Schafer

LA GRANDE — The Grande Ronde Symphony will present its spring 2024 concert with the theme of “Spring into American Classics.” Under the baton of maestro Zachary Banks, the orchestra will perform on Wednesday, May 29, at Eastern Oregon University’s McKenzie Theatre in La Grande, beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available online at GrandeRondeSymphony.org and at Direct Music Source in La Grande and Betty’s Books in Baker City. Prices are $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 college students and $1 for grade school students.

Special pricing is available for families and groups — inquire about “Grace Notes” at info@GrandeRondeSymphony.org.

Featured artists will include violinist Lillyanne Schafer and clarinetist Dexter Hildalgo.

“We are excited to present the winners of the Young and Advanced Student categories for the 2024 Concerto + Aria Competition,” said Alice Trindle, symphony association president. “Annually the Grande Ronde Symphony offers opportunities for Pacific Northwest artists to compete for the opportunity to perform with the orchestra, providing invaluable experience to add to their resumes and affording cash awards to the winners.”

The Young Student category winner is Lillyanne Schafer, 15, from Washington.

Schafer began her violin studies at age three and currently studies with Julia Salerno. She said she loves music because “one can express emotions through music and because of its beauty.” She has played on orchestra tours in San Francisco, the Kennedy Center, Hawaii and Belgium.

Schafer is concertmaster of the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The winner of the Advanced Student category of the competition is clarinetist Dexter Hildalgo from Reno, Nevada. Hidalgo received his bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is currently a student at the University of Oregon, pursuing a master’s degree in clarinet performance. Throughout his time in Oregon and Nevada, Dexter has performed with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, the Rogue Valley Symphony, the Reno Philharmonic and the Reno Chamber Orchestra.

The concert will also feature Wendy Andrews as the “Wield the Baton” recipient, conducting “The Star Spangled Banner.” Andrews is a former music teacher in public schools and purchased the “Wield the Baton” sponsorship during the October 2023 “Opening the Season Gala” event, a fundraiser for the Grande Ronde Symphony.

Rounding out the evening, the audience will be treated to familiar show tunes from “West Side Story,” as well as “Loss,” a piece by the GRSO’s Ben Blessing. In addition, “The Viking” will be performed by members of the La Grande School District’s Fiddle Club and the Grande Ronde Junior Symphony, along with the orchestra.

Dave and Katherine Jensen adopted this concert in honor of Union County veterans, and the GRSA 2023-2024 corporate sponsors are Koza Dental Group, One Call Restoration, La Grande Audiology, and the Grande Ronde Hospital, as well as the Baker City Herald and the La Grande Observer.