microphilharmonic is a new chamber ensemble devoted to performances of large scale symphonic works by a small ensemble of about eight musicians. The chamber music repertoire will include large scale works like the Beethoven Septet, Schubert Octet, and the Spohr Nonet, as well as period arrangements of operas by Mozart and other Classical composers, for wind octet. Also planned are arrangements of classical symphonies from Haydn to Mahler.
Artistic Director Michael Anderson brings over 30 years experience as a clarinetist with groups including the Smithsonian Chamber Players, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Chamber Music Northwest, Oregon Symphony, and the Eugene Symphony, and as an artistic administrator for the Oregon Bach Festival, Chamber Music @ Beall, Portland Baroque Orchestra, the Oregon Festival of American Music, and other organizations.
Associate Artistic Director Alice Blankenship holds degrees from the University of Oregon, San Francisco Conservatory, and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, in The Netherlands. Ms. Blankenship brings a knowledge of modern and historical performance practice and is a long-time music educator in the Eugene area. She also will help microphilharmonic develop outreach programs to bring classical music to underserved an at-risk populations in the Eugene area.
While the word philharmonic usually refers to a large symphonic orchestra, adding the prefix "micro", as in the word "microcosmos", implies the reflection of the larger into the smaller. Thus, microphilharmonic will be a chamber ensemble, smaller than an orchestra, performing without a conductor, and specializing in large scale works, many of which will be reduced from larger forms like symphonies and operas as well as other large scale works for chamber ensemble.