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Oregon Mandolin Orchestra for a ‘Come Home for the Holidays’ concert
Who: Oregon Mandolin Orchestra, featuring special guests Choro da Alegria
What: 2018 Holiday Concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. Doors open 7 p.m.
Where: Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E. Main St., Hillsboro
Tickets: $25 at the door. $20 for advance orders through https://oregonmandolinorchestra.bpt.me or through www.hillsboro-oregon-gov/WaltersConcerts
Information: www.oregonmandolinorchestra.com
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra is returning to Hillsboro Dec. 7 for its ninth annual Holiday Concert, featuring seasonal favorites, an original piece by the orchestra’s music director and a guest performance by the Brazilian-inspired Choro da Alegria.
“We’ve put on our holiday concert in Hillsboro every year since the orchestra was formed,” said Michael Tognetti, the orchestra’s board president. “That’s why we’re calling this our ‘Come Home for the Holidays’ concert. For us, playing holiday music in Hillsboro always feels like coming home.”
The concert program, selected by the orchestra’s music director, Christian McKee, will feature a selection of songs sure to bring back memories of holiday seasons past.
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra also will premiere “Sunday’s Waltz,” a piece composed by McKee, as well as playing “Northern Waters,” composed by Brian Oberlin, the orchestra’s co-founder and former music director.
A piece by the late composer Jacob do Bandolim, a giant in traditional Brazilian music, will link the orchestra with special guests Choro da Alegria.
The Portland-based ensemble, whose name means “Cry of Happiness” in Portuguese, will focus on melodies by various Brazilian composers, exploring not only choro, but also bossa nova and samba.
Choro da Alegria features Tom Pinit on bandolim (Brazilian mandolin); Peter Fung on guitar; and Esteban Diaz on percussion.
Pinit, who also leads the orchestra’s second mandolin section, will wear two hats for the evening.
“I’m glad Choro da Alegria will be able to bring exciting Brazilian music to a holiday audience,” Pinit said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”
Founded in 2010, the Portland-based Oregon Mandolin Orchestra has successfully revived the tradition of community-based mandolin ensembles popular during the early 20th century. Today, the nonprofit orchestra boasts more than 25 members who play first mandolin, second mandolin, mandola, mandocello and mandobass.
Since its launch, the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra has put on up to a half-dozen concerts a year in Portland, Vancouver, Hillsboro, Salem, Astoria, Hood River, Pendleton and Ridgefield, Wash.
In May, the orchestra was one of only three American ensembles accepted to play at the BDZ Eurofestival in Bruchsal, Germany. The festival, held every four years, was established in 1963 to support the string music tradition. Hundreds of musicians from around the world performed at the festival.
For questions, please contact:
Christian McKee, Oregon Mandolin Orchestra music director: omomckee@gmail.com or 503-891-1226.
Michael Tognetti, mandolinist, Oregon Mandolin Orchestra board president: president@oregonmandolinorchestra.org or 360-521-0255.