CGOA Podcast

We chat with Taylor and Tanis Gonzaga, co-founders of Opera Cecilia, about their upcoming performance with the Gorge Sinfonietta on April 1 and 2, 2023.

This month we talk to Los Angeles-based composer Cody Matthew Johnson, best known for his music for video games such as Resident Evil and Devil May Cry. On February 17/19 the Gorge Sinfonietta will premiere his new work, VANITAS, for speakers and orchestra, with text by Andrew Smithers and arranged for the orchestra by conductor Mark Steighner. Also on the program is music by John Mackey and Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory. Tickets at gorgeorchestra.org

Join conductor Mark Steighner and special guest Mitchell Jett Spencer, as they discuss the upcoming performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto on November 18 and 20. Tickets and information at gorgeorchestra.org

This month the directors of CGOA's production of RENT join Mark for a conversation about the award-winning show. Guests are Joe Garoutte (director) and Dan Kenealy (music director). RENT opens on May 6 in the Bingen Theater. Tickets are available at gorgeorchestra.org

We're speaking with Edie Polson, who is guest conducting the Gorge Sinfonietta in Haydn's Surprise Symphony. Edie won the chance to direct at last year's fund-raising auction. Also on the March 18/20 program is pianist Tom Grant, making his orchestra debut, and the Schubert Unfinished Symphony. The concerts are in the Gorge Room at the Best Western Hood River Inn. Tickets at gorgeorchestra.org

In preparation for our November Sinfonietta premiere of A SASQUATCH PORTRAIT, Mark talks to Discovery Channel's Finding Bigfoot co-star Cliff Barackman--not just about Sasquatch, but music, too! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @gorgeorchestra. Tickets and concert information at gorgeorchestra.org. Check out Cliff's museum in Boring, OR, the North American Bigfoot Center at northamericanbigfootcenter.com 

Have YOU had an encounter with Sasquatch? Tell us about it! https://anchor.fm/cgoa/message

Aaron Meyer talks to Mark about his upcoming concert with the Gorge Sinfonietta on July 17, 2021. Information at gorgeorchestra.org

Michele chats with Corin Parker, director of CGOA Stages' new streaming production of THE FANTASTICKS.

Pianist Tom Grant has been a Portland jazz piano staple for decades, and CGOA is thrilled that he sat down to talk to us about his career and music making during the pandemic. Tom is appearing during our first-ever online auction, "The Show Must Go On," April 8-11. You can get a preview of our dozens of items up for bid at charityauction.bid/cgoa. 

Music this month: Angel's Crossing by Tom Grant.

We're changing up the format, faithful listeners. Look for podcasts whenever we have a special guest or event coming up. This time, Mark sits down with Aaron Eckert, formerly of the CGOA Jazz Collective, now with the US Army Blues Jazz Band. Aaron is an amazing musician and his arrangement of "There is No Greater Love" will be performed by the Collective as part of CGOA's upcoming online auction April 8-11.