The VSO “Goes Back To The Movies” 3

DETAILS

The Vancouver Symphony’s Chamber Music Series presents the beloved drama The Phantom of the Opera in its original 1925 silent film adaptation starring American stage and film actor Lon Chaney as the phantom. The VSO’s “Back to the Movies” series delights music and film fans alike with live musical accompaniment arranged by Rodney Sauer and shown in the intimate theater setting of downtown Vancouver’s historical Kiggins Theatre.

Adapted from the 19011 novel written by French author Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera has bewitched audiences for decades with its tragic romance and mystery. Accompanying the film is The VSO Chamber Ensemble, performing Rodney Sauer’s latest silent film compositions. Musicians are Rodney Sauer, piano; Stephen Shepherd, violin; Dieter Ratzlaf, cello; Igor Shakhman, clarinet; and Bruce Dunn, trumpet.

About Rodney Sauer

Pianist and score arranger, 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 Stephen Shepherd

Stephen Shepherd, Violin, has performed throughout the country since leaving Kansas City, MO for the University of Iowa where he completed his Bachelors degree in Music Performance. He relocated to Pittsburgh, PA to work towards a Masters in Music Performance and Artist Diploma degrees and upon receiving them, decided to pursue a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa, completing the terminal degree in 2003. His orchestral playing includes several seasons with the Westmoreland Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, the Cedar Rapids Symphony and Cedar Rapids Opera orchestra before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2003. Stephen has served as Concertmaster of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in McMinnville, OR and is currently Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony in Vancouver, WA, and a violinist with The Portland Chamber Orchestra. He has performed during the summer at festivals in Kansas, Colorado, Oregon and Massachusetts. He is fortunate to have a lovely wife, Lanette and two daughters, Josie and Jasmine.

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 20th 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

Dr. Shakhman has been heard in recitals, chamber music concerts and concert appearances throughout Europe and the US. As an orchestral clarinetist, he has performed with the Colorado and Oregon Symphony Orchestras, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Colorado Opera Orchestra, Russian State Symphony Orchestra and the chamber orchestras of Moscow Virtuosi and Moscow Stars. As a chamber musician and soloist, he has played in international music festivals in Oregon, Colorado, France, Greece, Russia and Switzerland. Dr. Shakhman has participated in two critically acclaimed Broadway tours: the first national tour of Oklahoma! 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, his Master’s from the Moscow Conservatory and his Doctorate from the University of Colorado. He teaches at the University of Portland and is the Oregon state chair for the International Clarinet Association. In addition to being principal clarinet for the Vancouver Symphony, he’s also the orchestra’s Executive Director.

About the VSO Chamber Concert Series

Co-created by Dr. Michael C. Liu, the VSO pianist and board member, and Dr. Igor Shakhman, VSO Executive Director and Principal Clarinet, the VSO Chamber Concert 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 eighth season, the VSO Chamber Series continues to provide this matchless art form to the Vancouver community.

Prices are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Save money with one of the ticket packages!

ABOUT THE VENUE

Primarily known as a movie theater, the Kiggins Theatre was designed in the Art Deco style by architect Day Walter Hilborn and named for former Vancouver mayor and businessman John P. Kiggins. Opened in 1936, the theater was renovated and reopened in September 2011. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The theatre is owned and operated by Dan Wyatt.

Date

Sunday April 7, 2019 @ 3:00 pm