Carlee Wright

Statesman Journal

UPDATE Dec. 15:

The newly formed Salem Symphony's inaugural concert “Spirit of the Season” that was scheduled for Dec. 15 has been postponed due to weather. The show will now take place 7 p.m. Dec. 20, at the Historic Elsinore Theatre. For information, call 503-375-3574 or go to salemsymphony.org.



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As if a Christmas gift to classical music fans in Salem, there is a new player in town, bringing a modern twist to the genre.

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The show will feature a collection of loved Christmas classics as well as music from holiday movies such as “Elf,” “The Polar Express” and “The Grinch.” Special guest singers Shawn Hanowell and Tracy Wachter Webber, plus The Westside Singers, also will join in. Kelli and Ron Jaecks will host.

“It’s music the whole family will enjoy,” said General Manager Alexa Aimer. “What better way to celebrate the holiday.”

“We are really trying to make this a new annual Salem tradition,” Music Director Dallas Aimer said. “A uniquely Salem family event.”

The symphony, which has been an idea for about a year, began organizing six months ago. It aims to be a community-driven, Salem-centered professional orchestra, filling a void that was left when the Salem Chamber Orchestra filed for bankruptcy and closed down at the end of 2015.

While there are other orchestras and classical music organizations, including Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, which began its six-concert season in October, the Salem Symphony is the only professional group based in Salem, Dallas said.

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“We respect what’s come before us,” Dallas said. “We are redefining professional orchestra music in town. We are creating our own unique voice, trying to encourage a modern-day approach including classical, pops and film music.”

Additionally, the Aimers hope a professional orchestra will be enticing for students involved in the Salem-Keizer School District music programs.

“Our high schools are the best in the area for music, but a lot of students move after school to play professionally,” Dallas Aimer said.

“We want to keep that talent here,” Alexa Aimer said.

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An award-winning conductor, composer, orchestrator and music director, Dallas Aimer is a seasoned veteran of the Los Angeles music industry. He’s been the orchestrator for movies (“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and “Season of the Witch”), TV shows (“Revenge” and “Perception”) and video games (“The Lord of the Rings: War in the North,“ “Gears of War 3” and “Assassin's Creed: Revelations”). He directed the 17-piece pit orchestra for Enlightened Theatrics’ “Wizard of Oz.”

“I’ve conducted orchestras all over the country,” he said, “and now, I’m here.”

Dallas Aimer moved to Salem three years ago to take care of a terminally ill parent. He thought he would be here three months but fell in love with Oregon, Salem and Alexa, who was raised in Keizer and graduated from South Salem High School.

For the symphony, a call to audition in late August led to hundreds of applications, Dallas Aimer said.

“There is a lot of talent in Salem," he said. "I didn’t know these people were here. They are the best. Phenomenal."

There are currently 64 members, but the group will expand to 72 in January. Although focused on the Mid-Willamette Valley, there are a few participants from outside the area.

Rochelle Rafn, co-owner of Rafns’ Restaurant, will be playing violin with the symphony. The audition was a little intimidating at first, she said, “I was nervous about expectations, but at first rehearsal, I saw a lot of familiar faces. It’s a comfortable environment.”

Rafn, who has been playing for 22 years, took an eight year break after college. Scheduling conflicts had prevented her from returning to perform, until now.

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“The timing was right. I am excited to play again,” said Rafn, who is looking forward to drawing in a new crowd with the symphony’s diverse, approachable music, such as movie scores. “As a musician, it’s really nice to have that variety. I have fun playing modern scores.”

The symphony is planning four shows for the coming spring and summer and eight to 10 shows for the full 2017/18 season that will commence in the fall. They have already made arrangements to play for Fourth of July at Riverfront Park and are working on a series of concerts based on family films where they would perform the score live playing along with a movie.

“We are really trying to make this a unique Salem experience. “We want to provide quality entertainment,” Dallas Aimer said. “A unique musical voice for Salem.”

Email cwright2@StatesmanJournal.com, call 503-399-6671, or follow on Twitter @CarleeWrightSJ

Salem Symphony opener

What: "Spirit of the Season," a collection of loved Christmas classics as well as music from holiday movies

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Where: Historic Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. SE

Cost: $40 to $80; save $10 a ticket if you buy a family four pack. Tickets are available at the theater box office, elsinoretheatre.com and all Tickets West locations.

Information: 503-375-3574 or go to salemsymphony.org

Future events

Feb. 18: "Pictures at an Exhibition" featuring Mussorgsky's “Pictures At An Exhibition” along with “Night On Bald Mountain”

April 29: "Symphony Film Series" featuring selected pieces from the scores of favorite films