Free symphonic concert offered in Milton-Freewater

MILTON-FREEWATER, Ore.-Inland Northwest Musicians Orchestra will perform Camille Saint-Saens' Symphony #3 for Symphony and Organ and Albinoni's Adagio for Strings and Organ on February 22 at 4 p.m. The concert takes place at the Milton Adventist Church and will be conducted by Music Director and R. Lee Friese of Athena and will feature organist, Randolph Pearson of Walla Walla. The concert is free to attend.

Camille Saint-Saens, a Frenchman, wrote his Third Symphony in 1886. He was an organist and pianist and did many solo performances until later in life when he devoted all his time to composing. The Third Symphony you will hear on Feb. 22 was hardly acclaimed for the worthy piece it really is because critics of the time thought it didn't fit the standard form of symphony. Because Saint-Saens was innovative and creative he came to be called the "French Beethoven".

INWM's Conductor, R. Lee Friese enjoys performing this Symphony #3 because he appreciates "how well-crafted it is", he says. "It is a wonderful symphony."

The solo organist featured with INWM is Randolph Pearson, former organist at the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church and currently organist with the College Presbyterian Church in College Place. The organ at the Milton Adventist Church is a tracker organ, which means that it is mechanically outfitted to be touch sensitive by the player. This makes the organ capable of sounding well with symphony and it is magnificent.

Inland Northwest Musician believes that "Music is for everyone", not limited to ability to pay admission nor by distance to travel. So instead of you traveling, we do. Our volunteer orchestra has played over 500 free concerts in our 21 years, Moving Music into 50 small communities of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington.