“University Community Orchestra puts on holidy performance that entertains both laid-back and upbeat crowds”
“University puts on holiday performance for all ages young and old”
Buckley Center Auditorium was to host the evenings events
It was an evening that promised to be full of musical entertainment, and had many memories to be gained for performers and audience members alike. As the performers took the stage, the air of University of Portland’s own, Buckley Auditorium came alive with the many sounds of strings, brass, woodwinds, and drums. Through the many sounds floating through the bustling crowd, upper strings tuned their tiny strings, woodwinds decided whether or not to pull out or push in, and brass players made sure their instruments were warmed up for the music that laid ahead. As I sat listening to the many joyous, and few not so joyous sounds of the excited University of Portland Community Orchestra one voice stood out to me as a particularly individual sound among many. Upon a quick glance to the right side of the orchestra gave it away: in deed I had heard the magical notes of a harp. Although this voice is not always included in an orchestra, tonight its presence was made known by its masters playing before the concert was to begin. Its magical notes filled the air and seemed to lift its listeners off into a dreamland. One could sit back and listen to soft tones floating through the air and be surrounded with them as they lifted a person off of their seat and swept them away to a far off land. Once the orchestra began to come together more and more and they came together as one group and the concert was set to begin. Audience members became quiet and the lights dimmed as all were listening intently as the University of Portland Community Orchestra was set to play their concert: “Music for the Season”.
Buckley Center courtyard and entrance to the auditorium
As the Community Orchestra was winding down their last musical number, and as the lights became bright again, Buckley Auditorium became loud again and many of the members of the orchestra and jazz bands were scurrying about in a hurried blur on the auditorium stage. This hurried blur was an effort to set up for the night’s next musical group, the University Jazz Ensemble. As performers began warming up it was immediately apparent that this performance would not compete with the previous group, but this was because they produced a different sound. A sound far from that of any strings or lighter woodwinds, no, this promised to produce loud, intense brassy notes followed by the rhythmic beating of a drum set. The band got its final touches together, and everyone was set up for their performance of loud notes, and exciting sounds. The jazz ensemble was more upbeat in that their notes carried away into the night like the voices of those at a lively party or ballgame. Much different from the sounds of an orchestra in that they pierce the air with great attitude and leave the audience nothing open to interpretation. Every single note of a jazz number is directed for a special meaning, and leaves its audience with the exact feeling that was meant.
Program for the evenings events
This evening was very promising, and left nothing than for me to want to come back and see more performances in the future. The magical sounds of the University Community Orchestra paired with the University Jazz Ensemble made for an unforgettable evening and satisfied every expectation.
