A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Thursday, August 25, 2022
OREGON EAST SYMPHONY 2022-23 SEASON
Stars align for symphony season opener
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — The
Oregon East Symphony is
preparing to blast into its
2022-23 season with a solid
concert lineup.
The symphony, under
the direction of Beau
Benson, OES artistic direc-
tor and conductor, opens
the symphony season with
“Space Jam!” on Nov. 6, at
the Vert Auditorium, Pend-
leton. It will feature John
Williams’s “Star Wars
Suite,” with music from the
familiar film series. Also,
complimenting the program
is Gustav Holst’s tone poem,
“The Planets,” a work that
heavily inspired Williams’s
score for “Star Wars.”
Reserved season tickets
are now on sale. However, an
exciting option this season,
said J.D. Kindle, OES exec-
utive director, is the oppor-
tunity for people to attend
symphonic concerts free of
charge. Thanks to generous
sponsorship from the Pend-
leton Foundation Trust and
other supporters, Kindle
FIVE CONCERTS, FROM STAR WARS TO STRAUSS
”Space Jam!” (Nov. 6, 2:30 p.m.) OES artistic director and
conductor Beau Benson: John Williams’s “Star Wars Suite” and
Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.” (“Intrada” by Adolphus Hailstork).
Holiday Music Festival (Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m.) An ecumenical
celebration of the season. In addition to a performance by
the symphony — under the direction of Assistant Conductor
Zach Banks, the program includes the Pendleton Brass Quin-
tet, Our Songs Are Alive from the Umatilla Indian Reservation
and Christmas carol singalongs by Adam Lange.
”Some Like It Scot!” (March 11, 2023, 2:30 p.m.) Benson will
conduct Felix Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 3 in A minor,
Op. 56.” (“Strum” by Jessie Montgomery).
Chamber Music Festival (April 22, 2023, 6:30 p.m.) in the
Vert Club Room, 345 S.W. Fourth St., Pendleton. In addition to
a variety of small ensembles performing chamber works, the
said OES is off ering compli-
mentary general admission
tickets to each of the season’s
symphonic concerts.
The tickets are good for
any unreserved floor-level
seat and can be picked up
from partnering businesses
and organizations, which
will be published on the OES
website a month prior to each
concert.
Benson said it’s an incred-
ible opportunity for people.
He promises that those who
come won’t regret it.
Season-opener sends
conductor into orbit
The season’s concerts,
Kindle said, are determined
by Benson in collabora-
tion with the OES Artistic
Advisory Committee, which
includes board members
who are also performing
members of the symphony
and/or chorale, as well as
other key artistic staff . The
stars aligned this season, as
Benson has wanted to feature
Holst’s “The Planets” for
quite some time.
evening features a generous spread of hors d’oeuvres and
beverages provided by the symphony’s board of directors.
This concert is an optional add-on ($20) to season ticket
packages.
”A Hero’s Life” (June 10, 2023, 7:30 p.m.). For the season fi -
nale, Benson will conduct Richard Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben.”
(“Immerse” by Quinn Mason).
Unless otherwise noted, the concerts are n the Vert Audi-
torium, 480 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Featured works
noted in parenthesis are by contemporary African American
composers.
Season ticket packages ($80/adult, $60/senior, $45/student,
$240/family) are available for purchase via www.orego-
neastsymphony.org or the symphony offi ce, 345 S.W. Fourth
St., Pendleton. For questions, call 541-276-0320.
Benson described it as an
orchestral suite with each
movement devoted to a planet
in our solar system. He said
the orchestration is very large
and will require an extension
to the Vert stage in order to fi t
all the musicians.
Concert season
includes diversity
In continuing the orga-
nization’s commitment to
diversity, OES is program-
ming works by contem-
porary African American
composers during its three
symphonic concerts this
season. Benson said includ-
ing the works provides
“wonderful pieces of music”
that the audience will enjoy
hearing.
The fall concert features
Adolphus Hailstork’s fanfare,
“Intrada.” The short piece,
which will open the concert,
the conductor said, is a great
fi t to get everyone primed
for the rest of the program.
sini@eastoregonian.com or
541-564-4532.
Symphony harmonizes with commuting conductor
Beau Benson
travels from Texas
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Beau
Benson travels more than
1,800 miles each way several
times a year to serve as artis-
tic director and conductor of
the Oregon East Symphony.
A routine that began during
the symphony’s 2013-14
season, Benson said he
enjoys the arrangement.
“Even after all this time,
the commute still makes
each visit feel a little like
an adventure,” he said. “But
more than that, the opportu-
nity to perform great music
with a wonderful orchestra
makes the many hours of
travel worth it.”
OES Executive Direc-
tor J.D. Kindle said Benson
travels from his home in
Waco, Texas, a week or two
before symphony concerts.
The maestro, he said,
makes public appearances,
visits music classes, works
with youth ensembles and
conducts rehearsals and
the concert. He also attends
board and committee meet-
ings through conference
calls or via Zoom.
A visiting conductor
for a 2010 concert, Benson
initially agreed to take
the baton for the 2013-14
season when Anthony Spain
announced his departure.
Since then, he has continued
in the role.
“Standing in front of a
full symphony orchestra
is an experience like none
other,” Benson said. “And I
have enjoyed more than my
fair share of transformative
moments on stage at the Vert
Auditorium that have shaped
who I am as a musician and
as a person.”
Playing through a
pandemic
At the onset of the
pandemic, the symphony
canceled the latter half of
its 2019-20 season, with the
exception of a virtual Spring
Chamber Music concert.
Oregon East Symphony
was creative, flexible and
safety conscious through
its 2020-21 season. Plans
to open with a drive-in
concert were postponed
because smoke from wild-
fi res resulted in hazardous
air quality. And with freez-
ing temperatures and precip-
itation, Mother Nature put a
damper on the rescheduled
drive-in event, although, the
show went on virtually.
The annual Holiday
Music Festival was presented
via a prerecorded commu-
nity radio program and a
three-part Winter Cham-
ber Music Series was lives-
treamed. The season fi nale
featured a pair of sold-out
limited capacity symphony
concerts, which included
masked participants and
audience members. The
performance was later avail-
able on YouTube.
The 2021-22 season
opener marked the return
of the complete symphony
orchestra under Benson’s
baton. Kindle said bring-
ing people together was
important after the alien-
ation and divisiveness many
experienced because of the
pandemic.
As a celebration of its
full return to the stage, OES
off ered free general admis-
sion. Provided through a
partnership with Pendle-
ton Foundation Trust, the
arrangement continues for
the 2022-23 symphonic
concerts.
For more information,
cont act 541-276 - 0320,
info@oregoneastsymphony.
org or visit www.orego-
neastsymphony.org.
COMMUNITY
BRIEFING
Library friends
resume annual
book sale
PE N DL ETON —
Just a reminder that the
member preview sale
gets underway Thurs-
day, Aug. 25 for the
Pendleton Friends of
the Library’s annual
book sale. Held at the
Pendleton Convention
Center, 1601 Westgate,
it’s open to the general
public beginning Friday,
Aug. 26.
To take advantage
of the first selection,
people can register as a
member at the door or
in advance via www.
pendletonfriendsofthe-
library.wordpress.com.
The nonprofi t organiza-
tion’s largest fundraiser,
it features more than
50,000 books and media
available for purchase.
The sale hours are:
• Thursday, Aug. 25,
7-9 p.m. (members only).
• Friday, Aug. 26,
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27,
3-5 p.m. ($1 bag sale)
For more informa-
tion, email pendleton-
friendsofthelibrar y@
gmail.com or search
w w w.facebook.com /
pendletonfriendsofthe-
library.
IMAC serves up
hearty breakfast
East Oregonian, File
Beau Benson, Oregon East Symphony conductor and artistic director, leads a concert on
Oct. 11, 2014, at the Vert Auditorium, Pendleton. “Space Jam!,” the 2022-23 season opener, is
Nov. 6, 2022, at the Vert.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.EastOregonian.com
Kenneth Wayne McNair
November 4, 1931 - August 19, 2022
Kenneth Wayne McNair, age
90, passed away at his home in
Hermiston, Oregon, on Aug. 19,
2022.
He was born on Nov. 4, 1931,
in Myrtle Point, Oregon, to Leland
Ross McNair and Marie Barzee
McNair.
He attended grade school at
Myrtle Point. His family moved
to Ontario, Oregon where he graduated from Ontario
High. Ken was a veteran and served in the Army for two
years, 1955-1957, at Fort Rich in Anchorage, Alaska, as
a mechanic.
On April 7, 1957, he married Bonnie Jean Berry
and they lived in Hermiston for two years, then moved
to Springfield, Oregon, where Ken worked for Dow
Corning until his retirement in1988. They sold their
home and traveled full-time for the next six years
throughout the lower 48 states and then settled in Echo,
Oregon, for the next 28 years. They had just returned to
Hermiston, three months prior to his passing.
Ken enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworking and
traveling but his greatest enjoyment was when he was
flying in his Cessna, 9 77 Tango.
He was a member of the Hermiston Assembly of
God for 28 years and enjoyed working on projects,
especially at Cornerstone Preschool with Miss Sandra.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bonnie Jean;
daughters, Deborah McNair of Hermiston, Susan Lo;
son, Kevin (Tricia) McNair; six grandchildren, Stephen,
T.J., Andrew, Matthew, Serena and Shanna; six great-
grandchildren, Drake, Seth, Kiara, Issac, Atilla and
Abigail; one great-great-grandson, Ian; all of Minnesota;
sisters, June Jones of Pendleton, Katherine Lorance of
Pasadena, California; brother, Robert (Nancy) Henry of
Hermiston; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother
Brucie Henry; stepfathers, Bruce Henry and Wilson
Beshears; great-granddaughters, Sofia and Jasmine
McNair.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
Aug. 27, 2022, at the Burns Mortuary Chapel. A private
burial will be in the Hermiston Cemetery. Burns
Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please
go to www.burnsmortuaryhermiston.com. Memorial
contributions can be made to Vange John Memorial
Hospice.
IR R IGON — The
monthly Irrigon Multi-
cultural Arts Center
f u n d r a i si n g b r e a k-
fast features hotcakes,
ham or sausage patties,
eggs, hash browns and
biscuits with country
gravy.
The meal is served
Saturday, Aug. 27, 7:30-
10:30 a.m. at Stokes
Landing Senior Center,
150 Columbia Lane, Irri-
gon. The cost is $5 per
person.
The group is dedi-
cated to preser ving
Irrigon’s 1921 school
building and developing
a regional art venue. For
more information, call
Donna Eppenbach at
541-922-3197.
— EO Media Group
Apolonia Torres
April 10, 1935 - August 17, 2022
Apolonia Torres, 87, of Pendleton,
Oregon, passed away into the arms of our
Lord on Aug. 17, 2022, with her loving
family by her side. Apolonia Torres was
born on April 10, 1935, in
Ahuijullo Jalisco, Mexico,
the daughter of Augustine
and Maria (Larios) Delgado.
Born and raised in
Mexico, she learned the
virtues of courage, strength,
faith, and genuine love
for family. It was her
determination to provide a
better future for her family
that prompted her to make
the sacrifice and migrate
to the United States in
1974. This sacrifice was
not without risk, yet the knowledge that
God would provide safety, comfort, and
opportunities for her children motivated
her to embrace change.
She had the ability to make life beautiful
no matter the circumstances. Apolonia
believed that no matter what life threw at
you, we all have the choice to appreciate
who we have around us and not what we
have. Apolonia created a family that loves
unconditionally through the toughest and
best of times. She gave her family and
friends unforgettable memories, touched
our hearts and truly blessed us all.
Among her favorite things to do was
bring her family together at the table to
enjoy a traditional Mexican meal. The
sound of laughter, tears, and pure joy would
fill her house. She would create masterful
dishes from her garden and orchard. She
found great joy in her gardening creating
a colorful, luscious, and vibrant botanical
oasis. Apolonia also enjoyed raising her
chickens, she loved them as her “chiquitos”
pets. Apolonia’s dedication to her family,
garden, and work was obvious to all those
around her.
She found employment at Lamb Weston
in Connell, Washington, for the first six
years and then transitioned to Simplot for
24 years, leading to her retirement in 2001.
Throughout her retirement, she enjoyed
traveling to see her family in Mexico and
her family in the U.S. In 2005, she became
a U.S. citizen; this was one of her proudest
accomplishments.
Apolonia was preceded in death by her
parents, Augustine and Maria Delgado;
son, Miguel Torres; daughter, Rosa “Lily”
Torres; granddaughter, Sandra “Sunni”
Torres Godinez; sister,
Guadalupe Gutierrez and
brother, Silvano Delgado.
She is survived by
her children, Guadalupe
(Abraham)
Contreras,
Baltazar Torres, Adalberto
(Elena) Torres, Arselia
(Richard) Bishop, Rosario
(Dennis) Mason, Apolinar
Torres, Lorenzo (Carmen)
Torres, Candi (Brad) Adams,
Demetrio (Desiree) Torres;
32 grandchildren and 37
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Our
Lady of Angles Catholic Church, 565
Hermiston Ave., Hermiston, Oregon, on
Aug. 26, 2022. The rosary service will be
held on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, at Our Lady
of Angels Catholic Church, Hermiston,
Oregon, at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral
mass at 10:30 a.m.
A committal service will be held on
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at 11 a.m. at
Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho.
Apolonia’s family would like to extend
a heartfelt thank you to her wonderful
medical team, Good Shepherd Health Care
System, Vange John Memorial Hospice,
and our family and friends for all the love
and support throughout this journey.
Apolonia’s advice to her loving
family, “Pues mira, tu Nino solia ir a la
basura en busca de guaraches viejos para
darme. Era con todo su amor que me los
daba. Los tome sin importarme de donde
venian porque sabia que venian con todo
su amor.” “Look, your Nino would search
for shoes in the garbage to provide for me.
It was with great love that he would give
them to me. I received them regardless of
where they came from because I knew that
he was gifting them with all his love.”
Please
share
memories
of
Apolonia with her family at www.
burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon,
is in care of arrangements.