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COMMUNITY
Former Bulldogs open Desert Arts
season with classical performance
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
Described as exceptional-
ly talented musicians, a pair
of Hermiston High School
graduates will take the stage
during the fi rst concert of the
Desert Arts Council 2016-17
season.
Kelly Kuo (piano) and
Ron Blessinger (violin) are
featured during “Evening
with the Classics.” A home-
coming for the duo, the for-
mer Bulldogs have a surprise
for the show’s encore.
The performance is at 7
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, in
the Hermiston High School
auditorium, 600 S. First St.
Advanced tickets are $20 for
adults or $10 for students.
Tickets purchased at the door
are an additional $5. While
in town, Kuo and Blessinger
will return to their alma ma-
ter to teach master classes.
Blessinger, who studied
at the New England Conser-
vatory of Music, is the artis-
tic director for Third Angle
New Music in Portland and
also performs with the Ore-
gon Symphony.
The 1983 Hermiston
graduate was wildly ap-
plauded while performing
as a guest violinist during a
2004 Oregon East Sympho-
ny performance in Pendle-
ton. It has been more than a
decade since Blessinger per-
formed in the area.
Kuo, artistic director for
the Oregon Mozart Players
and music director/conduc-
tor of the Butler Opera Cen-
ter in Austin, Texas, attended
the Manhattan School of
Music.
While in college, as
winner of the Oregon East
Symphony’s Concerto Com-
petition, Kuo performed
in Pendleton. However, he
hasn’t taken the stage in
Hermiston since graduating
in 1990.
“It was a special com-
munity and it still is,” Bless-
inger said about Hermiston.
“It’s very meaningful to be
able to play there. It formed
who I am.”
“It is almost surreal to be
returning to the city which
nurtured my musical inter-
ests and planted the seeds
which allowed me to pursue
a career in this challenging
fi eld,” Kuo added.
While Blessinger and
Kuo are connected in several
ways — Blessinger’s mom
was Kuo’s fi rst piano teach-
er and Blessinger, himself,
instructed Kuo on violin —
they have never taken the
stage together. Although,
Kuo said they did partici-
pate in Suzuki violin recitals
in the Blessinger’s living
room. Blessinger is looking
forward to playing with his
former student.
“Kelly has really made a
career for himself as a con-
ductor,” Blessinger said.
“He’s had tremendous suc-
cess.”
Both men have expressed
appreciation for former
teachers, private music in-
structors and their parents’
support in fostering their
interest in music. While in
high school, Blessinger’s
parents took him to Pullman,
Washington, for lessons. The
Kuos traveled to Portland
for their son’s individual
lessons. Kuo said he and
his brother often would start
practicing inside the van
during the trips — Kelly on
clarinet and Calvin on trom-
bone.
“This is so above and be-
yond the call of duty,” Kuo
said in a 2010 East Orego-
nian interview. “It’s almost
ridiculous how dedicated
they were ... they encour-
aged us to excel at whatever
we were doing.”
In addition, Kuo gave
credit to Mark Lane and Ric
Sherman, former Hermiston
schools teachers who devel-
oped band programs to spark
interest in young musicians.
Kuo and Blessinger said
programs in Pendleton, Wal-
la Walla and the Tri-Cities
provided a chance to hear the
music of classical composers
and opportunities to perform
as soloists in competitions.
Individual and season
tickets are available at the
Hermiston Chamber of
Commerce,
Hermiston
Parks & Recreation and
www.desertartscouncil.com.
For more information, call
Larry Fetter at 541-667-
5007 or Phyllis Shovelski at
541-379-6992.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Authentic village offers
‘Journey to Bethlehem’
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
An interactive tour set
in an outdoor village shares
the Biblical story of Jesus’
birth during a free event
this weekend in Hermiston.
Journey to Bethlehem
features the sights, sounds
and smells of what life may
have been like 2,000 years
ago in the village. Jo Ann
Rincker, a member of the
Hermiston Seventh-day Ad-
ventist Church, has been in-
volved with the production
since its inception in 2008.
“To me, this is the real
meaning of Christmas,” she
said. “There are some peo-
ple out there who have nev-
er heard the story, so I think
it’s important to be told.”
The 20-30 minute guid-
ed tours are Friday through
Sunday from 5-8:30 p.m.
behind the Hermiston Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church,
855 W. Highland Ave.
While waiting for tours to
start, people are invited to
wait in the warm church
sanctuary and listen to mu-
sic. Kids will be given little
packets with a booklet and
activities.
“I think it will help with
the wait,” Rincker said.
“We have had problems
with the wait being too long
and we’ve had people leave
because they have children
that would get inpatient.”
About 100 costumed
actors participate in the
dramatic production. In
addition to members of
the Hermiston and Anchor
Point Seventh-day Adven-
tist churches, other church-
es and community mem-
bers have got involved with
the effort. Located near
the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, the First Christian
Church provides childcare.
Also, live animals in-
clude everything from
sheep, goats and chick-
ens to llamas, which are
dressed up to look like lit-
tle camels. The animals,
Rincker said, help provide
an authentic experience of
entering a village during
Biblical times..
Provided as an outreach
ministry, it’s important to
organizers to offer the ex-
perience free of charge.
Some people, Rincker said,
might not be able to attend
if they had to pay. Howev-
er, donations are gladly ac-
cepted.
“It’s something we want
to provide for our commu-
nity,” Rincker said.
For more information,
call 541-567-9000.
Printed on
recycled
newsprint
VOLUME 110 ● NUMBER 47
Gary L. West | Editor • gwest@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4532
Tammy Malgesini | Community Editor • tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4539
Jade McDowell | Reporter • jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4536
Jeanne Jewett | Multi-Media consultant • jjewett@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4531
Shannon Paxton | Offi ce coordinator • spaxton@hermistonherald.com • 541-564-4530
Audra Workman | Multi-Media consultant • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • 541-564-4538
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advertising or subscription information:
• call 541-567-6457
• e-mail info@hermistonherald.com
• stop by our offi ces at 333 E. Main St.
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