The Grande Ronde Symphony will open its season with concerts at McKenzie Theater in La Grande on Nov. 20, and St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City on Nov. 23.

LA GRANDE, BAKER CITY — The Grande Ronde Symphony will be presenting the first concerts of its 76th season with the theme “The Music of Romance.” Conductor Zachary Banks and the orchestra will be performing with featured artist, soprano Shahayla Ononaiye, and the Baker and La Grande high school choirs.

The first concert is Wednesday, Nov. 15, at EOU’s McKenzie Theater in La Grande, beginning at 7 p.m.

The second performance is Saturday, Nov. 18, 1 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Baker City.

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 younger students.

Special pricing is available for families and groups — ask about “Grace Notes” by emailing GRSymphony2@gmail.com.

Another option is to purchase a season ticket — $38 adults, $30 seniors and $12 college students.

About the concert

“This concert featuring the exceptional singing talent of La Grande-based soprano Shahayla Ononaiye, along with the collaboration of both La Grande and Baker high school choir students, makes for a very rich musical experience,” said Alice Trindle, Grande Ronde Symphony Association president. “To hear these voices, along with the orchestra, should be on the top of your ‘not to be missed’ list.”

Ononaiye has established herself as a multifaceted performer across genres such as opera, musical theater, art song, pop and rock. While a student at Eastern Oregon University, she was a regional finalist in classical singing and a two-time national finalist in musical theater for the National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions. She has performed in Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

As the 2023 Open category winner of the Grande Ronde Symphony’s Concerto + Aria competition, Ononaiye will be performing the Micaëla’s Aria from the opera “Carmen” composed by Bizet.

Trindle said a second highlight of the concerts is the gathering of the Baker and La Grande high school choirs to perform with a full symphony orchestra. The pieces to be presented include “Ave Verum Corpus” by Mozart and an arrangement of “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

The symphony orchestra will round out the performances with several recognizable pieces: “Carmen Suites No. 1 and 2” by Bizet and Ravel’s “Pavane.”

The concert will close by bringing Ononaiye back on stage to sing “Goodnight Moon,” based on the well-known children’s book and set to music by composer Eric Whitacre.

Trindle said the 2023-2024 season is supported by corporate sponsors Koza Dental Group, One Call Restoration, La Grande Audiology and the Grande Ronde Hospital, along with the Baker City Herald and the La Grande Observer.