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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2023)
December 06, 2023 Page 7 Arts & ENTERTAINMENT Second Ensemble Teen Uses Talent to Leaders Fellow Support Local Libraries Student Illustrates Announced! Libraries’ Winter Moving the art form forward! Portland Opera is pleased to formally announce that Alexis Walker is the company’s second Ensemble Leaders Fellow, hav- ing joined the company in Sep- tember 2023, for the 2023/24 season. The Ensemble Leaders Fellowship was developed to move the art form forward by providing career advancement opportunities for individuals who have been historically underrep- resented in the world of opera, in both administrative and artistic roles. The pilot year took place during the 2021/22 season with Jasmine Johnson named as the first Ensemble Leaders Fellow. She returned for the 2022/23 sea- son and has since joined the Port- land Opera staff. Each fellowship is unique and based on the goals, strengths, and leadership jour- ney of the chosen candidate. Since joining the company in September, Walker has been working as part of the External Affairs team for the first months of her fellowship. She is work- ing with the company to define her program and areas of focus for the remainder of the season. "The experience so far has been so eye opening!” shares Walker. “As a performer my- self, I didn’t fully understand all the work it takes to run an arts organization. In just the few months I have been here, my understanding has deepened as I continue the fellowship program. I am grateful for the people I have met, and what I am being taught every time I step into the building." “We are delighted to be working with Alexis Walker this season,” says Sue Dixon, General Director of Portland Opera. “We learned so much from our initial pilot program with Jasmine Johnson that has allowed us to continue to cus- tomize this program for each individual participant. We be- Reading Challenge Alexis Walker, Ensemble Leaders Fellow lieve strongly in this program and look forward to supporting new leaders through hands-on professional development and mentorship in our field.” Alexis Walker earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in Vocal Performance at Pacific University, where her mentors and teachers includ- ed Dr. Scott Tuomi, Mrs. Judy A. Rose, and Professor Anne McKee Reed. She is a current member of Pacific University’s Chamber Singers, who had the honor of performing for the American Choral Directors As- sociation (ACDA) in Spokane, Washington in 2022, and at the Oregon Music Educators Asso- ciation (OMEA) Conference in Eugene, Oregon earlier in 2023. Alexis was a featured soloist in “A Gospel Mass” by Rob- ert Ray for All Classical Radio and Pacific University Chamber Singers’ performance of “Wade in the Water,” arranged by Mo- ses Hogan, in April 2023. Alexis also enjoys working in theater and was the Stage Manager and Assistant Produc- er in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” pro- duced at Pacific University in March 2023. Currently, Alex- is is a vocal instructor and the Voice Program Director at Bach to Rock in Hillsboro, Oregon. Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com At the age of sixteen, Sunset High School student, Sophia You is already an accomplished artist who is using her talents to benefit local libraries. In addition to sorting and shelving materials each week as a volunteer at Cedar Mill Library, You create illustrations for use in promoting library programs. The teen started out designing coloring sheets that the libraries delivered along with books to lo- cal childcare sites as part of their Bookshare Program. The libraries’ Teen Services Manager, Mark Richardson says, “Sophia has been volun- teering at the library since 2021. She has created artwork for our NaMoWriMo program and our Spring Crosshatch reading chal- Talented Sixteen Year Old Artist, Sophia You lenge and has even designed buttons for us. We’re thankful for all her contributions!” You’s latest artwork supports the libraries' Winter Reading Challenge with designs featuring the challenge’s 2023 theme, “Bun- dle Up with a Book”. Cedar Mill and Bethany Community Librar- ies are encouraging readers of all ages to participate in the Winter Reading Challenge, which runs from December 1 to January 15. The libraries’ goal is 10,000 hours of community reading. Randomly chosen participants will win gift cards donated by Piccolo Mondo Toys. Readers can participate by picking up a reading log at the Cedar Mill or Bethany Libraries, downloading the Beanstack app, or by signing up online at library.cedarmill. org/read-now. The Minidoka Swing Band Minidoka Swing Band Concert Music of The Harmonaires The Minidoka Swing Band was formed in 2007 to remem- ber the music and big bands that were popular inside World War II Japanese American incarcer- ation camps to help make life more normal for the imprisoned incarcerates. The Oregon Histor- ical Society is thrilled to host the Minidoka Swing Band for a con- cert on Pearl Harbor Day in our pavilion at noon. Admission is free and all are welcome. The Minidoka Swing Band was formed by the late Roberta (Robbie) Tsuboi for a 2008 pil- grimage to the Minidoka Intern- ment Camp. The band consists of 17 musicians and two vocal- ists, three of whom were incar- cerated during WWII. Relatives of several band members were also incarcerated. The band con- nects audiences to the time when all internees needed something to uplift them and help them feel typically American. The Minidoka Swing Band continues to play the music of The Harmonaires, a Seat- tle-based band formally known as the Mikados of Swing, as a tribute to Minidoka and all the internees who suffered a great loss during those diffi- cult years. This performance will include narration between songs by Nola Sugai Bogle, who was incarcerated with her family at Minidoka. The Mini- doka Swing Band Concert is Thursday, December 7, 12pm to 1pm.
