About us

Mission History What is a Chamber Orchestra? Officers
Board Members Executive Staff Conductors Musicians
Artistic Staff Administrative Staff Volunteers Venues

Mission statement

The Salem Chamber Orchestra is a partnership between the Salem-Keizer community and Willamette University that enriches the mid-Willamette Valley area by promoting the appreciation of classical music through performances and education and by providing performance opportunities for local classical musicians and Willamette University students.

History

The Salem Chamber Orchestra (SCO) was originally founded in 1984 by Willamette University Professor Bruce McIntosh, as the Willamette Community Orchestra. The demise of the Salem Symphony in 1982 caused a void for area music lovers and classically trained musicians. There was no locally accessible organization that provided both a venue for music lovers to follow their passion and an opportunity for quality musicians to perform professionally.

The SCO remains the only local orchestra that provides regular employment to local classical musicians, and high-quality performances of the musical repertoire of the last 300 years to area residents. The SCO is also the official orchestra for Willamette University.

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What is a Chamber Orchestra?

“Chamber Orchestra” is modern term for a musical ensemble reflecting the origins and development of the first orchestras during the Baroque (ca. 1600-1750) and Classical (ca. 1730-1810) eras. During these time periods, Western Art Music was typically supported by one of three institutions: the Church, the Court, and the Opera House. The word “Chamber” signifies that the “Orchestra” could be accommodated in a palace chamber at one of the great European Courts.

Chamber Orchestras can range in size from 10-45 musicians, offering audiences and artists the opportunity to experience and perform orchestral music in an intimate setting. This is in contrast to an 80+ piece “Symphony” Orchestra, which was developed during the Romantic Era (ca. 1800-1950) and found its home in the newly-established public concert halls of the nineteenth century. A Chamber Orchestra performs a wealth of repertoire from the Baroque era to the present day that was written specifically for this esteemed ensemble.

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Officers

Howard Baumann, President
David Holton, Vice President
Nadine Heusser, Treasurer
Jeanne Collins, Secretary

Board Members

Patricia Alley
Chad Campbell
Carolyn Devine
Christi Finholt
Cathy Heithaus, Orchestra Representative
Michael Nord, Willamette University Music Department
Mark Perlman
Keith Putman
Daniel Rouslin, Orchestra Representative
Karen Vincent, Orchestra Representative
W. Slate Wilson
Rosemary Wood

Executive Staff

James Boyd, Executive Director
Noreen Murdock, General Manager

Conductors

Hekun Wu, Music Director
Bruce McIntosh, Founder & Music Director Laureate

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Musicians

Violin
Daniel Rouslin, concertmaster
Cathy Heithaus, principal
Cathy Heithaus,§ Principal Second
Diane Cline, Associate Principal
Lucia Conrad, Associate Principal
Mark Babson
Julie Bates
Barbara Burton§
Brandon Correa
Melba Henderson
Anita Hughes
Alina Kovalev
Hannah Leland*
Julie Rundquist
Bekka Scott *

Viola
Karen Vincent, Principal
Danny Seidenberg,‡ Associate Principal
Jeanne Collins
Diane McLin§
Sean Williams‡

Cello
Georgienne Young,§ Principal
Katherine Schultz,‡ Assistant Principal
Noah Seitz,‡ Assistant Principal
Jenny Gleason
Rhonda Johnson§
Bruce McIntosh§

Bass
Tyler Abbott, Principal
Kevin Deitz, Assistant Principal
Mark Perlman

Harp
Jeffrey Parsons, Principal

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Flute
Molly Barth, Principal
Sarah Tiedemann,‡ Assistant Principal
Valentina Pontiggia*

Piccolo
Alexandra Fine*

Oboe
Mitch Iimori, Principal
Barrat Miller*

Clarinet
Cindi Bartels, Principal
Nicoleen Willson, Assistant Principal
Daniel Cathcart*

Bassoon
Helena Kopchick, Principal
Stephen Funk§

Contra Bassoon
Don Hibbard, Principal

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Horn
Mike Hettwer, Principal
Peter Moore,‡ Assistant Principal
MaryRuth Helppie
Penny Bidwell
David Crane§

Trumpet
Jay Chen, Principal
Brett Randolph,‡ Assistant Principal
Richard Curry *
Scott Gerweck *

Trombone
Stan Bock, Principal
Shobi Dahl ‡

Bass Trombone
Matthew Groves‡

Timpani
Warren Murray, Principal
Kirsten Swanson,‡ Assistant Principal

Percussion
Rebecca Trautman*

ORGAN
RDeborah Huddleston,‡ Principal

* Willamette Student
‡ Acting
§ Founding Member

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Artistic Staff

Robin Wright, Librarian
Mike Bergh, Stage Manager
Stage Crew: Aron Patton and Robin Wright

Administrative Staff

Carol Ann Munson - CA Graphics, Graphic Design
Kurt-Alexander Zeller, Program Notes

Volunteers

Ron Peters, House Manager
Margaret Dionesotes, Program Editor
Julie Amen
Jean Baumann
Marge Colton
Roger Heusser
Janet MacDonald
Sally Miller
Jon and Ginni Oshel
Susan Sears
Arlene Smith
Elfie Stevenin
Sara Tarr
Helen Wright

Venues

Jerry E. Hudson Concert Hall – Willamette University Dedicated in March of 1999, the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center is now a focal point on the Willamette University campus. The building features classrooms, rehearsal spaces and the state-of-the-art, 441-seat, Jerry E. Hudson Concert Hall. (See map).).

Historic Elsinore Theatre Built in 1926 and restored in 2004, the Historic Elsinore Theatre is truly a place of Grandeur and is the last remaining example of a Tudor Gothic atmospheric theatre in North America. With its 30 foot high Gothic lobby, exquisite stained glass windows, 24 foot tall murals of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth’s Witches along with the 1,300 seat auditorium it is truly a Theatre to experience.

Rice Auditorium – Western Oregon University

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