Artistic Staff
Artistic Staff
Embedded Files
Beau Benson - Conductor / Artistic Director
Beau Benson - Conductor / Artistic Director
Beau Benson currently serves as Music Director and Conductor for the Oregon East Symphony and Chorale, Artistic Director for the Temple Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Conductor/Director of Instrumental Music at Pepperdine University.
Prior to his time at Pepperdine, Dr. Benson served thirteen years as Music Director for the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and fifteen as Director of Orchestras for the Midway Independent School District. Additional posts he has held include: Principal Conductor for the Metroplex Opera in Dallas, Texas; Music Director/Conductor of the Mason Orchestral Society in Mason, Michigan; Music Director for the Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra; Assistant Conductor for the Flower Mound Symphony; Associate Conductor for the Flower Mound Community Orchestras; Assistant Conductor for the Frisco Symphony; Assistant Conductor for The Living Opera in Richardson, Texas; and Resident Conductor for the University of Houston’s annual guitar festival.
His recent guest conducting includes engagements with the Fort Worth Symphony, All Cape Festival Orchestra (Cape Cod, MA), Texas Ballet Frontier, Williamson County Symphony, Avant Chamber Ballet, Pendleton Ballet Theatre, the Central Texas Choral Society, and the Region 18 All-region Symphony.
Beau Benson received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at Michigan State University. He received his Masters degree in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Methodist University, where he also earned Bachelors degrees in classical guitar performance and music education. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife Amy and their children Loïe, Charles, and Henry.
Việt Block - Acting Concertmaster
Việt Block - Acting Concertmaster
Violinist Việt Block is honored to serve as Acting Concertmaster for the Oregon East Symphony’s 2025-26 season and as Assistant Concertmaster since 2016. She also supports the Walla Walla Symphony as Assistant Concertmaster and is an occasional Guest Concertmaster for the Mid-Columbia Symphony. Block often appears as a substitute musician with the Boise Philharmonic and Yakima Symphony Orchestra.
Beyond the standard repertoire, Việt enjoys the latest music in the concert hall and studio. She has taken part in the premiere performances of Pulitzer Prize winner Raven Chacon’s Horse Notations and Ryan Carter’s Concerto Molto Grosso (for audience and orchestra). Block can be heard on numerous recordings, such as Jacob Miller’s (NBC’s “The Voice” 2020) singles “Cut My Teeth” & “St. Mary’s Gospel Choir”, Stelth Ulvang’s (The Lumineers) solo album And as Always; The Infinite Cosmos, Ural Thomas and The Pain’s album The Right Time, and Cody ChesnuTT’s live session of “Chips Down (In No Landfill)” for opbmusic.
Recent highlights include top prize in the Grande Ronde Symphony Association’s 2024 Concerto-Aria Competition and 2022 admission to Brevard Music Center’s Concertmaster Studio. Việt has performed with renowned artists like Smokey Robinson, Anne Akiko Myers, Joshua Bell, and others. She has played for The 8-Bit Big Band, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (USA), Newport Symphony Orchestra, McCall SummerFest Orchestra, Astoria Festival Orchestra, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Portland Choir and Orchestra, Portland Civic Orchestra, Stumptown Stages production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical, and Boise Baroque Orchestra.
Block is delighted to engage with the next generation of musicians through her private studio in Seattle and online. Her own musical journey began at the age of six, as a pupil of Ruth Petrasso. Other commendable teachers include Carol Sindell, protégé to the great violinists of the 20th century (Jascha Heifetz, Josef Gingold, Ivan Galamian); Dr. Tomás Cotik, acclaimed soloist and Naxos recording artist; and chamber coach Hamilton Cheifetz. Block earned a master's degree in performance from Portland State University’s School of Music in 2018, as a recipient of the David E. Wedge Music Scholarship. Việt continues to refine her craft under the tutelage of Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Cornelius Chiu.
Carly Elder - Assistant Choral Conductor
Carly Elder - Assistant Choral Conductor
Carly Elder has taken on the role of Assistant Chorale Conductor after longtime Chorale Conductor Steve Muller retired in the spring of 2024. A past OES Chorale singer and rehearsal accompanist, Carly serves as Choir and Band Director for Sunridge Middle School in Pendleton and as the organist for Pendleton First Presbyterian Church. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Oregon where she was named the Outstanding Scholar in Music Theory and performed with the Early Music Collegium and Oregon Bach Festival. Also a seasoned thespian, Carly has participated in multiple theatrical productions for the Elgin Opera House and Community College Theatre.
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