portland OR

Description

Do you love the sweet, haunting sounds of a mandolin? Do you want to play in a unique, successful community orchestra? The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra (https://www.oregonmandolinorchestra.org) is looking for musicians to join, rehearse and perform with the orchestra. The orchestra is preparing for an Aug. 14 concert in Southwest Portland, as well as an Oct. 21 concert in Hillsboro. The orchestra performed in a live/virtual holiday-themed show in December 2021. It was the OMO's second live/virtual performance, playing for an in-person audience as well as an online audience that live-streamed the show through Zoom. Meanwhile, virtual performances have been posted on the orchestra's website, as well as on social media. These performances include videos of past concerts and other recordings featuring orchestra members playing in socially-distanced ensembles. The 25-member all-volunteer orchestra, based in Portland, is composed of first mandolins, second mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos and a mandobass -- all the voices of the Mandolin Family of Instruments. While eager to hear from all musicians, the orchestra is especially interested in recruiting more mandolas, mandocellos and another mandobass. Since it was founded in 2010, the orchestra generally has put on four to six concerts a year, performing everything from baroque, classical, romantic, folk- and swing-inspired pieces to the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, Brazilian choro, Tin Pan Alley, novelty songs and Christmas carols. The orchestra has performed in Portland, Vancouver, Salem, Hillsboro, Astoria, Hood River, Pendleton and Ridgefield, Wash., as well as playing the National Anthem before Hillsboro Hops and Portland Pickles baseball games. Before COVID, the orchestra performed at the international BDZ Eurofestival Zupfmusik in Bruchsal, Germany. The OMO Chamber Ensemble, composed of orchestra members, has performed live on KQAC and KBOO radio, as well as KATU-TV and KGW-TV. The ensemble also has played before concerts by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Sinfonietta and the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble also has performed during opening festivities for the Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene. Candidates are expected to have their own instruments and music stands. Reading music is a requirement. Rehearsals are generally held on Tuesday evenings in Southwest Portland's Hillsdale neighborhood. For more information, contact the orchestra's music director, Christian McKee, through the "Contact" link on the orchestra's website (https://www.oregonmandolinorchestra.org).