Playing for Keeps Project

Playing for Keeps is a unique and comprehensive music education project, which was initiated in 2001 by the Oregon East Symphony Board of Directors.

The Goals of the project are:

· To help rural young people gain access to new cultural opportunities.

· To forge new alliances between the OES and local school districts.

· To give young people who cannot afford musical instruction and/or instruments a chance to participate in music lessons, rehearsal and performance.

· To develop a new awareness concerning the role of a community orchestra and chorus in the cultural health of Eastern Oregon.

Several programs make up the Playing for Keeps project:

A-Sharp Players This preparatory orchestra is open by audition to mid-level musicians of any age and gives them the opportunity to experience performing with a large ensemble. The program is directed by Bruce Walker, Assistant Conductor of the Oregon East Symphony.

Preludes The Preludes string orchestra is open to beginning to intermediate string musicians of any age who can read music. Bruce Walker also conducts this group.

Young Voices of Eastern Oregon This choral group gives young people 6-16 the opportunity to perform in a choir led by Shauna Altman.

Music Lesson and Instrument Scholarships Students are supported in the study of their chosen instrument through a fund that helps with the cost of music lessons and instrument rental or purchase. Young people, their parents, or their teachers who would like to apply for this kind of scholarship assistance should contact the Symphony office.

Instrument Loan Program High-quality donated instruments owned by the symphony are available for loan to students at no charge. Contact the office for availability of instruments.

Musician Scholarships Young people who perform with the Symphony or Chorale are provided with stipends and travel costs for each concert that they participate in. This allows them to pursue their musical studies instead of having to hold down part-time jobs.

Mentorship Program Highly qualified symphony musicians work individually with select student players and visit school music classes throughout the season.

Young Artist Competition A professional review panel conducts competitive auditions for young musicians in the region. Winners of this competition are invited to perform with the Symphony as a featured soloist. CLICK HERE for information on our 2010 Young Artist Competition.

Family and Young People’s Concerts This annual concert features the winners of the Symphony’s Young Artists Competition and offers a youth-oriented concert program. The concert is also performed again twice during a weekday for school groups from the area.

Tickets for Kids During each school year, the OES distributes free regular season concert tickets to area youth throughout the school system.

School Tours As a supplement to the public school arts curriculum, OES musicians, guest artists, and singers arrange visits to area classrooms during the school year in order to deliver master classes, instrument demonstrations, and ensemble performances.

Summer Music Camp Each summer, young musicians from all over the Pacific Northwest participate in the annual Summer Music Camp. The five-day camp features professional instruction and tutorials in a variety of musical disciplines and ends with a Finale Concert. Click HERE for details...

Please contact the OES office for more information about any of these programs.

The Mission of the Oregon East Symphony is to operate, support, and maintain a symphony orchestra in Eastern Oregon, and thereby to enhance the quality of life in the region by providing to the population of this rural area a dependable source of live orchestral and choral music, with special emphasis on youth educational opportunities.

The Oregon East Symphony is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 1986

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