The final concert of 2026 was full of excitement. If only the Beethoven Symphony No. 6, Pastorale was performed with such perfection, the concert would have been a smashing success, but the Oregon Coast premiere of Adam Schoenberg’s percussion concerto Losing Earth sent the evening over the top. The three movements were spectacular, and the audience was enthusiastic and excited by this contemporary composition. Terry Longshore, Percussion soloist and all the orchestra were provided standing ovations for this performance. 

Percussion Team from left Joel Alberto Garza, Brian Gardner, Ian Kerr, Justin Preece, Mitch Vogel, Terry Longshore, Chris Whyte, Tracy Freeze.

Ian George delivers the sort of concert you’ll dance, sway, sing, laugh and probably cry too. The performance teems with whimsicality, clever arrangements – interrupted by triumphant tangents – and outlandish solos grounded by George’s emotive and gauzy voice and by the simple strength of a good song. Expect an engaging and dynamic string of gentle and not so gentle folk-rock adventures.

The music of the worlds of fantasy, Greek mythology and other fables were featured. 

Nicole Buetti provided the Contrabassoon solo in Leviathan. Other works included the Wicked suite for orchestra by Schwartz, Saint-Saens Samson and Delilah, My Neighbor Totoro by Hisaishi, and the Overture for Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach. 

Martin Kuuskmann, Bassoon soloist was featured with the Orchestra in the North American Premiere of Beyond Solar Fields and also played Von Weber’s Andate & Rondo ongarese. After intermission the Orchestra performed Brahms Symphony No 3.

7-Devils Presents Horse Feathers.  The musicians returned to Coos Bay for a well attended concert at the OIMB Boathouse arranged by Carmen Mathews at 7-Devils. The artists and audience enjoyed the lovely setting and scenery for a great afternoon on the bay.

The Gothard Sisters Concert Celtic Song and Dance at Shore Acres highlighted the three sisters’ talents as musicians, arrangers and composers. The concert was enjoyed by a crowd of more than 300 gathered on the lawn in the beautiful gardens. Included in the audience was a family we learned had traveled from San Diego for their two girls to see the sisters in person. 

Dace Gregory & Rachel Palen and the Swingin’ in the Rain Big Band brought audiences to their feet with the performances at the Hales Center on Thursday. Dace Gregory’s cello and Rachel Palen’s on piano accompaniment were indeed “Musical Moments of Wonder” that included an arrangement of themes from Bizet’s Carmen and Tango Tzigane by Gade. Following intermission, the Big Band, directed by Steve Simpkins provided an enthusiastic treatment of some of the great Big Band classics. They featured several members as soloists, including Wilbur Jensen on trumpet.