September 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Cellist Tim Scott leads Fortissimo's first expanded Listening Group discussion of the 2002 season, in a partnership between the Multnomah County Central Library and the Oregon Symphony, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the U.S. Bank Room in the Central Branch at 801 SW 10th Ave. Fortissimo, the Oregon Symphony's young professional volunteer organization, presents the Listening Group with the Oregon Symphony's Education and Community Programs Department as a free monthly open forum for people with little or no formal music education to discuss works featured in upcoming Symphony performances. Fortissimo's Listening Group is co-sponsored by the Multnomah County Central Library.
Cellist Tim Scott, a 30-year member of the Symphony, will discuss the Baroque period in general, focusing on well-known works of Bach and Handel. He will concentrate on the works featured in the Oregon Symphony's upcoming Best of the Baroque concert conducted by Music Director Designate Carlos Kalmar on Nov. 30. To allow for further individual study, reference librarians in the Central Library's Music section will have scores, tapes and books about these works available for checkout after the discussion.
This year, the Symphony has extended its partnership with Multnomah County Library's Central Branch from occasional kids' instrument Petting Zoos to on-going events for both kids and adults and enhances the Listening Group series specifically in several ways. The spacious U.S. Bank Room, equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system, accommodates up to 100 people, which allows more people to participate in the discussions. The Library's downtown location allows for easy access via public transportation or by car, and the resources available in the Library will provide participants with a variety of supplementary materials that pertain to the discussion topic. "I am very pleased that the Multnomah County Central Library is a co-sponsor of the Fortissimo Listening Group," said Michael Kosmala, Director of Education and Community Programs. "The U.S. Bank Room is a fine space for this event and we look forward to collaborating with their reference librarians."
Fortissimo's Listening Group meets at the U.S. Bank Room every fourth Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The forum was designed for people to share thoughts on music and expose themselves to new perspectives in a friendly environment. For more information and a schedule of meetings, call 503-228-4294, e-mail fortissimo@orsymphony.org or visit the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org.