Professional orchestra to play on campus

The Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra (PCSO), in its sixth season of “Sundays at 3,” will perform “Beyond the Battlefield” at 3 p.m. Nov. 20 in the College Theater.

The orchestra will perform three pieces that were created in a time of war, said operations manager Shelly Williams.

The three pieces they will perform are: “Lament” for string orchestra composed by Frank Bridge; “Violin Concierto” by Samuel Barber, which will feature violinist Brandon Garbot who is a student at Cleveland Institute; and Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” by Beethoven.

The series “Sundays at 3” started in the fall of 2006, and it was to give an opportunity to people in the East Metro area to have access to a full symphony orchestra. They perform the same sets as the Friday nights show downtown.
PCSO started playing at a church in Gresham, but eventually wanted to perform in a theater. “The MHCC theater is a great location,” said Williams. “Our audience size is anywhere between 150 and 250.”

Two MHCC alumni perform in the orchestra: violinist Vicky Westerfield and trombonist Lars Campbell.

Campbell attended MHCC and studied jazz from 1995 to 1997. Westerfield attended during the same years and studied music.

The PCSO also performs “Holiday Gift of Music” every year in December. This show almost always sells out, said Williams. This is its third year, and it is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Tickets for “Beyond the Battlefield” are $5 for MHCC students, $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (60 and above), $10 for students 13 and over, and $5 for kids 12 and under.