The Grande Ronde Symphony Association’s fundraising gala is Oct. 26 at Eastern Oregon University. This event kicks off the group’s 77th season.

LA GRANDE — The Grande Ronde Symphony Association introduces its 77th season with “Orchestral Celebration,” their annual gala fundraiser, on Oct. 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Eastern Oregon University’s Hoke Building, Room 339.

All are welcome to the gala to enjoy music, food catered by Raul’s Taqueria, drinks and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 each or $60 per couple. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 12 and will not be available at the door. These can be purchased at GrandeRondeSymphony.org.

Also, business sponsors are welcome — for information, email info@granderondesymphony.org.

A long history

Moving into its 77th season as Oregon’s longest, continuously operating symphony orchestra west of the Mississippi, the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra will again showcase its music director Zachary Banks. He will lead the orchestra, presenting a variety of musical favorites in their four-concert performance year, beginning Nov. 20.

“We are so excited to have Zach Banks back for his seventh year as music director and to continue to offer the level of professionalism for not only our 40-plus musicians but also the resulting quality of performance at our concerts,” Alice Trindle, GRSA president said.

Trindle credits Banks for inspiring regional musicians to strive in improving their skills and presenting orchestral music in a superior performance for regional audiences to enjoy.

Trindle’s own introduction to the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra started in 1972 while attending Baker High School. The school’s music director, who played in the Grande Ronde Symphony, packed up her VW van every Wednesday night and transported Trindle and a couple of other high school students to La Grande where they all played in the symphony.

“When I graduated, I was given a scholarship for attending the Eastern Oregon State College (later EOU) to play in the symphony as well,” Trindle said.

During her history with the GRSO, the biggest change occurred in 2015, when EOU’s music department stopped supporting orchestral music as one of the programs offered.

Up until then, the relationship with EOU was a strong one in that the symphony’s music director was a faculty member at EOU and taught classes there.

“However, EOU decided to separate from the symphony and stop paying for the music director’s position, and that was the biggest change,” Trindle said. “We still have a great relationship with them as far as using their facilities and several of their professors still play with us.”

Before this change, the budget for the orchestra was primarily focused on scholarships, marketing and youth programs. This change in 2015 meant that the Grande Ronde Symphony Association, which formed in the 1950s, had to create a completely different budgeting model to continue maintaining the professionalism it had been accustomed to with EOU.

The GRSA brought on Banks as music director seven years ago, and he will be conducting the orchestra’s 77th year of performances. The symphony’s history started with Eastern Oregon College in 1946, and twice the symphony has toured in Europe.

“Those were some exciting times for them,” Trindle said. “What sets us apart from other community music groups and bands is our commitment to provide a professional music director for the musicians to come together, improve their skills and enjoy playing together for a few hours every week.”

Many of the GRSO musicians continue to practice daily besides coming together with the symphony on a weekly basis.

“They herald from as far away as the Tri-Cities in Washington, and we draw from Pendleton and Hermiston and five others from Wallowa County and five from Baker County,” Trindle said.

Many are drawn to the GRSO to play and learn under the professionalism of Banks, who has a master’s degree in music performance and a passion for music education.

“He is an outstanding cellist,” Trindle said.

In the last few years, Banks has traveled to Maine to continue his personal studies in conducting. His commitment to excellence has been noticed by members of the audience, who have passed along their praises to Trindle.

Programs

As GRSA president since 2018, Trindle welcomes new recruits, and someone to take over when she retires from her post. She is proud of the programs that the association promotes like the Chamber series, scholarships like the Lorna Spain $1,600 Scholarship and youth programs. It is the association’s primary mission to support the symphony orchestra by bolstering community musicians and keeping youth musicians interested.

One such youth organization in the La Grande School District is the fiddle club, led by retired teacher Carla Arnold. The goal is to grow these student musicians into future members of the symphony.

“It’s a very strong program, and it’s our hope that the older kids now playing in the junior symphony will later play with us,” Trindle said.

There is tremendous anticipation for the new season and Trindle is happy to announce the upcoming performances.

Concerts

The new season will begin with performances on Nov. 20, 7 p.m., in La Grande at EOU’s 400-seat McKenzie Theatre, followed by a repeat performance in the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St. in Baker City on Nov. 23, 1–3 p.m.

This fall concert season will feature winners of the Open category in the symphony’s Concerto + Aria Competition. This year the award went to Viet Block and Lauren Nebel, who will be playing the Bach Concerto for violin and oboe.

The winter concert will be held on March 12, followed by the spring concert on May 28. Both performances will be presented at EOU’s McKenzie Theatre in La Grande.

Season tickets

Season tickets are available at GrandeRondeSymphony.org along with pertinent information on how the symphony, its youth programs and Chamber series can be supported.

Season tickets for symphony concerts are $38 for adults, $30 seniors, $12 students or $1 for Fiddle Club members. Tickets for individual concerts are $15 adults, $12 seniors, $5 college students and $1 for those younger than 18.

A season pass to chamber series concerts is $90.

Individuals may also consider leaving a legacy by contributing to the Grande Ronde Symphony Endowment through the Oregon Community Foundation.

Inquiries may be directed to info@granderondesymphony.org or through granderondesymphony.org.