Local Favorites Oregon Mandolin Orchestra Bring the Splendor of Mandolin Music to the Walters

  • Post category:Music

(Hillsboro, Ore.) — The Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 E. Main St., Hillsboro) presents the return of the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra (OMO), led by conductor Christian McKee on Friday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 advance or $25 the day of the performance. This holiday concert will feature special guest Choro da Alegría, a Portland-based ensemble dedicated to playing the wonderful melodies of Brazil. Be sure to purchase your tickets early for this community favorite.

Before stepping into the role of OMO Conductor and Musical Director, McKee was a playing member of the Orchestra’s mandocello section, helping to provide a solid baritone voice to the Orchestra’s collective sound. Endorsed by OMO founder Brian Oberlin, McKee agreed to take the lead of the 25 member all-volunteer ensemble when Oberlin announced he would be stepping down.

McKee has made music since childhood, playing violin in his youth and singing in choirs until the age of eighteen. McKee has toured and performed on the West coast in multiple ensembles on mandolin, mandola, and mandocello. He co-founded the Portland band Rustica in 2003, performing “an eclectic blend of Americana,” and formed The Big North Duo with bassist Paul Prato in 2010, plunging into jazz and favorites from the Great American Songbook.

McKee leads the non-profit Oregon Mandolin Orchestra in presenting their holiday concert at the Walters, showcasing a broad musical selection with the historically-rich and dynamic sounds of the mandolin family. With a repertoire including Baroque and Classical, folk and swing, and Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, the Orchestra offers unique genre-spanning performances.

More information about this performance and the 2018-19 Concert Series is available at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersConcerts and tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com, by calling 503-615-3485, or in person at 527 E. Main St., Hillsboro.

Concert concessions available from Longbottom Coffee and Tea. With thanks to our series sponsor, Aloft Hillsboro-Beaverton.