A CONCERT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: PORTLAND YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE, LED BY OREGON SYMPHONY VIOLINIST INÉS VOGLAR BELGIQUE, PRESENTS THE 2023 CUSHION CONCERT!
Posted on April 21, 2023
With the first stage performance of Skye Neal’s Following the Stream
PORTLAND, OR – Portland Youth String Ensemble (PYSE), the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s youngest ensemble, will perform their annual Cushion Concert at Rise Church on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 3:00 PM PT. Conducted by Oregon Symphony violinist Inés Voglar Belgique, this group of young string musicians present a 45-minute program for families with children 2-8 years old! This event’s generous media sponsor is the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN Radio).
“The musicians and I are feeling ready for the concert and looking forward to performing this program at Rise Church,” said Belgique. “What a special opportunity for families this is, and the bonus is that we have the wonderful Instrument Petting Zoo, hosted by Kennedy Violins, ahead of the main program. The families will get to enjoy the concert in a relaxed way, will hear some familiar and some new music, with the chance to participate in the performance and ask questions to our musicians. Kids in the audience will also have the opportunity to participate in a raffle to conduct one of the pieces on stage; I hope the audience will leave the concert energized, and full of joy and hope!”
Bring your little ones early to enjoy the aforementioned Instrument Petting Zoo from 2:00 – 3:00 PM PT. This has been a fun addition to this event for several years, that has helped to curate a love and appreciation for the instruments of the string family in young audience members.
The musicians of PYSE are particularly excited to bring Skye Neal’s work Following the Stream to the stage, as this will be the first time the work is performed in front of a live audience.
“I’m so honored that PYSE will be performing Following the Stream,” exclaimed Neal. “In 2021, they did an amazing job putting it together virtually. I was so impressed how everyone’s individual parts came together to bring this piece to life. At the Cushion Concert [on May 6] I’m especially excited to experience that extra dimension that can only come from a live performance. There’s a connection the musicians share that really weaves each part together in a beautiful way.”
In an effort to depict a visual scene through music, Neal’s work flawlessly captures the feeling of a stream as it makes its way through many different terrains.
“In the first movement, you experience the tinkling of the water over the rocks as it flows by,” Neal commented. “Later, you pass by a big lake, where you notice the ripples flurrying across the surface. The second movement, which is my favorite, is where you get to watch the midnight dances of the fairies that live in the woods. You can hear them dancing and singing as they waltz around. The third and final movement is about the grandeur of the trees and the happy forest animals chittering away. I hope you enjoy watching this journey take place.”
Tickets $7 for students, $12 for seniors, and $15 for adults. To learn more about the program, ensemble, composers, and to purchase tickets, visit portlandyouthphil.org/concerts; tickets may also be purchased at the venue door.