The Old Church will kick off 2013 with a new coat of interior paint thanks to three generous grants - $20,000 from the Kinsman Foundation, $15,000 from the Collins Foundation and $3,000 from the Autzen Foundation – and contributions from friends and members of The Old Church Society. To celebrate the grand reopening of this Victorian jewel, The Old Church will offer a free concert to the community featuring Solid Brass, a 12 piece brass ensemble and Portland mainstay for 30 years. They will perform four centuries of music from Renaissance to Ragtime. Appetizers and cash bar with wine/bubbly/beer will be available. Reception begins at 7:00 PM and the concert at 8:00 PM.

 Solid Brass

Mary McMurray, owner of Art First Colors for Architecture, was hired to develop a comprehensive color plan for this historic treasure. Her experience includes over twenty-five years of success in interior design, lighting design, and all types of painting, both commercial and residential. Because of her extensive knowledge of art history and architectural styles, she helped the board to select the color palette for this project. She has also been a consultant for many historic rejuvenations including the 1957 Frank Lloyd Wright House in Silverton, OR,  The Hollywood Theatre in Southeast Portland, and The Manor House on the Lewis and Clark College campus. For more info: http://www.art-first.com/index.html

Joel Hamberg Painting was chosen to complete this project. His extensive training and knowledge has made him an innovator; he was one of the first contractors to “go green” and use environmentally friendly products. In addition to his business, Joel has been involved in many community service projects, including a donation of over $60,000 worth of services to  nonprofits, and has created his own re-use program, which donates over 1,000 cans of paint a year to homeowners in need. To learn more about Joel and his crew:  http://rttradespersonoftheyear.com/profile.php?id=158

Posted by :: Gina Piroli a/k/a The Old Church Lady :: Marketing and Events Coordinator

Santa and Tinka - December 2011

Fundraiser and Photo Opportunity with Mr. Paws, I mean Claus. 

Monday through Wednesday

December 17, 18 & 19

11am-3pm

Sliding Scale $9-$20

The Historic Old Church, Portland’s unique events venue, is once again offering a special photo opportunity. You, your children and/or your favorite pet can be photographed with an Authentic Victorian Santa. You will be given a “take home photo” on the spot, and emailed a digital one (that you can put on your Facebook page or email to friends). Proceeds to benefit the “Paint The Old Church New” interior painting campaign. Sliding scale $9-$20.

Hope to see you there!

By :: Gina Piroli :: Marketing & Promotions Coordinator

Stravinsky vs. The Minotaur and other works Modéré

Concert & Fundraiser

with Denise Dillenbeck, violin and Nikolas Caoile, piano.

Friday November 16th at The Old Church
Doors 6:30pm, Concert 7:30pm

Tickets $12 at the door or online at

 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/291331

Wine & Beer 21 +

The Historic Old Church continues its interior painting campaign with this 20^th Century themed concert and fundraiser. The program includes Suite Italienne by Igor Stravinsky, Theme and variations by Olivier Messiaen,  The Minotaur by Dick Hyman and Sonata for Violin and Piano by John Corigliano.  

Violinist, Denise Dillenbeck has toured Europe and America with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and has played with the Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Pennsylvania Ballet Theater, Philly Pops, and many other orchestras across the U.S. As a member of the Oregon Symphony, she was a featured soloist for several concerts and was associate concertmaster of the Tacoma Symphony. She has served as concertmaster for orchestras across the states and in England. As a member of the Third Angle New Music Ensemble, she gave world premiere performances of works by many of today’s leading composers. Ms. Dillenbeck is a new member of Central Washington University’s Kairos String Quartet, and also formed the Areté Trio with Oregon Symphony principal cellist Nancy Ives and pianist John Pickett.

Nikolas Caoile is a sought-after conductor, pianist and presenter and is concurrently serving as Director of Orchestras at Central Washington University, Music Director of the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of the Salem Chamber Orchestra. Caoile’s musical leadership reaches academic, community and professional arenas. Caoile has also guest conducted many other orchestras including: The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Rainier Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Gig Harbor Symphony, and the Olympia Symphony. Also an accomplished pianist, Caoile is a frequent collaborative recitalist performing throughout the Northwest. He has performed with Third Angle New Music Ensemble, the Yakima Seasons Festival, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Woods House Conservatory of Music, and is currently a faculty member of the Kairos Chamber Music Lyceum, Chamber Music Madness, and the Icicle Creek Summer Symphony.

The Program:

Suite Italienne by Igor Stravinsky

I Introduzione: Allegro moderato

II Serenata: Larghetto

III Tarantella: Vivace

IV Gavotta con due Variazioni

V Scherzino

VI Minuetto E Finale

Theme and variations by Olivier Messiaen

Thème—Modéré

Variation Number 1 - Modéré

Variation Number 2 - Un peu moins Modére

Variation Number 3 - Modéré, avec éclat

Variation Number 4 - Vif et passionné

Variation Number 5 - Tres modéré

Intermission

The Minotaur by Dick Hyman

Sonata for Violin and Piano by John Corigliano

I Allegro

II Andantino

III Lento

IV Allegro

Allow me to introduce you to some of the ladies who will be showcasing their works at The Historic Old Church’s First Thursday Art Show, November 1^st from 6:00 to 9:30pm. Free of charge!

Lost Dolls ~ Dawn Panttaja

After many years of reclusive creation, Dawn Panttaja finally has stepped down from her attic to show her creations of lovely ceramic dolls. Using her vintage sewing supplies and her love of the theatre, each doll is lovingly and dramatically dressed in lace, beads and other finery.  She has  made 13 new dolls specifically for this show and will also be bringing pieces from various stages in her work. To learn more visit her website: www.lostdolls.org.

Sonja Pernela

Sonja Pernela is a PSU Graduate, freelance costumer, puppet & doll maker, and has worked with the Portland State University Theater Department. She specializes in sculpture, printmaking, painting, and figure drawing. Through her work she celebrates the realistic & absurd and unifies the strange & the beautiful. In her new work she is heralding the Autumn Harvest in a playful exploration of its decadence and decay.

This Natural Thing ~ Ida Done That

Ida Done That describes her work is “an enigma surrounded by a question ground into sausage and then wrapped in a pancake.”  She was initially trained in advertising, so her work explores the relationship between the promise of consumerism and the reality of consumption. She turns discarded objects of our country’s halcyon days (or, if you prefer: fruit salad days) into something relevant to a new generation of consumer who is obliged to consider the product chain in its entirety instead of just a glossy image. To see more of her distorted and made modern art: http://idadonethat.com/about

P. Tracey Ludwin

P. Tracey Ludwin makes jewelry using vintage components.Some of her pieces can be found on etsy under PeteRacey.

Ms. Red Star

Alicia Justus AKA Ms. Red Star is a wonderful ephemera/paper artist. You can see more of her art on her Facebook page: Alicia Justus AKA Ms. Red Star.

Moglobes - Marty Federici

Marty Federici makes snow globes but with a charmingly, weird, strange, bent and she has created 7 new ones especially for this show. To learn more about her and her “moglobes” go to facebook.com/moglobes.

LIVE MUSIC!

Yes indeed, there will be live music. Michael Barnes will perform some creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky organ tunes and there will also be a special appearance of Fur Coats  http://www.facebook.com/fur.coats.18.

See you at the show!

Post by Gina Piroli ::  Marketing and Promotions Coordinator.

Thursday, October 18 at The Historic Old Church
8:00PM ~ Doors at 7:00PM ~ Wine and Beer 21+
Tickets $8 at the door or on-line: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/279073

The Satellite Ensemble, featuring composer Nick Jaina, vocalist Kaylee Cole, violist Amanda Lawrence, and violinist Anna Schott, is the musical arm of Satellite Collective - a new face in dance. Satellite Collective is a collaboration of emerging New York City choreographer Troy Schumacher and architect Kevin Draper, with composers from the American Northwest indie scene and artists working with experimental video and photography.

This performance, on Thursday, October 18 at The Historic Old Church, will present two original song cycles, Cosmonaut and The Thief and will feature the music ensemble only and original videos set to the music.

Cosmonaut is the true story of a truck driver from New Jersey who dreamed of being an astronaut and used his charm and determination to make it happen any way he could. It premiered at the Baryshnikov Center in Manhattan in October 2011.

The Thief is the story of a mysterious figure who collects discarded childhood objects and takes care of them in his secret room underneath the river. It is a companion piece to the original ballet Warehouse Under the Hudson, presented by Satellite Ballet and featuring dancers from the New York City Ballet.

The music to both song cycles is a gorgeous collection of piano and strings, composed in a mixture of pop balladry and modern classical by the Satellite Collective, led by musical director Nick Jaina. Nick is a writer and musician who has recorded several albums on Hush Records and toured the world with his band. Joining him in his ensemble are some of the finest string players in Portland. He has received support for his musical endeavors from the Regional Arts Council.

For more information about Satellite Collective http://satelliteballet.org/

For more information about Nick Jaina http://nickjaina.com

A longtime member of the Oregon Symphony’s viola section and recent addition to The Old Church Society board, Stephen Price likes to keep his chops sharp by playing recitals. This year he will team up with fellow OSO violist, Viorel Bejenaru, and pianist Janet Coleman to give his forty-first annual free concert. 

Although the concert is free of charge, Mr. Price has graciously agreed to pass the hat to help raise funds for the “Paint The Old Church New” interior painting campaign.

This year’s program:

Sicilienne ~ Swing & sway with Gabriel Faure

5 Old French Dances, by Marin Marais ~ These were originally for viola da gamba

Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 for two violas ~ JS Bach at his best!

Sonata for Viola and Piano ~ A short jazz piece by Terry Snowden, premiered at The Old Church in 1988.

Blahs Become the Blues, by Gordon Lee ~ Another world premiere written for us by Portland’s best jazz composer.

Admission is Free but donations are welcome. Doors at 7pm. Beer & Wine 21+

For more information: www.oldchurch.org

Several months ago, I received a phone call from one of the performers who was renting the Church for a concert that evening.  It was during the May heat wave this past spring, and temperatures were expected to soar to the high 80’s. This violinist was concerned, had the air conditioning system been installed yet? He had experienced several concerts, both as performer and spectator, and was not looking forward to sweating through yet another one.  My answer to him, which I expressed with great pride and joy, was an irrevocable YES!

In fact, the new system had been in place since April.  Imagine Energy, along with all the donors and contributors to the “Keep The Old Church Cool” fundraiser, made history by installing the first cooling system to this well used historic landmark. Along with the new cooling system, Imagine Energy removed the old antiquated and inefficient furnaces that consumed the entire boiler room and replaced them with new ones that take up only a quarter of the space.  From the beginning, Imagine Energy, helped choose which mechanical system would work best for our facility, held our hands through the installation process, and were promptly there when they said they would be, and finished right on schedule.  By all accounts, a smooth and painless process!

Now, instead of heating the entire building, each room has its own system with thermometers that regulate the temperature of the room, thus maintaining a consistent and comfortable interior.  Also, these thermometers are programmable, so if a concert is scheduled at 8:00 P.M., we can set what temperature we wish and it will heat and/or cool the room by the time the musicians and audience arrives.  Within the first month of the installation, our heating bills were reduced by 50%. The most exciting aspect for me is being able to program it from home via computer or by smart phone.  Being stuck in traffic is not a problem anymore!

What I find the most rewarding is the how the entire community, from our donors, neighbors, concerts goers and kind folks who just happened to be passing by the building, generously gave their time and contributions to help us raise the $105,000 needed to complete this project.  A  big heartfelt thanks to everyone who help make this project a reality, especially to the Kinsman Foundation and the Collins Foundation, who have supported The Historic Old Church throughout the years.

Posted by :: Gina Piroli :: Marketing and Promotions Coordinator

By:: Gina Piroli :: Marketing and Promotions Coordinator

Step One: Find a composer with a unique affinity to Oregon.

Photo from the Ernest Block Legacy

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was a Swiss-born American composer who, during his lifetime, was considered the fourth “B” after Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. After graduating from the Music Conservatory in Brussels, he traveled Europe to study composition in Frankfort (with Iwan Knorr), Paris, Munich and Geneva.  He arrived in the U.S. in 1920 and became the first Music Director at the newly established Cleveland Institute of Music.  In 1925, Maestro Bloch headed the San Francisco Conservatory of Music,  a post he held until 1930.

One summer, as he traveled the Oregon Coast on his way to visit his son in what is now called Lake Oswego, he discovered a property that over looked the Pacific Ocean in Agate Beach. He bought the house, the only one he would ever own, and it became his home until his death in 1959. The Ernest Bloch Foundation, of which his grandson Ernest Bloch II is president and the Ernest Bloch Legacy continue to promote his memory, both in Oregon and throughout the world.

Step Two: Find musicians who have the chops to play it.

Sergey Antonov

The Bloch sonata for cello and piano was written when the composer was seventeen years old.  It has never been published so cellist, Sergey Antonov and pianist, Cary Lewis will be playing this composition at the Paint The Old Church New Concerts at The Old Church on Thursday, June 14,  from a copy of the manuscript that is only found in the Library of Congress.  According to Dr. Lewis, who is the Chamber Music Director of the Astoria Music Festival, it is filled with, “… youthful passion and vitality” and “…is an interesting curiosity——a point in Bloch’s path to becoming a master composer.” One can expect to find no more artistic interpretation of this piece than that of the young Russian cellist Sergey Antonov, winner of the Tchaikowsky Competition, who is returning to Oregon for his fourth visit as guest artist for the Astoria Music Festival and pianist, Cary Lewis, who recently retired from the faculty of Georgia State University and appears in numerous festivals throughout the year.

Cary Lewis

Step Three: Find a music venue that is worthy of such a composer and composition.

The Historic Old Church, built in 1882, and is a wonderfully intimate space for chamber music. To celebrate our newly installed cooling system, to honor our donors and to launch our new interior painting campaign, we will present:  Paint The Old Church New – Concert and Fundraiser with two nights of spectacular music. 

The June 14 - Astoria Music Festival Portland Preview Concert  will feature the unpublished Bloch sonata, as well as a trio by Bedrich Smetana, which he wrote as a response to the death of his young daughter, and two more sonatas, one by Poulenc  and another by Ravel which features violin and cello. Joining Sergey and Cary will be Martin Chalifour, current concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and past Tchaikowsky Competition winner.

The June 15 – Bainbridge Quartet Concert  will showcase Timothy Schwarz and Denise Dillenbeck, violin, Charles Noble, viola, and Heather Blackburn, cello. They will be performing  selections from Dvořák  Cypresses B. 152 for string quartet, Beethoven Quartet in E flat major, Op. 127, and Shostakovich Quintet  in G minor for piano and strings, with special guest and The Historic Old Church Board Member, Susan DeWitt Smith, piano.

Both concerts begin at 8:00pm, 7:00pm doors. Tickets $40 for both nights or $25 per concert and available through The Old Church office:  (503) 222-2031 or Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246217

Last month, I visited the Oregon Historical Society’s “Treasures of the Vault”, an exhibit that showcases items chosen from the 85,000 artifacts stored in their warehouse. The exhibit includes items of historical significance and also of mundane, day to day life. As I walked past the pinball machine, the Meier and Frank Santa Land Train and a console from the Trojan Nuclear Plant, two items caught my eye.

1880’s Wedding Dress - OHS Museum 6867

The first was a wedding dress worn by Nanny Moale Smith on her marriage to Col. Charles Erskine Scott Wood. Although Col. and Mrs. Wood were not married at The Old Church, (they were married November 26, 1878) it struck me that there were probably many brides who wore similar garments that did. Let us hope that these brides had a more auspicious marital life. After raising 5 children, Col. Wood ran off with a younger woman (a poet and suffragette) in 1910, scandalizing Portland Society.

Panorama of Portland circa 1904 - Accession 27050, OHS Research Library

The second item was a panorama of the Portland skyline which was photographed to bring tourist, businessman and more residents to the city for the Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1905. At that time, Portland was still growing and 150,000 people called it home. On the right side, I thought I saw a familiar looking bell tower and on closer inspection, I was correct. If this photo were taken today, The Old Church would have been obscured by the Rose Schnitzer Tower.

Closer view of the Panorama and The Old Church.

If you want to see the Treasures of the Vault at the Oregon Historical Society Museum, be sure to visit soon. The exhibit closes on April 1, 2012.

Posted by:: Gina Piroli, Marketing and Promotions Coordinator

On Saturday, February 25 at 7:30pm - Keep The Old Church Cool Concert and Fundraiser with Michael Allen Harrison will be raffling six incredible items to help us reach the $25,000 goal to upgrade our heating and cooling system. Thanks to all our friends who donated these wonderful items.

Crowley Geherts Vineyard -2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ~ Crowley Wines: www.crowleywines.com

$75 Gift Certificate ~ Higgins Restaurant & Bar: www.higginsportland.com

Two Tickets to a Concert ~ Oregon Symphony: www.OrsSmphony.org

Angel Vine The Morgster - 2009 Pinot Noir ~ Oregon Wines on Broadway: www.oregonwinesonbroadway.com

Four Admission Passes ~ Pittock Mansion: www.pittockmansion.org

Two Tickets to Any Show ~ Portland Center Stage: www.pcs.org

Two Private Yoga Sessions ~ Yoga with Fawn: www.yogawithfawn.com

Tickets are still available: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/219980