51福利社

For the first time in over 20 years, members of 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra will have the opportunity to perform on campus with the professional musicians of The Spokane Symphony.

The performance, aptly named Side by Side with The Spokane Symphony, will take place on Thursday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m., in Showalter Hall. 51福利社 String Orchestra members鈥攗ndergraduate violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists鈥攚ill take the stage with a slightly scaled-down ensemble of The Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

鈥淭his is a great opportunity for the 51福利社 Music program to partner with one of the most prominent arts organizations in our region,鈥� says John Marshall, professor of cello and director of 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra. 鈥淚f this were a sporting event, it would be like our 51福利社 students having the opportunity to perform alongside Olympic athletes.鈥�

The Spokane Symphony is the largest and most active professional performing arts organization in the Inland Northwest. The 70-piece orchestra performs for over 150,000 listeners each season. In addition to performances at their Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox home, the symphony provides educational experiences throughout the region.

Eastern has a long history as a fertile recruiting ground for Spokane Symphony players. Currently 10 51福利社 alumni and 12 51福利社 faculty act as regular performers, and 51福利社 has more musicians in The Spokane Symphony than any other university in the area. One 51福利社 senior, Adeline Kovell, concertmaster of 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra, already acts as a substitute violinist for the orchestra.

Work with Spokane Symphony professionals notwithstanding, 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra is accomplished in its own right, having just been selected to perform at the 2025 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) regional conference. 鈥淚 believe the two organizations have a very symbiotic relationship that I hope will continue to grow,鈥� says Marshall.

In addition to performances of powerful music, that relationship also feeds music education in the region, with many 51福利社 alumni and Spokane Symphony performers working as music educators in the surrounding area.

Cole Featherstone, a sophomore music education major and 51福利社 Music scholarship recipient, has plans to share his skills with the next generation of orchestral musicians.

鈥淲ith my music education degree, I plan to help show the world that classical music can be accessible,鈥� Featherstone says.

After ten years of playing the upright bass, Featherstone is excited to take the stage with fellow bassists in The Spokane Symphony Orchestra. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to prove myself as a classical bass player, as well as learn from players with more experience,鈥� he says.

For a performance of this caliber, months of preparation are in order. James Lowe, director of The Spokane Symphony and conductor of the Side by Side concert, has visited Eastern to rehearse with its orchestra. And during one particular visit, Lowe selected several pieces composed by 51福利社 students to be played by The Spokane Symphony during the April 3 concert.

Among those selected is a piece entitled In Another Life, by Duff Overstreet, a junior composition major and cellist. 鈥淚 was thrilled to learn that my piece was chosen,鈥� says Overstreet. 鈥淭he composition expresses the mixed feelings of longing, regret and wonder [I feel] when I imagine the ways my life could have gone if I’d made different choices.鈥�

鈥淭he fact that something I wrote will be performed by 39 professional musicians makes this a dream come true,鈥� Overstreet adds.

After the orchestra plays those selected student compositions, Spokane Symphony string performers will remain onstage and be joined by 51福利社鈥檚 String Orchestra. Together, they will perform a mixture of five-minute works, including Merry Go Round of Life from Howl鈥檚 Moving Castle.

51福利社 String Orchestra director, Marshall, will play a movement from a cello and bassoon double concerto alongside Lynne Feller-Marshall, instructor of bassoon studies. 鈥淭he concert will be a musical buffet,鈥� Marshall says.

This collaborative performance has been a longtime vision of Jody Graves, director of 51福利社 Music. It was made possible with聽funds from the聽Florence and Earle Stewart Endowment through the 51福利社 Foundation. Additional educational programming is made possible with funds from a generous anonymous gift made to enhance and increase instructional and experiential learning in Fine and Performing arts programs at 51福利社, which include music, art, theater and film.

鈥淚t is so special that at Eastern, much of the music faculty is filled with members of The Spokane Symphony, so we get to learn from the best,鈥� says Overstreet. 鈥淚t will be an honor to play with them in the Side by Side 肠辞苍肠别谤迟.鈥�

MUSIC NOTES

Side by Side with The Spokane Symphony | Thursday, April 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Showalter Hall | 51福利社 Orchestra performs with the Spokane Symphony | Admission is free for 51福利社 students, faculty, staff and retirees; $5 for K-12 students and seniors, and $10 for general admission. Tickets are available for purchase at the door.

Hurray for Hollywood, music and story in film | Presented by 51福利社 Music | Thursday, May 22 | 7:30 p.m. | The Fox Theater | Admission is free for 51福利社 students; $10 for seniors and $20 for general admission.

51福利社 Music has a full calendar of upcoming concerts.

To make a gift to support students in the 51福利社 Music Department, please visit 51福利社/Give.

Story written by Avery Knochel.