VSO Chamber Series Features Two Outstanding Orchestra Soloists

Details

Following a postponement from its original date in March of 2020, the VSO Chamber Orchestra will make its long-awaited return to the stage under the direction of Dr. Igor Shakhman on May 8 at 3 p.m. at VSAA’s Royal Durst Theater. The VSO Chamber Orchestra will perform celebrated masterworks by Mozart, Haydn, Puccini, Tchaikovsky and Foote. The concert will also highlight two VSO virtuosi, Rachel Rencher, Principal Flute and Dan Partridge, Principal Horn.

The performance commences with Mozart’s Divertimento for Strings K 138 a splendid and harmonically rich work written in the composer’s teenage years. Dan Partridge then performs Joseph Haydn’s elegant Horn Concerto No.2 in D major, followed by Puccini’s beautiful elegy Crisantemi. Later, Rachel Rencher showcases her talents in Foote’s 1918 romantic fantasy A Night Piece. The program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s rapturous Serenade for Strings which was inspired by the work of Mozart and based on the form of the classical sonatina.

About Rachel Rencher


Rachel Rencher is a freelance flutist in the Portland area. She is the principal flutist for the Vancouver (USA) Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Portland Opera and Portland Chamber Orchestra. She has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theater and several area summer music festivals, including the Astoria Festival of Music, Sunriver Music Festival and the McCall Summer Music Festival. She maintains two active flute studios in the Portland area. She also is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator.

About Dr. Dan Partridge

Daniel Partridge is the principal horn of both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Tacoma. An active performer and clinician, he is the horn instructor both at Portland State University and at Clark College and plays regularly with other regional groups, including the Big Horn Brass, Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Columbia Symphony, Newport Symphony, Sunriver Music Festival, and his chamber group, Chameleon Winds. He earned a PhD in music theory from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY) and master’s degree in music theory and French horn performance from the Mannes College of Music. In addition to his performing and educational pursuits, Daniel is frequently in demand as an arranger, works as the Manager of Music Editorial at Oregon Catholic Press (OCP), and is raising two daughters with his wife, Katie.

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 Music Series

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

About The VSO

The VSO, now in its 43rd 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 M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust / All Classical Portland / Oregon Public Broadcasting / The Community Foundation of Southwest Washington / The Columbian / Dick Hannah Dealerships / ENT.Office.org / IsaacDSmith.com / PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center / Propel Insurance / MedicareHelpNow / Opsahl Dawson CPAs / New Blueprint Partners / Realvest Corporation / Michelle’s Piano Co.