2021 Show Highlights

We are sincerely grateful to our many 2020-2021 members and individual donors that helped to Keep the Music Alive. Their support showed unwavering loyalty to our mission! The following businesses and organizations provided support for virtual and live programing at special events: Banner Bank; Umpqua Bank Adventure Coast, Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston; Bigfoot Beverages; Cedar Electric and Construction; City of Coos Bay; Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary; Coos Art Museum; Coos History Museum; Coos Bay Library Foundation; Coos Head Co-Op; Face Rock Creamery; Honda World; Inner Sanctum Studios; Jefferson Public Radio; KDOCK 92.9; KMHS Radio/TV & Andrew Jones; Macduff Design; Red Lion Hotel Coos Bay; Seacoast Gardens; The Wonderful Company. OCMA Received support from the following foundations and programs: Coos County COVID-19 Business Program Oregon Cultural Trust; Oregon Community Foundation, Southcoast Orchestra Endowment Fund and Covid –19 Support.

Steve Simpkins led the Bay Area Concert Band for the traditional opening concert at Mingus Park.

Musical selections included *Sophistocated Ladies* with a featured solo by Wilbur Jensen.

The band accompanied local vocalist Shaymus Hanlin in a big band arrangement of *But Not for Me*.

After a short intermission Shaymus Hanlin continued the concert accompanied by his Quartet featuring Wes Georgiev, keyboard, Liam Hathaway, bass and Michael Rodenkirch, percussion, in a series of swinging vocals and Jazz favorites from the American Songbook

The events on the History Museum Plaza stage included the following groups: Concerts under a tent on the leeward side of the museum provided a safe and enjoyable opportunity for live music from the OCMA Orchestra and friends.

**Rose Canyon Harmonie** featured a reed quintet of Mike Gaby, oboe; Mark Margolies, clarinet; Steve Shields, saxophone; Robert Zelickman, bass clarinet; and Tom Schubert, our OCMA principal bassoon. Listen to some song samples below.

**Festival Viola Quartet**: Shelley Mathewson, Brenda Liu, Cynthia Scott, and Sharon Eng, performed in the quartet, and all are members of our Festival Orchestra.

**Pioneer Trombones** provided a unique array of musical genres from classical to jazz with South American emphasis. OCMA Festival Orchestra members Andrew Harris and David Bryan were joined by Phil and Gayle Neuman.

**The Carlos Ensemble** provided the finale with an array of pop, Broadway and familiar tunes. Stephen Chong, violin; Anthony Dyer, Violin Dale Broadway, Cello; and Shelley Mathewson, Viola.

Maestro James Paul This fall James Paul joined a famous retirement community in Ojai, California, The Gables. This senior living community was founded by Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, an educator and activist that started the National Retired Teachers Association that later became the AARP. Andrus led the development of NRTA’s experimental retirement community (the Gables) where retired teachers could live graciously with dignity and purpose.

A recent visit with James and Carlos in late October showcases the facility and its unique and historical setting. Their apartment is part of the lovely campus and they enjoy its many facilities. James can be reached at 701 N. Montgomery, Apt. 55. Ojai, California. 93023. Maestro has programmed several selections from the works of Rossini, Bizet, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Ravel and Hindemith for the OCMA Orchestra concerts in 2022. We are all looking forward to a reunion together with live musical performances.

Archived 2021 Festival Information

Bay Area Concert Band & The Shaymus Hanlin Quartet at Mingus Park Stage

The OCMA Festival partners with the Bay Area Concert Band to provide the traditional opening free concert double treat. Conductor Simpkins has selected several band classics to entertain audiences in the first set. A special treat includes Shaymus Hanlin singing Gershwin’s “But Not for Me” with the band. Following the BACB, the second set features the Shaymus Hanlin Quartet.

Pioneer Trombones at Coos History Museum Plaza Stage

The Pioneer Trombones ensemble includes brass artists Andrew Harris, David Bryan, Phil Neuman, Gayle Neuman, with Dan Stueber on percussion. They will perform popular music of the Americas, with emphasis on South America’s contributions with music by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astor Piazzola, arranged by Phil Neuman. The group will play works by jazz composers Kenny Dorham, Joe Zawinul and Chick Corea. Selections from ragtime and big band styles will round out an entertaining mix of trombone quartet “chamber music".

Rose Canyon Harmonie at Coos History Museum Plaza Stage

A unique reed quintet, Rose Canyon Harmonie, features Thomas Schubert, bassoon; Mike Gaby, oboe; Mark Margolies, clarinet; Steve Shields, saxophone; and Robert Zelickman, bass clarinet. The quintet will provide a program with music from the baroque, classical and romantic eras as well as innovative contemporary pieces written specifically for the reed quintet.

Here are some clips from the Rose Canyon Harmonie performance:

Beginning of Ravel Minuet

Ending of Ravel Rigaudon

Excerpts from ton tee Doest Finale

Festival Viola Quartet & The Carlos Ensemble at Coos History Museum Plaza Stage

The Festival Viola Quartet composed of Shelley Mathewson, Cynthia Scott, Brenda Liu, and Sharon Eng provide the first portion of this double concert opportunity. They perform a collection of classical and non-classical pieces, certain to delight the audience with the lovely timbres of the violas. The Carlos Ensemble with Stephen Chong, Anthony Dyer, Shelley Mathewson, and Dale Bradley provides the wrap up finale. They will perform a wonderful array of pop, Broadway and familiar tunes, bringing much joy to the community!

Meet the Instruments of the Orchestra

Nicole Buetti, OCMA’s Contrabassoonist, developed an amazing virtual educational project with her husband, Jason Gunderson. Meet the Instruments of the Orchestra is a collaboration between Portland Columbia Symphony and In A World Music Kids featuring the Nirks™. This 16-part series introduces young listeners to the instruments of the orchestra through fun and engaging songs, stories, and personalities! Meet the Instruments (inaworldmusic.net) Nicole provides the following backstory: “A lot of amazing people have been involved in this project. But there is one person in particular, without whom none of this would be possible. Jason Gunderson is my assistant director, script supervisor, cameraman, puppeteer, puppet operations engineer (who even knew that was a thing until you have to try to make a turkey play the harp and a monkey play the trombone), and anything else I needed including a shoulder to lean on whenever the project seems overwhelming...Please show your support for Jason and the PCSO by sharing and liking this video.“

Special Message from Maestro James Paul

Dear Friends of the OCMA Festival, I am delighted that Festival activities will take place this July. Of course, they will be at outside locations and with small ensembles to ensure safety. Plans are well underway for a return to Marshfield High School in July 2022. We are developing a full program. I'm happy to report that I am recovering well. Our official mascot, the Noble Chihuahua Carlos, is also looking forward to being back in Coos Bay. He can't wait to be at Sunset Bay again. He deeply regrets not being able to appear on the podium this July, but I have explained that podiums generally are inside concert halls most of the time. I hope you are all well and that we will see each other again soon. Best wishes, James Paul, Music Director and Conductor