Oregon Mandolin Orchestra
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox orchestra
| name = Oregon Mandolin Orchestra
| type =
| image = Oregon Mandolin Orchestra logo.png
| caption =
| short_name = OMO
| location = Portland, Oregon, United States
| founded = {{Start date|2010}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.oregonmandolinorchestra.org/|oregonmandolinorchestra.org}}
| music_director = Christian McKee
}}
Oregon Mandolin Orchestra (OMO) is an all-volunteer community orchestra based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2010, the OMO consists of about 30 members and has been led by music director Christian McKee since April 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonmandolinorchestra.org/man-on-a-mission-continued|title=Oregon Mandolin Orchestra’s New Music Director...a Man on a Mission|publisher=Oregon Mandolin Orchestra|access-date=June 19, 2023}}
History
The orchestra was started in January 2010 by Brian and Elizabeth Oberlin.{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2011/04/mandophiles_play_on_in_hillsbo.html|title= Mandophiles play on in Hillsboro: The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra keeps a lost art alive and tackles a wide variety of music |last= Bella |first= Rick |date= April 1, 2011 |newspaper=The Oregonian}} It was the first such orchestra in Oregon since the Portland Mandophonic Orchestra stopped performing in 2001.{{cite news|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2013/10/mandolinist_evan_marshall_to_b.html |title= Brian Oberlin conducting the Hillsboro-based Oregon Mandolin Orchestra. The orchestra will be performing their fall concert on Friday, Oct. 25. |last=Smith |first=Taylor|date= October 15, 2013 |newspaper=The Oregonian}} OMO was founded during a revival of mandolin orchestras, which had once been widespread across the United States.{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Matthew|title=Music on the Street talks with Brian Oberlin of the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra|url=http://oregonmusicnews.com/2014/12/17/music-street-talks-brian-oberlin-oregon-mandolin-orchestra/|access-date=11 March 2015|work=Oregon Music News|date=December 17, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Jennifer|title=With a Little Bit of Pluck, a Mandolin Orchestra Revives|url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/nyregion/with-a-little-bit-of-pluck-a-mandolin-orchestra-revives.html|access-date=11 March 2015|work=The New York Times|date=May 29, 2014}}
Brian Oberlin is a mandolinist and music teacher who serves as the musical director, while his then wife Elizabeth was the executive director.{{cite news|last1=Sproles|first1=Michael|title=It's all about the Mandolin|url=http://www.pamplinmedia.com/ht/119-hillsboro-tribune-features/336021-215652-its-all-about-the-mandolin|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Hillsboro Tribune|date=December 14, 2016}} Brian also started the River of the West Mandolin Camp.{{cite news|title=Mandolin virtuosos to perform|url=http://www.forksforum.com/entertainment/282626641.html|access-date=1 December 2014|work=Forks Forum|date=November 13, 2014}} Elizabeth, an attorney by profession, organized the orchestra while Brian recruited members. The orchestra performed its first concert on April 9, 2010, at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center in downtown Hillsboro.{{cite news|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/living/argus/index.ssf?/base/lifestyle/1269631234148530.xml&coll=6 |title= Mandolin Orchestra sets Hillsboro concert |date= March 26, 2010|newspaper=The Hillsboro Argus}} One of the first members of the new group was Bill Jordens, who had been a member of the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra in Wisconsin.
OMO's April 2011 concert featured works by Antonio Vivaldi and was held at The Old Church in Portland. The group's May 2011 concert included a version of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir", as well a pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, among others.{{cite news|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2011/05/oregon_mandolin_orchestra_sets.html|title= Oregon Mandolin Orchestra sets concert |date= May 6, 2011 |newspaper=The Hillsboro Argus}} At the time of the concert, the orchestra had grown to 24 members.
The group received a grant from the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council in 2011{{cite news|url= http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-hillsboro/2011/06/hillsboro_arts_culture_council_announces_2011-2012_community_arts_culture_grant_recipients.html|title= Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council Announces 2011-12 Community Arts & Culture Grant Recipients |date= June 16, 2011|publisher=OregonLive}} and again in 2013.{{cite news|url= http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-hillsboro/2013/05/2013-14_community_arts_culture.html|title= 2013-14 Community Arts & Culture Grants Awarded in Hillsboro |date= May 28, 2013 |publisher=OregonLive}} The funds come from the City of Hillsboro's Parks and Recreation Department. By the September 2011 concert, the group had grown to about 30 members, with the concert again held at the Walters Cultural Arts Center.{{cite news|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2011/09/mandolin_orchestra_sets_sept_1.html|title= Mandolin Orchestra sets Sept. 16 Hillsboro show |date= September 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Hillsboro Argus}} The group also gained sponsorships at that time from The Hillsboro Argus, KUIK, and Tuality Healthcare, among others. Oregon Mandolin Orchestra's 2011 holiday concert in December featured a Brazilian Choro duo as well as a selected portion of the Nutcracker Suite.{{cite news|url= http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2011/12/oregon_mandolin_orchestra_tune.html|title= Oregon Mandolin Orchestra tunes up for Dec. 16 concert |date= December 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Hillsboro Argus}} At the time, it was the only mandolin orchestra in Oregon. OMO's Fall 2013 concert in Hillsboro featured Evan Marshall,{{cite news|url= http://portlandtribune.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/198856-orchestra-performs |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141219232805/http://portlandtribune.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/198856-orchestra-performs |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 19, 2014 |title= Orchestra performs |date= October 25, 2013 |newspaper=Hillsboro Tribune}} while the December 2013 concert featured holiday music.{{cite news|url= http://www.pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/204463-art-briefs |title= Art Briefs|last= Haugen |first= Stephanie |date= December 13, 2013 |newspaper=Hillsboro Tribune}}
Description
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra is modeled after similar orchestras that were popular in the United States during the late 19th century. The orchestra features mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, and string basses. The approximately 30-piece group presents about four concerts each year across the Portland area.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.oregonmandolinorchestra.org/}}
- [http://www.classicalmandolinsociety.org/groups.asp?fldSTATEMACHINE=0&fldGROUPTITLE=Oregon%20Mandolin%20Orchestra Classical Mandolin Society of America]
{{Hillsboro Oregon}}
{{Oregon orchestras}}
{{Portal bar|Classical music|Oregon}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2010 establishments in Oregon
Category:American instrumental musical groups
Category:American mandolinists
Category:Culture of Hillsboro, Oregon