Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

with guest artist the Portland Symphonic Choir


The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA’s 2023/24 season finale performance will feature the highly acclaimed Portland Symphonic Choir on June 1 at 7 pm and June 2 at 3 pm at Skyview Concert Hall. VSO’s Music Director and Conductor Maestro Salvador Brotons will lead the orchestra and the Portland Symphonic Choir in Ludwig van Beethoven’s timeless masterpiece Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (“Choral”) with soloists Megan Belov (soprano), Grace Skinner (mezzo-soprano), Katherine Goforth (tenor), Anton Belov (baritone) from the Portland Symphonic Choir.

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (“Choral”) premiered in 1824 and is the last complete symphony ever written by Beethoven. It is notably the first symphony written by such a distinguished composer to include vocal soloists and a chorus. Despite its innovative elements, the symphony was not an initial success, yet it went on to influence nearly every 19th-century composer after Beethoven and is one of the most popular pieces of symphonic music to this day.

The 2023/24 Symphonic Series is presented by United Grain Corporation.

 

PROGRAM:

Beethoven Symphony No. 9*
*Portland Symphonic Choir

 

One hour prior to the program’s start on both performance days, a pre-concert talk on the history of the works on the program will be held in Skyview Concert Hall for all ticket holders.

What: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

When: Saturday, June 1 at 7:00 pm, Sunday, June 2 at 3:00 pm

Where: 1300 NW 139th St, Vancouver, WA 98685

The Saturday performance at Skyview Concert Hall will begin at 7:00 pm. The celebrated VSO pre-concert talk, hosted by a VSO musician or Maestro Salvador Brotons, will be available for concert goers to attend before the program from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The virtual live stream programming begins at 6:30 pm on Saturday to air the pre-concert talk directly before the performance begins. The Sunday performance will begin at 3:00 pm, with the pre-concert talk available to attend in-person from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm. The virtual live stream programming begins at 2:30 pm on Sunday. 

Unlike previous programs, there will be no intermission during this program.

All ticket holders will receive a secure email link to access the live stream performances.

Our tech support team will be on standby to assist you if you have any issues logging in during the performances.

 

About our Sponsors

The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Realvest Foundation, The Kuni Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, AC Hotel by Marriott, United Grain Corporation, Columbia Credit Union, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, All Classical Radio, Gravitate, Dick Hannah Dealerships, The Columbian, Michelle’s Piano Co., Pacific Office Automation, Steinway & Sons Portland, and The VIC.

VSO Pre-Show

The 2023-2024 Concert Season welcomes back the critically acclaimed video series from the VSO! Hosted by Greg Scholl and Ashley Johnson, this exciting pre-show will broadcast on the VSO concert live stream 30 minutes before the concert performance. Full of fascinating information about the repertoire and plenty of laughs, you won’t want to miss it!

 

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson has been with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since October of 2019. Since December of 2019 she has been the host and producer of The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Podcast, interviewing prominent VSO figures and guests as well as sharing past VSO performances in the special series VSO Encore. Ashley graduated from Western Washington University in 2013 with a degree in English Literature, and has been active in the Vancouver arts community for over 15 years. She was formerly the music director for the Young Slocum House Players in 2011, and was on the Board of Pacific Stageworks Theater Company from 2019-2023.

Outside of saying flowery things about recordings of classical music Ashley co-hosts a film podcast, produces independent films, and spends time with her daughter Imogen and her husband Will (the superhero who keeps Skyview Concert Hall running). 


Greg Scholl

Greg Scholl has played trombone in the VSO since 1993 - he became principal trombone in 1995. He is also principal trombone in the Portland Columbia Symphony and the Newport Symphony. Greg also plays locally in the Portland Brass Quintet and the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theater, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus, and the Portland Gay Men's Chorus. He has performed with the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Greg was formerly second trombone in the Austin Lyric Opera.
Greg is the trombone and low brass instructor at Pacific University. He obtained a trombone performance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Donald Knaub. Prior to that he studied with Peter Kline and David Brown in San Antonio, TX. Greg plays in the Portland modern jazz duo Dos Hermanos de Hale Bopp. He also plays guitar and trombone in a variety of styles with local bands and performers such as the Rhythm Dogs, Goombahttsi, and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Justin Shandor.
After rejecting the millions of dollars people offered him to play the trombone, Greg obtained a law degree in 1995 from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. During most business days he can be found practicing law as the director of the capital case team at the Metropolitan Public Defender. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading, camping and hiking, collecting things like Conan the Barbarian comic books, LP records, and concert recordings of the Grateful Dead, and being married to incredible principal bassoonist Margaret McShea. Their son Ben is now in college - he was practically raised at VSO rehearsals back in the day.