It has long been recognized that music is the “universal language,” and now local audiences will have an opportunity to hear many musical streams flowing together in one program. The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association presents “A Community of Music” on Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. Both performances will be at the Wy’east Middle School Performing Arts Center.
Featured in the Friday program are the Gorge Jazz Collective Big Band, Joel Kabokov and Europatopia, and Jamba Marimba. The Sunday afternoon concert features the Jazz Collective, Jamba Marimba, and Los Temerosos Mariachi.
Music director and conductor Mark Steighner says that the concert “points out the incredible musical diversity that we have right here in the Gorge, from jazz to Klezmer music to several African marimba ensembles, to Mariachi and Banda groups, and that’s just a sampling.”
Steighner also notes that all of the diverse music on the programs has one thing in common.
“These are all different forms of improvisational music. All of it comes from a place of spontaneous creativity.”
Steighner is writing a piece that will bring all the ensembles together for one combined finale.
The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association received a grant from The Hood River Cultural Trust to help present the program, and the artists will be going to area schools in advance of the concerts, presenting information about their groups and musical style.
The concerts are free with a suggested donation of $10. More information is available at gorgeorchestra.org.
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