Blogging about the String Orchestra Portland Trip

Hi all,

What fun we had up in Portland yesterday, Dec. 9, for the String Orchestra Portland and Lancaster Mall performance trip!

After finding out that we were to be 2 students down (one down with a fever, ugh!) we dutifully left at 8am all dressed in black, riding in a luxurious Coachways bus up to Portland. We got to the Children's Museum in Portland right on time. The "Play It Again Theatre" is adorable - a lovely little theatre with colorful lights and a tiered amphitheater-like seating arrangement. There was a live action camera projecting the performance on screens throughout the Museum... so we could watch ourselves. We donned our holiday gear (elf hats and scarves) and welcomed a ton of little people with their parents and grandparents - there had to have been 50 people, young and old, in the auditorium. We played Carol of the Bells, Up on the Housetop, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Deck the Halls, and the ever popular Jingle Bells and then invited the little ones to come up to see the instruments. It was a huge success (and, might I say, String Orchestra sounded better than ever!)

Then we changed clothes, hopped on the bus and our next stop was the beautiful Hatfield Performing Theatre in Portland. There we met our tour guide Sharon who showed us this beautiful theatre in the round lobby, a wild piece of artwork on the wall (ask anyone in String Orchestra - that painting was neat!), and then walked over to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This hall was built during the depression in a very gaudy, elaborate style. We got a full tour of the lobbies and inside the hall. We even got to see the Choir loft and the pit (both not usually visible when you go see the OR symphony there) as they were preparing for "Gospel Christmas". After checking out the amazing faux marble on the walls in the lobby, we hopped back on the bus for the Lloyd Center.

We ate lunch at the mall and then headed down to the ice rink - everyone of us put on our skates and hit the ice. Amazing! You should have seen Devin, Shantel, Chelsea, Shannon, Paige, Miranda, Crystal, Ashley G.(and her mom Angela who'd also never skated before!!!) and everyone else giving the ice their best shot. Some only got around a few times, some were begging for more by the time we had to leave at 1:30. It was neat to see this group happily attempting something different... great experience!

A quick bus ride down to Salem and then it was time for the Lancaster Mall. We played for 30 minutes across from Starbucks on the Burlington Coat Factory side of the Mall. We had anywhere from 30 - 40 people sitting or standing to listen to us. Standing on risers, we were able to play as a big group (we had thought we might have needed to pare down to smaller groups, but we managed to figure out how to play on risers like a choir) and made it through all our holiday music (all the songs listed above and more holiday carols). Then our fun day was over.

The only tragedy was that the big bass got a big crack in it - it apparently didn't like the combination of the cold air, soft case, and being put on a bus. But, we'll get that fixed up - and, considering we had great performances, a neat tour of a Portland musical landmard, and got to ice skate together (without any accidents!!) I'd say the day was a grand success!

Huge thanks for Angela for being our chaperone and to boosters for helping support this trip. I think this tradition of taking String Orchestra up and out for performing during the holidays overs great breadth to our orchestra program - and a nice opportunity for annual success!