Saturday, June 28, 2008

Cascade Music Festival Canceled; James DePreist Says “I was shocked and still am reeling.”

Cascade Festival of Music cancels season
by David Stabler, The Oregonian
Thursday June 26, 2008, 3:28 PM
“The news out of Bend, the wealthy central Oregon town, isn't good. On Thursday, musicians at the Cascade Festival of Music began hearing that the festival had canceled its season and could be filing for bankruptcy. The eight-day festival, which plays in Drake Park each August, had scheduled pianist James Tocco, Blues Women of Portland, Asleep at the Wheel, Tiller's Folly and 'Carmina Burana,' among others. The festival didn't return calls Thursday afternoon, but its Web site continues to list concerts and dates. Murry Sidlin is the artistic director. James DePreist, the Oregon Symphony's conductor emeritus (1980-2003) was to take over from Sidlin in the summer of 2009.” “DePreist was just as shocked, he said. 'The Cascade news came to me day before yesterday in a phone call from the board president and general manager. To call it a surprise is an understatement. I was shocked and still am reeling. There has never been the slightest suggestion of a potential disaster. 'Ginette and I were planning to be in Bend before the festival and a schedule of lunches, meetings and cocktail parties had been scheduled as recently as 2 weeks ago. Yes, this was a complete and total shock. I was waiting to receive recent repertoire information before planning the 09 season. All my conversations have been with the GM Kathleen Cody with whom I was looking forward to working.'” [The African American conductor James DePreist (b. 1936) is profiled at AfriClassical.com] Full Post
at

No comments:

Post a Comment