The Oregon East Symphony is pleased to announce that Dr. Anthony Spain, of Seattle, WA, will become its new Music Director and Conductor.  The symphony has been engaged in a two year search to fill the position vacated by Kenneth Woods in 2009. Seven final candidates from a pool of 135 applicants, were invited as guest conductors to perform OES concerts during the past 18 months, each spending up to two weeks in Pendleton. Dr. Spain conducted the final symphonic concert of the 2010-11, 25^th Anniversary season on April 3, with guest soloist Audrey Marier.

 “We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had such a talented group of conductors to audition.  Dr. Spain has both the orchestral and choral talents to bring OES to new heights and the charm to win over new audience members and supporters.  I am excited to see his programming ideas for next season and look forward to working together to promote OES in the community”, said Lisa-Marie Patterson, OES Executive Director.

 Anthony Spain has been Music Director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra (NWSO) in Seattle, Washington since 1987 and will work with OES in addition to his role with the Northwest Orchestra.  His work with the NWSO has met with national acclaim, having been featured several times on National Public Radio. Spain and the NWSO have recorded three CD’s which have been highly praised by sources including the American Record Guide. Dr. Spain’s innovative programming of northwest American composers first came to national attention in 1996 with a mention in a front page Wall Street Journal article regarding up and coming arts groups.  He and the NWSO have received seven national ASCAP awards for “Programming of Contemporary Music.”  Anthony Spain and the NWSO are the recipients of several National Endowment for the Arts grants, along with grants from the Washington State Arts Commission, 4 Culture, City of Seattle, and several private foundations. 

 Dr. Spain has guest conducted orchestras and choirs throughout America and in Europe.  He has conducted the Orfeo International Orchestra with the choir of L’UNESCO (the cultural branch of the United Nations) in Paris, France as well as the Bath Philharmonic in Bath, England.   He has been a guest conductor with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and a cover conductor with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.   He is also a regular guest conductor every summer at the Masterworks Festival south of Chicago, which includes some of the most gifted students from around the country, along with musicians from major orchestras including the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and Saint Louis Symphony.

 A noted conductor of choral/orchestra works, Spain has conducted several choirs in Seattle including Cascadian Chorale, Choral Sounds Northwest, Northwest Boys choir, Northwest Girls choir, Northwest Chorale, Seattle Girls choir, Total Experience Gospel Choir and Bainbridge and Vashon Chorales.  During a 2004 sabbatical in London and Paris, he assisted John Nelson at the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris along with several choirs.  Dr. Spain has received numerous awards and honors including a Grammy nomination in vocal jazz performance. Dedicated to education, he works regularly with students throughout the Seattle area, as part of the NWSO’s “Symphony for Students” program.  He is an active adjudicator and clinician and has been a guest speaker at conferences including the American Symphony Orchestra League’s National Convention and the Conductor’s Guild National Conference.

 Dr. Spain’s first duty with OES will be to develop the 2011-12 concert season in May.  He will also spend a week in Pendleton getting to know the community and teaching the Advance Orchestra and Music Theory classes at the Oregon East Symphony Summer Music Camp, June 27-July 1.  Bruce Walker, OES Assistant Conductor and Director of the OES A Sharp and Preludes Orchestra’s, will continue in his current role, leading weekly rehearsals for community musicians throughout the concert season.

 To learn more about our final candidates please click on the names below for our candidates' profiles:

• Bruce Walker - OES Assistant Conductor and Conductor of the A Sharp Players and Preludes Youth Orchestras