Singing in the season

Holiday Music Festival features new piano

Nov. 16, 2018 LA GRANDE, Ore. –  Hundreds of musicians and vocalists gather to perform songs of the season from around the globe at The Observer’s 27th annual Holiday Music Festival on Dec. 1 and 2 at Eastern Oregon University.

Sponsored by Koza Family Dental Care, the event often sells out McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

The performance features the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, Community Symphonic Band, EOU Chamber Choir, Grande Ronde Community Chorus, EOU’s 45th Parallel Ensemble, EOU African Drumming Group, and the EOU Fiddle Ensemble.

In the center of it all, EOU will debut its brand new Fazioli concert grand piano. The Concert Grand Piano Campaign, is just $14,000 short of its $150,000 goal. Support from the Oregon Agricultural Foundation kicked off the campaign and inspired individuals to contribute gifts matched by the OAF of up to $65,000.

The brand-new instrument was delivered earlier this month, and replaces a 56-year-old Baldwin that will be donated to a local venue. Music professor Matt Cooper and accompanist Mio Aoike will perform additional selections to showcase the new piano’s range and quality.

“Now that the concert grand piano has arrived on campus, it’s important that we have the resources to properly tune and maintain this high-quality instrument for many years to come,” said Executive Director of the EOU Foundation Patrick Regan. “During this season of giving, we encourage the many people in our community who support the arts to help us reach our goal.”

Details about the project and an online giving portal are at eou.edu/piano. All proceeds from the Holiday Music Festival go to the music funds held in the EOU Foundation.

The Saturday show takes place at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee begins at 3 p.m. Arts Center East will provide refreshments during intermission. Tickets are available for purchase online at eou.edu/music, at the EOU Bookstore, and at Red Cross Drug in downtown La Grande. Admission costs $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. All seating is general admission.

For more information, visit eou.edu/piano or contact Peter Wordelman at 541-962-3352 or pwordelm@eou.edu.