The Oakland East Bay Symphony (OEBS)
is a leading orchestra based in Oakland, California. The current music director and conductor is Michael Morgan, who has held the position since September, 1990. The Paramount Theatre has been the home of the Symphony since the 1995. Bryan Nies has been Assistant Conductor since 2002. The Symphony presents six programs of music during the season.
|
OAKLAND EAST BAY SYMPHONY TICKETS
|
Overview
Oakland East Bay Symphony (OEBS) was founded in July 1988, when musicians from the former Oakland Symphony and the Oakland Symphony League joined together to form a new orchestra. Under Maestro
Michael Morgan's direction, the Symphony has become a leader in music education for young people, bringing orchestral music into schools throughout
Oakland and the East Bay. More than 60,000 people attend the Symphony's performances at the
Paramount Theatre, at churches and senior centers, and at other community sites each year.
[1] The symphony presents both classic and innovative new works. The Symphony is an important positive force in bringing together the talents and resources of diverse arts groups from the community. Whenever possible, OEBS collaborates with local ballet, opera, choral and theatrical groups and performs at community events. In June 2001, OEBS presented a special concert entitled "A Tribute to
Gordon Parks" in collaboration with the Oakland Museum of California on the eve of the opening of a national touring exhibit of Mr. Parks' work. In July of 2002, the Symphony collaborated with Jack London Square for a free Fourth of July Pops Concert, performed with fireworks.
In 2007, The Symphony performed a musical tribute to
Martin Luther King, Jr. The symphony perform the West Coast premier of Petaluma-based composer Nolan Gasser's "Black Suit Blues". Based on a poem by Robert Trent Jones Jr. about the impact of King's life on the
United States, the production features the symphony, chorus as well as baritone singer
Robert Sims and saxophonist David Henderson. The program also included Franz Schubert's
Symphony No. 9.
In early December 2007
Let Us Break Bread Together: A Holiday Celebration
, Michael Morgan and the orchestra are joined by Oakland Symphony Chorus, Terrance Kelly & the
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Piedmont Choirs, Mt. Eden High School Concert Choir and
Klezmer ensemble Kugelplex
[2] for inspiring performances of spirituals, classical and sacred music, and other holiday favorites.
December 2007, the Oakland Ballet celebrated the 35th Anniversary of Ronn Guidi’s famous "
Nutcracker" at the
Paramount, with Maestro
Michael Morgan conducting the music of
Tchaikovsky.
American Masterworks Series
On
May 18,
2007, the Oakland East Bay Symphony launched "American Masterworks Series." With its
May 18,
2007, performance of
George Gershwin's "
Porgy and Bess" was sold out, with over 3000 patrons in attendance.
[3] [4] One outstanding feature of the production was the appearance by the 120-voice Oakland Symphony Chorus directed by Lynne Morrow. The Porgy’s signature tune were performed, "Summertime," "Oh, I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," and "It Ain't Necessarily So." Casting included bass (Porgy) James Monroe Iglehart, soprano (Bess) Dara Rahming, tenor Trente Morant, tenor Kalil Wilson, baritone Milton Williams, and baritone Joseph Wright.
The second offering of "American Masterworks Series" continues with another composer who blurs the line between high and popular art,
Stephen Sondheim.
Follies
(1971) will be performed in concert version in May 2008. The concert version will include all of the popular songs, including "Broadway Baby", "Losing My Mind" and "Could I Leave You?"
Awards and recognition
| Year
| Category
| Organization
| Result
| Notes
|
| 2006
| Adventurous Programming Awards [5]
| The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
| First Place
| Programming of Contemporary Music
|
| 2007
| Excellence in Community Engagement [6]
| American Symphony Orchestra League
| Winner
| outstanding work by orchestras that can serve as models for other orchestras
|
Selective discography
| Year
| Title
| Genre
| Conductor
|
| 2002
| Live at the Paramount Theatre!
New Works for a New Century
| Classical
| Michael Morgan
|
|
Footnotes
- Oakland East Bay Symphony History
- Kugelplex Band
- Oakland East Bay Symphony
- The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (2007)
- The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards
- American Symphony Orchestra League Awards