Orchestra Receives WLCF Grant

The Oregon Coast Chamber Orchestra, based in Florence, has been awarded a grant in the amount of $875 from the Western Lane Community Foundation. The money will be used to purchase music stand lights. The award will be formally presented on Tuesday, March 18, at the weekly Rotary luncheon at the Florence Events Center. Conductor and Music Director, Robin DeVour, will accept the grant on behalf of the orchestra.

The battery-powered LED lights will illuminate the orchestra's music at the nine yearly concerts performed by OCCO up and down the Oregon coast each season. Three of the programs occur in Florence, with the next one scheduled at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, at the FEC theater.

Featuring local soprano Eileen Beck, the orchestra will focus on Latin rhythms and their influence on American popular music. The selections includes works by Ernesto Lecuona, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Henry Mancini, Herb Alpert and Florence composer, Charles Perkins, among others. DeVour, along with Associate Conductors John Dodge and John Monks, will direct the orchestra in the Mother's Day matinee.

A special attraction will be a jazz quartet featuring violinist Andy Kam, with DeVour on piano, bassist Ken Mace and drummer, Mike Swain. In addition to backing Beck, the quartet will improvise on the theme from the movie, "Black Orpheus". With a sound track by Jobizu and fellow Brazilian composer, Luis Bonfa, this film introduced the Bossa Nova to the world when it premiered in 1960.