Spreading the Joy of Music
Columbia River Symphony
By Annamaria Morrill
Bringing the joy of music to youth and sharing the talent with the community were the main reasons Cory Pederson and his wife, Angela Calvin-Pederson, started a small musical ensemble over 8 years ago. The first audience was held at the Astoria High School outside courtyard with nine young students. The North Coast Youth & Community Symphony was founded that day. A scratchy CD including songs like “Turkey in the Straw” and other familiar folk songs is still a reminder of the beginning of what is today known as the Columbia River Symphony.
The orchestra has since grown with more experienced musicians who are sharing their talents with the community. The age of the members ranges between 11 and 80.
“It was all because of our love of the music,” says Cory, the conductor of the orchestra, and a music teacher in the Jewell school district. “We didn’t have an idea where this small musical ensemble was going to take us. We simply wanted to take the skills from the classroom to the real world, and share the talent with the community.”
Cory and Angela are also very involved with other musical groups in the community, either conducting or performing. Cory is the conductor of the Little Ballet Theater Orchestra, which performs for the Nutcracker ballet each year in Astoria. He also conducts for the North Oregon Coast Symphony, based out of Cannon Beach. With his main instrument, trumpet, he has also performed in many orchestral groups.
Angela Calvin-Pedersen, a music teacher, and an orchestral string specialist in Astoria school district, assists in conducting, and plays violin with the Columbia River Symphony. Angela is also the concert master for the North Oregon Coast Symphony, and the head string specialist at the Astoria Conservatory of Music.
Cory and Angela are from Washington state, and met first time at Washington State University, where they both received some of their education. They have lived in Clatsop County for 10 years.
Highlights of the last season:
About six years ago, the former board of directors optimistically joked about playing for a full audience at the Liberty Theater one day. This became reality last December when the symphony played at the theater, which was packed. The Holiday Concert, accompanied with the choirs from Warrenton middle school, and high school was a success and unforgettable.
“As of today, people are still congratulating the orchestra for the terrific concert,” Cory says. “I am just so proud of the community. Families, community members, visitors, and us all shared the positive understanding of what we were all there for. To us it was to share our skills and our passion for creating emotions via music, and to spread joy to those around us.”
Integrating the orchestra and school choirs took a lot of work to put together. Warrenton school district music teachers Michael and Amanda McClure volunteered to have their choir students perform with the group, while Cory Pedersen devoted hours selecting the music. He listened to hundreds of orchestral, or choral pieces and selected the ones that would be used with different skill levels and vocal parts. The concert was a showcase of talented singers and musicians, and the music selection was mixed with a traditional and a contemporary style to appeal to young and old alike.
Since starting the orchestra Cory and Angela have the goal of bringing music everyone to enjoy. Subsequently, many of the concerts are offered without admission fees.
The Spring season starting soon
Practices for the new season start on February 18th at WHS band room, and will continue Saturday mornings 10:30AM-12PM. Cory welcomes anyone who would like to share their musical skills join the orchestra.
We especially need string players, low brass players, and clarinet players. The only thing we require is to have basic music fundamentals down. “With the experienced players, the younger ones will learn and grow with the group,” Cory says. Most important is to be willing to learn and strive the best you can.
In the past three years, the Columbia River Symphony has performed a set called “Symphonic Stories” where stories and music become one, evoking emotions for the listeners. Stories are projected onto the screen, read aloud, and musical pieces have been played between. Last year, the theme was “Short Stories”, based on a writing and illustration contest between 9 different school districts. Winning stories and illustrations were published later at the concert in the Liberty Theater.
This new season is based on Symphonic Stories 3 about “Colorful Memories”. The community will have an opportunity to take part in a coloring contest, and the winning art work will be presented in a book with nine heartwarming musical pieces. The coloring contest, with more detailed information will be posted on the Columbia River Symphony web page in the coming weeks, and the coloring sheets will also be available in many locations throughout the Coast.
Many people are recognizing the positive vibe in this orchestra, and it spreads! The joy can be heard through the performances to those who are listening. “My expectations for the new season is to be humble with our success, and learn how we can be better musicians, community members, while instilling to our youth the importance of art,” says Cory.
If you are interested in joining the Columbia River Symphony, please contact the conductor Cory Pederson cory@columbiariversymphony.org or visit the website www.columbiariversymphony.org for more information. Upcoming concert dates are also posted on the website.
