Have orchestra, will travel

Randy Morgan of Enterprise is the associate director the all-volunteer Wallowa Valley Orchestra. Randy is also the music teacher at Enterprise School District. Photo/Ron Osterloh

Both concerts are free, but donations are welcome.

The Wallowa Valley Orchestra is part of the Inland Northwest Musicians.

The other ensembles are the Inland Northwest Orchestra, the Inland Northwest Chorale (the two most experienced groups), the Willow Creek Symphony and the Willow Creek Singers.

The Inland Northwest Musicians was founded in 1999 by its conductor, R. Lee Friese of Athena.

Friese is the conductor of all five groups. He is assisted by Randy Morgan, the Enterprise schools music teacher who alternates with Friese leading the Wallowa Valley Orchestra.

Irrigon schools music teacher Jeff Searles alternates with Friese leading the Willow Creek Symphony and Willow Creek Singers.

The Wallowa Valley Orchestra was formed after Michael Maslach and Roxy Chestnut of Joseph and Jane Bane of Enterprise shared a strong interest in forming a local symphony, Friese said.

They held a meeting with Friese. About 25 people attended, he said.

The INWM board approved and the Wallowa Valley Orchestra was formed. About 30 people from Wallowa and Enterprise attended the first rehearsal, he said.

Now the group boasts more than 40 members, Friese said. Some come from Imnaha, Elgin and Imbler, all at their own expense.

“There’s no other program in the country like this that I’m aware of,” Friese said. “It’s free, the musicians are all volunteers and they travel at their own expense. Some travel as much as 150 miles one way.”

“The orchestra goes to the communities rather than people of the communities having to travel to concerts,” said Don Swart, charter board member. “I can recall that when outside orchestras came to town 50 to 60 people attended. Now it is 200 to 300.

“The Inland Northwest Musicians is entirely accessible to students. That made a big difference. Now kids are interested.”

“Moving Music” is the program’s slogan.

The motto has a double meaning. The goal of the program is to move people with music.

“Our mission is to grab the people by the ears and shake them, without physically touching them,” Friese said.

The program provides a sense of orchestral music for the community that otherwise wouldn’t exist.

“A distinction between live performances and recorded music is that the live performance provides a level of excitement. It can be quite exciting. The excitement of the musician is conveyed in the music,” Jane Bane of Enterprise said.

The other part of “moving” is traveling around the region, bringing music to people, often in isolated rural areas where people ordinarily do not have such opportunities.

Over the past decade concerts have been performed in more than 40 communities in seven counties in Northeast Oregon and two counties in Southeast Washington. “It’s a huge geographical area,” Friese said.

He added that some members have indicated that they saw beautiful places that they would not otherwise have seen.

One is Nancy Lincoln of Enterprise.

“We get to see small towns that I would never thought I’d see,” she said. “It’s fun. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s something that not one person can do. It takes everybody together to produce the sound.

“Randy (Morgan) is great. He’s so enthusiastic. We really do have fun.

“At children’s concerts at the elementary level there are students who’ve seen bands, but have not been exposed to violins or cellos, much less a whole orchestra together.”

Some are so inspired that they want to play, she said.

And the orchestra is made up of a variety of ages from high school to retirees, she said.

Lincoln said that she hadn’t played her violin since the sixth grade.

“I didn’t even know how to read music,” she said.

The same goes for 16-year-old Hannah Zwanziger.

“Two years ago I could barely read music,” she said. “It has really strengthened my sight reading, and it’s really helped me become a better musician. I’ve had nothing but amazing experiences.

“We can always use musicians of any age.”

R.J. Bessonette of Enterprise said, “There’s no excuse for not dusting off that instrument and having a little fun. I laid out for 45 years.’’

Bill Williams of Joseph said he really enjoys being part of the program.

“I always wanted to get back into playing,” Williams said. “I look forward to it every year.

“I enjoy being with the people in the orchestra. I enjoy playing with the chorale. I like everything about it.

“It’s neat traveling. Last year we went to Monument and Athena. That’s part of the purpose, to bring music to rural areas.”

Morgan, of Enterprise, said “it’s truly a public orchestra. We take anybody who walks through the door. We’d love to have more come out and play.

“We’re pretty lucky to have as many stringed instruments as we have. I didn’t realize until I stood up before the orchestra how many good string players we have in Wallowa County We have some outstanding musicians. That usually makes others better in a hurry, just like in sports,” Morgan said.

“I don’t care how stressed I’ve been that day, it’s (rehearsal and playing) like a medicinal remedy. I come away feeling a lot better,” Morgan said.

Friese said that participating in the orchestra is good for the people who take part.

“People need balance in their lives, and music can offset the intensity and pressure of work. Also music is something in which you can participate virtually all of your life. It’s important to the quality of life,” Friese said.

“There’s no one way to do a piece of music. It’s a living entity. It will move you, change your temperature, your heart rate and your blood pressure.

“When someone says after a concert that they’ve been moved and inspired, ‘thank you very much’ — that’s what we’re doing it for,” Friese said.

To make a tax-deductible donation or to become a sustaining member with voting rights for $50 annually, write Inland Northwest Musicians at 215 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston 97838, call 289-4696 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it