45th Parallel spring concert

Submitted photo / Students and faculty in EOU’s 45th Parallel Ensemble and Electronic Music II class at Rainmaker Studios in West Pasco, Wash.

45th Parallel Ensemble performs spring concert

LA GRANDE, Ore. May 25, 2016 – Eastern Oregon University’s 45th Parallel Ensemble is performing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall.

The unique group is celebrating the completion of its second year at EOU and features four vocalists, three horns, vibraphone and full rhythm section. Their repertoire includes a variety of music from the American vernacular including soul, funk, jazz, Latin, R and B, pop, rock and student originals.

John McKinnon and Matt Cooper, both professors of music, are the ensemble co-directors with assistance from Luke McKern. Their final concert of the academic year features a diverse lineup of compositions by Tito Puente, Hoagy Carmichael, Tracy Chapman, Sly and the Family Stone, Amy Winehouse, Queen Latifah, Billy Strayhorn, Irving Berlin, Fleetwood Mac, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Sam Cooke and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Ensemble members received coaching in these works from visiting artists Rob Scheps, of Cold Spring, New York, Dmitri Matheny, of Olympia, Wash., and Kathy Kosins, of Detroit, Mich., during the past several months. The group also recently had the opportunity to record four of the performance selections at Rainmaker Studios in West Pasco, Wash.

Admission to the concert is free with donations accepted to benefit the music program or music scholarships at EOU. For more information call 541-962-3559.