The Oregon Sinfonietta - Chamber Music Society of Oregon

Each year CMSO continues its long tradition of offering to young musicians in our area the opportunity to perform a full concerto with our flagship orchestra, the Oregon Sinfonietta. We have established an endowment fund from which we are offering, with the addition of a generous donation from the Jerry and Donna Family Foundation, an honorarium of $1,000.00 to each of our Concerto Competition winners on the condition they actually perform with the Oregon Sinfonietta at the concert. For more information about the Concerto Competition, please call (503) 285-7621 or (360) 944-9628, or e-mail cc1maestro@aol.com or info@cmsomus.org.

The 2021 – 2022 CMSO/Oregon Sinfonietta Concerto Competition's forms are now available. Please click on the links below to download information and the application form.

CMSO Concerto Competition Flyer – Horn, Violin, and Piano

CMSO Concerto Competition Application – Deadline: September 25, 2021

Kenji King, pianist and 2017 – 2018 Concerto Competition winner

Following his splendid May 20, 2018 performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Mr. King wrote to Dr. Appert, "Thank you so much for granting me the opportunity to play with your orchestra last month! Playing music with you was a wonderful experience, throughout the rehearsals and at the final concert. . . . the more I rehearsed with you and your sinfonietta, the more confident I felt leading up to the performance. I'm very fond of your conducting style. You never made me feel uncomfortable or under pressure. Performing at the final concert proved very enjoyable, more than I expected." (Please see our Videos/Recordings page for a video recording of Mr. King's performance.)

Debra Loh, bassoonist and 2012 – 2013 Concerto Competition winner

On March 17, 2013 Ms. Loh performed with the Oregon Sinfonietta Mozart's Concerto for Bassoon in B-flat Major, K. 191, to great applause. Ms. Loh graduated from the Eastman School of Music in May 2019 and was accepted to the University of Maryland at College Park, where she taught, studied chamber music, and was a member of a performing wind quintet. (Below is Ms. Loh's graduation photo from the Eastman School of Music; she is second from the left.) For her Senior Recital, Ms. Loh performed Schubert – Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821; CPE Bach – Sonata for Flute in A minor, H. 562; Villa Lobos – Ciranda das seta notas; and Cindi Hsu – Spring Fever. (Please click here for a video recording of Ms. Loh's Senior Recital.) Ms. Loh recently participated in the Des Moines Metro Opera's July 15, 2020 STARS OF TOMORROW virtual concert. (Please click here to view the virtual concert performed by The Des Moines Metro Opera Festival Orchestra and members of the 2020 Apprentice Artist Program.) Ms. Loh is now entering the Air Force, joining other high-quality musicians in the United States Air Force Band. We wish her continued success.

Caleb Hutchings, bassoonist and 2019 – 2020 Concerto Competition winner

On January 19, 2020 Mr. Hutchings performed Weber's Concerto for Bassoon in F Major, Op. 75, amazing all with his technique and artistry. (Please see the Videos/Recordings page to hear an audio recording of his performance.) It is no surprise that he was accepted to several great music programs around the country. Choosing Julliard, he received a near full scholarship. Congratulations! We wish him well in all his future musical endeavors.