Grande Ronde Symphony presents winter concert

LA GRANDE — The Grande Ronde Symphony will present their winter concert on Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m. in the McKenzie Theater at Eastern Oregon University.

Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors, $2 college students and $1 for high school and middle school students. Tickets are available online at granderondesymphony.org and at Direct Music Source in La Grande and Betty’s Books in Baker City.

Special pricing is available for families and groups. Ask about “Grace Notes’” by emailing grsymphony2@gmail.com.

The concert’s theme is “A Symphony of Dance.” Under the baton of conductor Zachary Banks, the orchestra will be playing pieces that are connected to dance, from classical ballet to Latin parlor dance to folk dances of Norway.

Music to be performed includes selections from “Swan Lake Suite” by P.I. Tchaikovsky, “Symphonic Dances” by Edvard Grieg, and “Valse Triste” by Jean Sibelius.

“We are excited to draw a connection from our first concert of the season by presenting works by Grieg and Sibelius,” Banks said. “We are equally thrilled to present Danzon No. 2 by Arturo Márquez, which is an incredibly exciting, energizing, and challenging piece for the orchestra.”

“Traditionally the winter concert of the Grande Ronde Symphony features a more classical selection of music,” said Alice Trindle, Grande Ronde Symphony Association president. “As we continue in our 75th season as Oregon’s oldest continuously operating orchestra, it is fitting that we do a bit of dancing for the March concert.”

About the symphony

Beginning as a part of the curriculum of what was then called Eastern Oregon State College, and now operating as a separate non-profit organization, the orchestra has provided a quality listening experience for thousands of audience members.

Orchestra musicians herald from La Grande, Baker City, Wallowa County, Pendleton and Tri-Cities, Washington. The orchestra rehearses weekly for over two hours each session.