December 10, 2024

[Vancouver, WA. December 10, 2024] – The Vancouver Symphony’s Chamber Music Series, sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting, welcomes Rodney Sauer back to Vancouver, WA for a showing of Why Be Good? (1929) at the historic Kiggins Theatre on Thursday, January 16. The concert begins at 7 pm with the evening’s hilarious film accompanied by live music as it would have been in the silent film theaters of the 1920s. This event is the second in a series of three silent film chamber concerts in the 2024-2025 season. In November, the audience was enthralled by Hitchcock’s Blackmail, and in April hearts will swoon during the 1929 romantic comedy classic, The Cameraman.

Produced in 1929 by First National Pictures, Why Be Good? follows a young saleswoman, Pert Kelly (Colleen Moore), who gains the attention of her boss’s son during a late night of dancing. The following day, Pert finds herself in a compromising situation after uncovering just who her future date truly is. With sharp comedic twists and turns and a bold feminist finale, Why Be Good? will keep the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The film will be accompanied by a period-authentic live score compiled by Rodney Sauer of the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, performed by Mr. Sauer and VSO musicians Eva Richey, violin, Dieter Ratzlaf, cello, Bruce Dunn, trumpet, and Igor Shakhman, clarinet.

What: Back to the Movies: Why Be Good?
When: January 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Where: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver WA 98660
Tickets: $25 ($10 students at the door) at kigginstheatre.com

About Rodney Sauer
Rodney Sauer, pianist and score compiler, studied at the Oberlin Conservatory while majoring in Chemistry at Oberlin College and has appeared as piano soloist with the Boulder Sinfonia. He is an avid student of silent film music, and his article on the history and use of "photoplay music" was published in the American Music Research Center Journal. He is a frequent performer in various participatory dance genres from early 20th century ballroom dance to morris and contra dance. He also plays solo improvised silent film scores, although the Mont Alto Orchestra is his major musical endeavor. In 2001 he won a Musical grant from the Arts and Humanities Assembly of Boulder.

About Eva Richey
Eva began her career playing regularly with several orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus Symphony, West Virginia Symphony and Kentucky Symphony. She toured South America with the New World Symphony and played briefly with the Cape Town Symphony in South Africa. She attended the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals, learning from such conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Eiji Oue. Eva has also enjoyed playing popular music in concert events with The Moody Blues, Yes, Harry Connick Jr. and Rod Stewart. In 2001, she moved to the northwest where she began working with the Oregon Symphony as Associate Music Librarian, as well as holding two one-year positions in the second violin section. Currently, Eva is on the adjunct faculty at Clark College as violin instructor and concertmaster of the Clark College Orchestra. She plays regularly with the Portland Opera, Portland Chamber Orchestra and Oregon Ballet Theatre.

About Dieter Ratzlaf
Dieter began cello studies at the age of seven and performed with the Portland Youth Philharmonic for six years, touring Europe with the orchestra in 1989. He went on to receive his Master of Arts in Cello Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Portland Opera Orchestra (18 seasons) and the Oregon Ballet Theater Orchestra (10 seasons). Dieter was appointed principal cello of the VSO in 2005 and the Hood River Philharmonic in 2012, positions he currently holds.

About Bruce Dunn
Now in his 21st year as the VSO’s principal trumpet, Bruce Dunn is an accomplished freelance trumpeter who holds performance degrees from both Washington State University and Portland State University. A recipient of the prestigious Presser Foundation Scholarship, he can be heard in venues across the Northwest. He has performed in groups across the region including the Portland Opera, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Big Horn Brass, the Portland Festival Symphony, the Beach Cantata Choir and many others. He is also a founding member of the Columbia Rover Brass Ensemble. In addition to performing, Bruce is a National Board-Certified Teacher and the Director of Bands at Covington Middle School, Sunset Elementary and Silver Star Elementary in the Evergreen School District. He has also taught at Evergreen High School, Mountain View High School and Pacific Middle School.

About Igor Shakhman As an orchestra and chamber musician, Shakhman has played in international music festivals in Oregon, Colorado, France, Greece, Russia and Switzerland. He has participated in two critically acclaimed Broadway tours: the first national tour of Oklahoma! and as principal clarinetist and on-stage soloist in the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof. He received his B.A. in Music from Kharkov Music College, Master’s from the Moscow Conservatory and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado. In addition to being principal clarinet for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, he is also the orchestra’s CEO.

About The VSO Chamber Music Series
The VSO Chamber Music Series is presented by Oregon Public Broadcasting. The series was co-created by Dr. Michael C. Liu, VSO pianist and board member, and Dr. Igor Shakhman, VSO CEO and Principal Clarinet. The VSO Chamber Music Series is proud to provide enchanting chamber music in an intimate setting. Originally intended to be played in a small chamber, hall, or house, chamber music showcases musician virtuosity in melodies that are quite exposed in a typical ensemble of three to six musicians. Listeners enjoy an entirely new concert experience meant to speak to every individual in a comfortable space. The content of each VSO concert is unique, ranging from musical accompaniment for silent films and operatic soloists, to traditional string quartets and trios. Now in its twelfth season, the VSO Chamber Music Series continues to provide this matchless art form to the Vancouver community.

About The VSO
The VSO, now in its 46th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.

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

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THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PO BOX 525 VANCOUVER, WA 98666 PHONE 360-735-7278 FAX 360-906-0355
www.vancouversymphony.org