Dec. 14 concert will feature a piece inspired by ‘Twelfth Night’; Paddington’s will host a holiday mixer and fundraiser for the ensemble Dec. 2

By Jim Flint for Ashland.news

The Rogue Valley Symphonic Band will offer a fresh take on seasonal music this year with a concert built around the unlikely pairing of Shakespeare and holiday cheer.

The performance, titled “A Shakespearean Holiday,” will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 in Stedman Auditorium at Oakdale Middle School, 815 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Shakespeare meets the season

The center of the program is Alfred Reed’s “Twelfth Night.” The original composition for wind band was inspired by Shakespeare’s comedy of the same name. Artistic Director and conductor Alexander Gonzalez said the work strikes the right balance between tradition and originality.

“When people think of holiday concerts, there is a certain expectation to hear classic tunes that have found a home in the American canon of holiday songs,” Gonzalez said. “These works are important to our culture and will most definitely be sounded at our upcoming concert. That said, I find it important to program and perform original music for the ‘band medium.’ Alfred Reed’s ‘Twelfth Night’ perfectly marries these two concepts.”

Set during the Christmas season, Shakespeare’s play prompted Reed to compose music that sounds period-appropriate while echoing holiday warmth.

“Reed imagined what the Christmas music of Shakespeare’s time might have sounded like, and composed all new music that sounds very close to the holiday music we are used to hearing every December,” Gonzalez said. Each movement, he said, corresponds in some way to the play’s settings, emotions or characters.

Holiday traditions, familiar favorites

The piece carries particular resonance in the Rogue Valley, where ties to years of Oregon Shakespeare Festival productions run deep.

“Our audience has a greater understanding of Shakespeare’s works as compared to most other areas in the country,” Gonzalez said.

At the band’s first rehearsal, one musician noted that “Twelfth Night” was the first play ever performed by OSF in 1935.

“The music is sure to provide a fresh perspective on a classic that has been performed many times in the valley,” Gonzalez said.

The concert will also feature a collection of traditional holiday selections, including “An Irving Berlin Christmas” and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” with narration by Southern Oregon University music professor Jerron Jorgensen. Gonzalez said part of the fun of the program comes from collaborating with longstanding friends in the community.

“I like doing gigs with my friends,” he said. He’s formed a close friendship with Jorgensen and Jorgensen’s wife, voice professor Christi McLain, since moving to the Rogue Valley.

“When I think of the holidays, these are the types of relationships that come to mind and warm the soul,” he said. Jorgensen, he added, will bring “great artistry and nuance” to the narration.

Diverse program, personal resonance

The diversity of the program is intentional.

“The reason our audience attends one of the RVSB’s performances is to experience an array of emotions through live and communal art,” Gonzalez said. “With that in mind, I always attempt to program as diversely as possible — incorporating many different genres of music that are sure to resonate with our audience’s own musical tastes.”

“Eighth Candle,” a Hanukkah-themed number on the program, reflects Gonzalez’s own background.

“I’m Jewish,” he said. “This style of music embodies my relationship to the holiday season. In that vein, this was the first Hanukkah work I played as a student musician, and have been waiting to program it ever since.”

Gonzalez took over as artistic director just over a year ago. He said his relationship with the ensemble has evolved quickly and meaningfully.

‘This band is a family’

“One of the first things I was told when accepting this position was ‘This band is a family and now you are a part of it!’” he said. “What I believed to be a simple ‘welcome’ has quickly materialized into reality. In working alongside these musicians for just over a year now I have learned that the musicians of the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band are deep, artistic souls who also deeply care for one another.”

That sense of community, he believes, directly influences the quality of the performance.

“I honestly believe that our community strengthens our musical capabilities which, in turn, strengthens the community and so on,” he said. “It is a beautiful cycle.”

With numerous holiday events on the regional calendar, Gonzalez said he hopes audiences will choose this concert for its blend of music, spirit and accessibility.

“Those that attend this concert will be reminded of why we hold the holiday season so near to our hearts,” he said. “Our audience will hear great music played beautifully, of course. But it is in our community — smiling faces on stage who have volunteered their time for weeks — that our audience will experience real, honest to goodness passion and artistry.”

Holiday mixer supports the band

The band’s December activities also include a fundraiser earlier in the month. The Rogue Valley Symphonic Band Holiday Mixer will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Paddington Station, 125 E. Main St., Ashland. Tickets are $20 for adults and youths over age 10, $10 for ages 2 to 10. Younger children will be admitted for free.

The mixer features dinner, dessert, sparkling water and a 10% discount on store purchases during the event. Pre-registered guests receive a treat bag and a free raffle ticket for a $300 grand prize gift basket. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band.

The nonprofit ensemble presents public concerts of diverse wind band literature and offers educational opportunities for music students. The group also sponsors the James M. Collier Young Artist Competition each spring. The competition gives young musicians the chance to perform with a full symphonic band.

To purchase tickets to the mixer, to reserve free seats for the concert or to make a donation, visit roguevalleysymphonicband.org.

Freelance writer Jim Flint is a retired newspaper publisher and editor. Email him at [email protected].