Salem Philharmonia Orchestra

10/30/2025

A familiar face to our SPO audience, Susan Friesen has long been a part of our orchestra, both as member and volunteer.

"I joined the orchestra in the fall of 2012, just several concerts into the orchestra's first year of existence and a year after I retired from my working life as an elementary school principal....I served on the Board of Directors, became the Board President, stepped into the Executive Director position, and retired from the that position a little over year ago. I'm still playing in the orchestra. I also help with ticket sales, coordinate our lobby volunteers, and organize the orchestra's information booth at the annual Salem Art Fair and Festival. Although it can get pretty hectic at the ticket sale table prior to concerts, I really enjoy getting familiar with our repeat audience members, some of whom have supported us with their ticket purchases since the earliest years. I also get to see musician friends I played with in ensembles years ago who enjoy coming to our concerts, people I've worked with in schools where I taught or served as the principal, and even parents of my former students who tell me how old their "children" are now ... which just does not seem possible! Where, oh where, did the years go?! I also really enjoy working in our information booth at the art fair. It's a prime opportunity to let people know about our orchestra. There are always people who haven't heard of us. I am on a mission to spread the word about Salem Phil as far and wide as possible!"

THANK YOU, Susan!

10/25/2025

These next few weeks we will be highlighting how thankful we are for our volunteers. Our audience may recognize Holly Brown. In her own words, here is why she gives her time:

"Music was a big part of my life growing up. I played trumpet, my mom and grandfather sang and played instruments. I let it go in college. Then, I met a member of (Salem) Phil, and he invited me to a concert. I knew right away I wanted to volunteer. It feels like home to be part of music again."

Thank you, Holly, for being a part of the Salem Phil family!

10/24/2025

MEET SPO's ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Israeli-born Amir Avsker is one of the most promising young artists of the Pacific Northwest. He currently studies piano with Prof. Brian Hsu at the University of Oregon with a full tuition scholarship. As a student, he has won numerous competitions in performance, including the 2023 Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition, the 2023 Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and the 2025 Oregon Sinfonietta competition.

Amir was named the 2023 Young Artist in Residence of Portland's All Classical Radio Station. Also a violinist, he has served as the concertmaster of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and the Pacific Rose Ensemble, the latter of which he founded and directed from 2023-2025. He has conducted the Metropolitan Youth Symphony on several occasions, including on tour in Spain and Portugal in 2024.

As a composer, his work has been showcased on All Classical Radio and performed by various orchestras. Amir also plays guitar, and in August 2025, in collaboration with the Neveh Shalom Congregation in Southwest Portland, he founded Songs from Home, an annual concert series bringing popular Hebrew songs to Portland audiences.

Purpose of the SPO Assistant Conductor:
The Assistant Conductor supports the artistic mission of the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra by working closely with our Artistic Director in rehearsals and performances. This internship-style role provides a valuable opportunity for an emerging conductor to gain hands-on experience, while also ensuring continuity of leadership and musical preparation. When needed, the Assistant Conductor may step in to conduct, helping sustain SPO’s commitment to fostering the next generation of musicians and leaders.

10/10/2025

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” (1804)

Bold, revolutionary, and deeply human, Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony changed the course of music history. Originally dedicated to Napoleon, the work instead became a triumph of the individual spirit—its heroic themes, powerful contrasts, and emotional depth embodying struggle and victory. From its thunderous opening chords to the triumphant finale, Eroica captures Beethoven’s vision of heroism not as glory alone, but perseverance through adversity. A symphony that forever redefined what orchestral music could express.

Concert weekend starts tomorrow! Join us for this monumental work and celebrate the opening of our season with Beethoven’s timeless masterpiece. Shows on Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm, with a pre-concert talk 45 minutes before each performance. Ticket info can be found on our website—hope to see you there! 🎶✨

10/09/2025

Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major, K.191 (1774)

Elegant, witty, and brimming with youthful charm, Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto highlights the expressive versatility of an instrument often heard but rarely spotlighted. Composed when Mozart was just 18, it was his first wind concerto—balancing lyrical warmth with playful virtuosity.

The opening movement sparkles with conversation between soloist and orchestra, while the slow movement sings with operatic tenderness—almost an aria without words. A lively rondo finale ties it all together in graceful humor and technical brilliance.

A delightful reminder that even in his teens, Mozart already knew how to make every voice—no matter how humble—shine. 🎶🎻🎵

10/08/2025

Dvorak's The Wild Dove (1896)
Inspired by a Czech folk tale, The Wild Dove tells a story of misplaced love, loss, and grief through music. The orchestra paints every emotion, from the gentle flutter of the dove’s wings to the dramatic moments of heartbreak and longing. Listen closely and follow the dove as it carries messages of grief, comfort, and a conscience too heavy to bear. A beloved orchestral piece that blends narrative and melody in a truly enchanting way!

Three days till concert weekend! Join us to hear this stirring tale brought to life by the orchestra. Shows on Saturday the 11th at 7pm and Sunday the 12th at 2pm, with pre-concert talks 45 minutes before each show. Ticket info on our website link in bio—see you there! 🎶🕊️

10/04/2025

https://youtu.be/KGFsyTU0qBE?si=fRkEt781eVGc12P_

Why does Beethoven matter? Why do we still listen to his famous "Da da da dumm" symphony which is played by orchestras all over the world, every year, maybe even every week, and probably will continue to be performed till the end of time? Jonathan & Saori answer that question in this episode of Jonacast!

The Salem Philharmonia Orchestra will be performing Beethoven's Eroica Symphony on October 11th @ 7:00pm and October 12th at 2:00pm at the East Salem Community Center.

East Salem Community Center (ESCC)
1850 45th Ave NE,
Salem, OR, 97305

Visit https://www.salemphil.org/ to buy tickets to the concert. Make sure to attend Jonathan's pre-concert talk an hour before the concert!
Why

Why does Beethoven matter? Why do we still listen to his famous "Da da da dumm" symphony which is played by orchestras all over the world, every year, maybe ...

10/03/2025

Welcome back to our series where we take a closer look at the parts of instruments that bring them to life! Today we're putting the magnifying glass on the bow- made of wood and horsehair, it’s what turns simple strings into soaring melodies🎻

The bow is the essential partner to the string family of the symphony. Strung with hundreds of horsehairs and treated with rosin, the bow grips the strings and sets them into motion, creating the rich sound we recognize from the orchestra.

If a stringed instrument is the canvas, the bow is the paintbrush. Each stroke — smooth, short, light, or heavy — creates colors and textures that give orchestral music its expressive power.🎶

09/22/2025

We are coming up on the two week mark to our first concert of the season, "Eroica", which will also feature Steve Vacchi as our guest soloist playing Mozart's Bassoon Concerto.

Steve holds degrees in performance from the Eastman School of Music (B.M., high distinction/Performer’s Certificate), The Hartt School (M.M.), and Louisiana State University (D.M.A.), where he held a Board of Regents Fellowship. He also studied at the Yale School of Music and has presented masterclasses throughout the United States, South Korea, Thailand, and China. He has served as a faculty sabbatical replacement at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

An international performer, Vacchi has played in 26 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. In the U.S., he has performed with The Florida Orchestra, Santa Fe ProMusica, the Rhode Island, Tulsa, Rochester, and Los Angeles Philharmonics; and the Saint Louis, New World, Baton Rouge, Colorado, Honolulu, Kansas City, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, New Haven, and Wichita Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared as a soloist in works from Haydn to contemporary composers and has performed over 500 contemporary works, including 170 premieres.

Vacchi’s recording credits include 32 releases of wide-ranging repertoire from J.S. Bach to the present. A member of the Eugene Symphony, OrchestraNext, and the Oregon Bach Festival, and a regular extra with the Oregon Symphony, he also performs on rare woodwinds including heckelphone, contrabass sarrusophone, basset horn, and contrabass clarinet. He has been Professor of Bassoon at the University of Oregon since 2000, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs.

For more information about us and concert/ticket info, check out the website link in our bio. Hope to see you all there!🎶