Holiday Greetings from the Maestro

To all my Portland Columbia Symphony Friends,

My memories are varied and copious—most I will keep very private. The Holidays are a special time, though increasingly stressful it seems, and as I get older I become more nostalgic about Christmases from my childhood; Christmas is about the birth of a child and it brings out the child in us. I must admit, the Holidays start so early over here! Back in Britain we don’t have Thanksgiving a month before, so Christmas starts much later, when schools break up and often folks only put up their tree on Christmas Eve. (Need I remind you the “Twelve Days of Christmas” only start on Christmas Day!) I do like hearing carols as several of them may be the only universal folk music we now possess.

So, some salient and vivid memories are: seeing my grandparents and parents get up at about 5 AM on Christmas morning once my big brother and I were given permission (after much nagging) to run downstairs and open our presents; my sleep-deprived and dressing gown-clad grandfather always made a tray of tea for the oldies! I recall going around the neighborhood on Christmas Eve singing carols with a friend from the St. Paul’s choir (Simon Dean); we especially appreciated it when some homes would give us 50 pence to sod off! Going for a walk with my dad late on Christmas afternoon—after our epicurean feast and watching the annual Queen’s speech to the Commonwealth on the BBC—when it was dark and invariably drizzling, and walking by houses with their festive lights and decorations wondering what their Christmas Day traditions were like. Being in the spacious York Minster one year for a Carol Service; for once I almost felt like I was in the manger with the baby Jesus. My Scottish friend Spence Meighan (so dearly missed) giving a cozy, fireside reading of poetry and prose inspired by the Season (T.S. Eliot, G. Manly Hopkins, Thomas Hardy, Dickens etc). His rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ballad Christmas at Sea was scalp-tingling, with its prophetic closing line, “But all that I could think of, in the darkness and the cold, was just that I was leaving home and my folks were growing old.” Walking around Vienna one year on December 22 & 23 was truly moving, and I also can never forget one Christmas when I was plagued with a painful inflammation of the pharynx; my Christmas dinner was turkey soup through a straw—a tragedy as my mum’s Yuletide cooking is a joy to behold!

Ah yes, Christmas does conjure up many indelible memories and emotions; it is, indeed, a special time. It is hard being away from home at Christmas, there is definitely a gravitational pull about it for an expatriate, so I get more nostalgic by the year. But, sadly, nostalgia is just not what it used to be…

Huw Edwards, Music Director & Conductor

A Holiday Gift of Music

Our Holiday Gift to you: Peter & The Wolf with puppets from Tears of Joy AND the joyous voices of the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir.




Your Holiday Gift to us: Great artwork from school children and a very full house attending the concert.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra!

Brad Hochhalter, Principal Oboe

Few musicians have such devotion to PCSO as principal oboe player Brad Hochhalter. When his full time job at Kaiser moved him to the Bay area, Brad commuted weekly to PCSO rehearsals and concerts.

Read James Bash' great story at Oregon Music News on Brad's commitment to making quality music with PCSO.

Thanks Brad - - - we appreciate you!

We Appreciate Our Patrons, Donors, & Supporters

On Sunday, November 21 we gathered for an afternoon of wine and hors d'oeuvres at the home of Cliff and Karen Deveney to say thank you to our wonderful supporters and friends. Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra is in its 29th concert season because of the generosity of its audience, the Board of Directors, and community members who faithfully support it.

We simply cannot say it enough: Thank you very much!

Special musical guests Jessica Carter (5) on the violin, Caitlyn Koester (16) on the piano, and Amy Natzke (PCSO Assistant Concertmaster) entertained the patrons. Once again, it is clear that music is a 'sport' you can participate in your entire life.

Art Pillars Dedicated on the Plaza in Gresham

The 'trumpet' and the 'paintbrush'!

Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra extends its congratulations to the Center for the Arts Foundation for completing the next phase of the arts plaza in downtown Gresham. On hand to celebrate the occasion were the musicians of the Portland Brass Quintet (PCSO members Greg Scholl on Trombone and Allan Stromquist on horn).

The 'paintbrush'

The four art pillars were designed and constructed by Seattle artist Claudia Fitch. They represent the four major art fields: performing arts, music, visual arts, literary arts.

Claudia Fitch talks about the research and design of the four pillars. Note the lovely stained glass piece donated to the Center by a local artist on the occasion of this dedication!

Congratulations to the City of Gresham! PCSO looks forward to the day when a performance hall sits on this site and they are the resident orchestra!

The 'pen wearing a tutu'

Richard Beartoven Conducts

PCSO Board Member Richard Kiely dresses up at Conductor Beertoven and rides in the 2011 Red Ford Mustang Convertible in the Teddy Bear Parade.

PCSO is selling $20 raffle tickets to win this car . . . . drawing is April 15, 2011. Only 3000 tickets available. Get yours today. Call Donna at 503-658-8363.

MUSIC from the GARDEN

Over 60 guests joined the board, staff and players of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra for a musical afternoon in the lovely gardens of Cindy and Tony Passannante, of Damascus.

Members of the Portland Brass Quintet entertained the crowd while they enjoyed food and ale.

Board Member Ben Kleene wacks the ball through the wicket in croquet.

Concertmaster Dawn Carter and her daughter Katie try their hand and skills with Bocce Ball.

And guests supported the orchestra with their generous bidding in the auctions (wonder if this winner got the winning lottery ticket???).

Dr. John Sygielski (Ski), Mt Hood Community College President, was our auctioneer. He demonstrates the need for the pink purse in the foto below (which by the way, had the $100 in it---congratulations Joan!)

Chamber Camp of Portland

Over 104 string students of all ages joined together for a week of intense chamber music practicing and performing, July 18-23! Eighteen faculty provided instruction and coaching for the camp, held on the beautiful campus of The University of Portland.

To view more candid photos from camp please visit here (password is musiccamp) and ensemble photos here (password is musiccamp).

Congratulations to all the musicians for a great week of music!

Chamber Camp of Portland Musicians are FINALISTS!

Two musicians that participated in Chamber Camp of Portland 2009 have been selected as finalist performers for the Metro Arts Inc Young Artists Concert on April 18, 2010.

Pianist JJ Guo and violinist Michael Siess are two of thirteen young musicians featured in this year's concert. Metro Arts Inc holds an annual competition under the direction of Niel DePonte, Principal Percussionist of the Oregon Symphony.

JJ, who is a student of Dorothy Fahlman, will perform the first movement of Mozart’s Concerto for Piano, no.13, K.415 (387b), in C Major.



Michael, who studies with Carol Sindell, will perform a work with pianist Alex Zhu. Michael's mom Stacy Edgar, is a member of the Violin I section of the Portland Columbia Symphony.

Angie Zhang: A Girl to Watch!

Music Director & Conductor Huw Edwards told the members of the orchestra that Angie Zhang was something special! And after Friday night everybody in the audience knew it too.

Ms. Zhang's complete love for the instrument and the music showed as she "played with intelligence and instinct, letting the lyricism of Chopin’s music sing from the keyboard. Zhang also had plenty of power in the passages that required forte and above. In her hands the Chopin sounded natural, unforced, and completely alive." James Bash, Oregonmusicnews.com

Congratulations on a beautiful performance and best wishes for her continuing success!

A Midwinter Night's Dream - Gala 2010

We come together once a season for a festive Gala Dinner Concert & Auction. Saturday, January 30 was no exception!

With the theme of things inspired by Shakespeare, over 175 guests joined forces at the Portland Marriott to raise funds to keep Portland Columbia Symphony on the stage for the rest of 2009-2010 season. It's always amazing and heartwarming to see the community come together with such generosity to support the arts. Thanks to Tom Fletcher of the Portland Trailblazers for helping us out.

We also honored our favorite Maestro, Huw Edwards, for his ten years at the podium. Under Huw's leadership, the Orchestra has flourished and matured and inspires musicians and audiences alike. Thank you Huw!

During the Paddle Raise portion of our auction, we were able to offer a dollar-for-dollar match from the Community Fund of Southwest Washington. If you can contribute cash (and take a 100% donation) so we can take full advantage of our Matching Grant by February 15, 2010, please click here:

To view more photos from our event (Barb Parker Photography), click here and select the CSO 2010 Slideshow.

Jennifer Pittsley Honored at Golden Note Award

Portland Columbia Symphony was proud to honor Jennifer Pittsley as our Volunteer of the Year at the Golden Note Awards on Tuesday, January 26. Jennifer has served CSO in various capacities for the past eleven years, most recently as Board President for three seasons.

The Awards Luncheon is presented by the Gresham Chamber of Commerce as they honor 30 volunteers from area non-profit agencies in the community.

Thank you Jennifer---we love ya!