CMC in the 21st century, by Craig B. Leman, Sep. 2012
This is a 10-year follow-up to the 2003 history of CMC’s first 45 years in a rapidly growing, turbulent musical environment.
Radio, television, recordings, CDs, ease of travel and access to concerts in Eugene and Portland still provide stiff competition to our live concerts. The growth of Oregon State University’s Department of Music and the quality of its public performances in choral and instrumental music have been a marvel to behold. The Corvallis public school system, despite erosion of its financial base by draconian tax cuts which have reduced the number of our school district’s music teachers from 25 to 5, continues to provide musical education for our children. We have tried to find constructive ways to supplement their efforts.
From its beginning CMC has cultivated good relations with other music groups—collaboration and cooperation, rather than competition. The Corvallis-OSU Music Association was a community group founded just after World War II to present concerts by world famous musicians like Artur Rubinstein, Marian Anderson, the Philadelphia and New York Philharmonic Orchestras, operas, ballets, and other dance and musical ensembles. Our groups coexisted and even sponsored joint concerts. As OSU’s drama and music programs grew, the Music Association audience declined. When they closed down their historic series in 2004, they gave a generous donation to CMC. We honor their generosity and their contribution to Benton County’s musical history.
CMC gradually expanded our original mission to encompass more of the musical community than our concert audience. Our outreach program brings some of our concert groups and our own sponsored ensemble, the gifted Amici Quartet, into coaching and performance relationships with school students and their musical ensembles. We welcomed and helped support the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival which takes place every June when professional musicians who grew up here return to present a series of chamber music concerts. We are fortunate that the world-class Amelia Piano Trio now makes its home in Corvallis.
Once again, it is an impossible assignment to single out board members for their unique valuable contributions to CMC—Kate Mathews, John Hull, Carol Fischler, Marilyn Miller, David Fiske, Robert Verhoogen as Chairs; Greg Koerper and Chris Rochester as Program Directors. John Morris retired, leaving a legacy of innovations in our operation. John Hull, Phil Schary, Jeff Katz, Dave Fiske, Valerie Lau, and others took up the tasks of grant-writing and seeking support from the business community. Others created and expanded our Website. John Hull started Overtones--a web journal previewing each concert—and others have taken their turn to offer their takes. Lynette Gottlieb and Chris Rochester have contributed program notes of the highest quality.
High school and college students have served on our Board, putting to rest the canard that chamber music aficionados belong in mausoleums. Music teachers have also served on our Board, helping us connect their students to the joys of world-class music. Some of our board members work hard to create a friendly, welcoming environment for the musicians while they are in Corvallis.
We continue to run an all-volunteer operation (EXCEPT FOR THE MUSICIANS WHO ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD). The Board cares about our audience. We urge you to tell any of us how we can improve our operation.
Radio, television, recordings, CDs, ease of travel and access to concerts in Eugene and Portland still provide stiff competition to our live concerts. The growth of Oregon State University’s Department of Music and the quality of its public performances in choral and instrumental music have been a marvel to behold. The Corvallis public school system, despite erosion of its financial base by draconian tax cuts which have reduced the number of our school district’s music teachers from 25 to 5, continues to provide musical education for our children. We have tried to find constructive ways to supplement their efforts.
From its beginning CMC has cultivated good relations with other music groups—collaboration and cooperation, rather than competition. The Corvallis-OSU Music Association was a community group founded just after World War II to present concerts by world famous musicians like Artur Rubinstein, Marian Anderson, the Philadelphia and New York Philharmonic Orchestras, operas, ballets, and other dance and musical ensembles. Our groups coexisted and even sponsored joint concerts. As OSU’s drama and music programs grew, the Music Association audience declined. When they closed down their historic series in 2004, they gave a generous donation to CMC. We honor their generosity and their contribution to Benton County’s musical history.
CMC gradually expanded our original mission to encompass more of the musical community than our concert audience. Our outreach program brings some of our concert groups and our own sponsored ensemble, the gifted Amici Quartet, into coaching and performance relationships with school students and their musical ensembles. We welcomed and helped support the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival which takes place every June when professional musicians who grew up here return to present a series of chamber music concerts. We are fortunate that the world-class Amelia Piano Trio now makes its home in Corvallis.
Once again, it is an impossible assignment to single out board members for their unique valuable contributions to CMC—Kate Mathews, John Hull, Carol Fischler, Marilyn Miller, David Fiske, Robert Verhoogen as Chairs; Greg Koerper and Chris Rochester as Program Directors. John Morris retired, leaving a legacy of innovations in our operation. John Hull, Phil Schary, Jeff Katz, Dave Fiske, Valerie Lau, and others took up the tasks of grant-writing and seeking support from the business community. Others created and expanded our Website. John Hull started Overtones--a web journal previewing each concert—and others have taken their turn to offer their takes. Lynette Gottlieb and Chris Rochester have contributed program notes of the highest quality.
High school and college students have served on our Board, putting to rest the canard that chamber music aficionados belong in mausoleums. Music teachers have also served on our Board, helping us connect their students to the joys of world-class music. Some of our board members work hard to create a friendly, welcoming environment for the musicians while they are in Corvallis.
We continue to run an all-volunteer operation (EXCEPT FOR THE MUSICIANS WHO ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD). The Board cares about our audience. We urge you to tell any of us how we can improve our operation.