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FEBRUARY 16�23, 2022
SOUND CHECK
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Sharing classical music across Eastern Oregon
By Daneli Atilano
Go! Magazine
INLAND
NORTHWEST
MUSICIANS
H
ERMISTON — Upon its
founding in 1999, Inland
Northwest Musicians decided
that one of the group’s core
values was to educate and share
classical music with people of
all ages and geographic back-
grounds.
The goal, representatives
say, is “to continue an inclusive
atmosphere at every level in
our program.”
The INWM encompasses
three diff erent ensembles, all
under the direction of conductor
R. Lee Friese.
The Willow Creek Symphony
is for novice musicians of all
ages to hone skills and grow as
classical musicians. This ensem-
ble is open to 30 volunteer mem-
bers and encourages musicians
of less advanced skills from all
backgrounds to join.
There are two ensembles
for advanced musicians: the
Inland Northwest Orchestra,
with 50 members, and the Inland
Inland Northwest Musicians/Contributed image
The Inland Northwest Musicians formed in 1999, and off ers musical opportunities for a variety of ages. Concerts are
planned in March and April.
Northwest Chorale, which has 40
singers. These ensembles travel
across Eastern Oregon and
Southeastern Washington per-
forming individual concerts and
combined holiday performances
for the enjoyment of a variety of
communities.
As part of the group’s focus
on education, the Willow Creek
Symphony and members of the
Inland Northwest Orchestra hold
a Young People’s Concert in the
Wallowa Valley and Hermiston
area each year. These concerts
are meant to expose young
students to classical music,
explain the various instruments
and answer questions — with
the hope of sparking an interest
in classical music.
To highlight and foster young
talent, the Inland Northwest
Musicians hosts a yearly Young
Artist Competition. Young musi-
cians compete for cash prizes
and the opportunity to perform
as a guest artist with the orches-
tra. The winners are divided into
elementary, junior, senior and
young adult categories.
“We plan to be able to serve
our population for an unending
time into the future,” Friese said.
UPCOMING EVENTS
• March 12: The Inland
Northwest Orchestra performs
Beethoven’s Symphony #1 and
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #1
accompanied by guest pianist
Harriet Wong, beginning at
The Inland Northwest
Musicians formed in 1999
and welcomes musicians
to three ensembles: Willow
Creek Symphony, Inland
Northwest Orchestra and the
Inland Northwest Chorale.
For information, visit www.
inlandnorthwestmusicians.
com or the INWM Facebook
page.
4 p.m. at the Hermiston Commu-
nity Center, 415 S. Highway 395.
• March 27: The Inland North-
west Chorale will perform at the
Sage Center in Boardman at
4 p.m.
• April 14: A Young People’s
Concert will be held by the
Willow Creek Symphony for
students in fourth through sixth
grades at the Hermiston Com-
munity Center.
• April 16: A public concert will
be held in Morrow County (loca-
tion and time to be determined).