CGOA presents Cello Concerto Collage

ODELL — The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association’s (CGOA) Gorge Sinfonietta will present its November concert, “Cello Concerto Collage,” at Wy’East Middle School Performing Arts Center on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., featuring three members in solo roles.

“We’ve never featured three concertos in the same concert, let alone three cellists,” said conductor Mark Steighner. “Although we’re performing movements from three different composers, the format follows a typical concerto structure of fast, slow and fast movements.”

Principal cellist Michelle Edwards will perform the first movement of Elgar’s beloved concerto, and Annie Harkey will perform the first movement of Haydn’s classical concerto in C.

“We have so many talented and accomplished musicians in the orchestra,” Steighner said, “and this is a way to highlight more than one.”

This isn’t the first time the orchestra has put together a hybrid work. “A few years ago, we stitched together a symphony that included movements by Bruckner and Brahms, two 19th-century contemporaries who definitely didn’t agree on musical style,” Steighner said. “We called it ‘Frankensymphony.’”

Complimenting the cello feature, the concert will also include the Prelude to Act 1 of “Die Meistersinger” by Richard Wagner — the first piece Steighner conducted with the orchestra at his inaugural concert in 2005.

The performance will be rounded out by the popular “Suites from Carmen” by George Bizet. “The Carmen Suites probably have more recognizable melodies per minute than any other pieces,” Steighner said.

The concert kicks off the orchestra’s 20th anniversary season, including performances with the Voci Community Choir in April and a Piano Summit concert in June, featuring soloists Kathy Apland and Mitchell Jett Spenceer. Steighner will retire as conductor after this season.

A second performance of “Cello Concerto Collage” will occur on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets and information about CGOA can be found at gorgeorchestra.org. CGOA offers free tickets for students and kids.