Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra Review
By Laura Frazier
On Nov. 18, people filled downtown Portland's First United Methodist Church to hear the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra perform.
I was so happy to be among them. The Symphony Orchestra played pieces that reflected trial in the aftermath of war, like Beethoven's Eroica Symphony from 1803 and Frank Bridge's 1915 Lament for Strings.
It was refreshing to hear classical music, and I was especially appreciative of the grace with which each song was performed. The concert had a great variety of pieces, and I was enthused with the energy of the rapid movements and then lulled by the peaceful moments as well.
The concert featured Brandon Garbot, an 18-year-old wiz kid from Cleveland's Institute of Music. Naturally, his talent was ridiculously impressive. But beyond the soloist, I was in awe of how each individual musician was playing with their heart and soul.
At first I was surprised at the small size of the Orchestra. But by the end I was far from disappointed, as each of the musicians had played so passionately. I appreciated how as a member of the audience I could see the joy they had in performing. But also, the acoustics of the church were absolutely beautiful. It was a lovely change to sitting in a concert hall.
I left the concert feeling content after taking in a night of classy and grown-up music. Each college student should take any chance they can to enjoy the music that makes you truly want to listen.
