8 FEBRUARY 23�MARCH 2, 2022 BEHIND THE SCENES FROM THE COVER Grande Ronde Symphony presents ‘bite size’ concert By Lisa Britton Go! Magazine L A GRANDE — The Grande Ronde Symphony is going small in size but not in sound for its winter concert. Titled “Bite Size Pieces,” the performance will feature four smaller ensembles. This ap- proach emerged as an idea after GRS had a hard time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fi lling all parts for a full symphony at its concert in November. “That makes it kind of diffi - cult,” said Alice Trindle, president of the Grande Ronde Symphony Association. Featuring smaller groups allows for greater distance be- tween musicians, and highlights individual instruments that may be hard to discern in a full sym- phony concert. “It allows our ear to become more educated to the tones and nuances of the instruments,” Trindle said. “There are wonder- ful pieces that are for these small ensembles.” The live, in-person concert will be Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre on the campus of Eastern Oregon University. Masks will be required for all audience members. “We decided to celebrate the talent of the orchestra’s musi- cians by breaking our winter concert performance into small ensembles,” said Zachary Banks, music director. “The ‘Bite Size Pieces’ we have chosen are all huge audience-pleasers and truly showcase the quality of musicians found within the full symphony orchestra.” The evening will begin with the Grande Ronde Symphony brass quintet setting the stage with some works in the Baroque style, followed by the sympho- ny’s woodwind quintets featur- ing a variety of musical styles from Brazilian choro music to American ragtime. The fi nal ensemble for the winter concert will be the Grande Ronde strings performing the classical “Eine Kleine Nacht- musik” by Mozart and followed IF YOU GO Grande Ronde Symphony winter concert March 2, 7 p.m. McKenzie Theatre, EOU $12 adults, $10 seniors $2 college students $1 middle/high school students Tickets: Direct Music Source, Betty’s Books, granderondesymphony.org by the lyrical “Holberg” Suite by composer Edvard Grieg. Tickets are available online at granderondesymphony.org and at Direct Music Source in La Grande and Betty’s Books in Baker City. Cost is $12 adults, $10 seniors, $2 college students, and $1 for those in middle school and high school. Season passes are also available: $30 adults, $20 seniors, $2 college students, $1 high school students. Special pricing is available for families and groups. For informa- tion, email grsymphony2@gmail. com. David Cowan/Contributed image Zachary Banks is the music director of the Grande Ronde Symphony. Support Crossroads — Your Community Art Center 2020 Auburn Avenue Baker City, Oregon 541.523.5369 Crossroads is open Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm Gallery • Classes • Special Events Visit www.crossroads-arts.org to become a member.