BLM Oregon Trail Center to host classical pianist concert
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BAKER CITY, Ore.– In support of its goal to serve the American family, the Bureau of Land Management’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will host a performance from Portland pianist Hunter Noack on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the outdoor wagon encampment.
Noack’s "In a Landscape: Music in the Wild" is presented on a portable pop up stage, with a nine foot Steinway, 50 to100 headphones, and other gear. “We cruise around the state from the Steens Mountains to the desert to the coast and bring classical music to Oregon,” Noack says.
The "In a Landscape: Music in the Wild" project is a series of classical music performances in the outdoors. “People responded to hearing classical music in a different environment,” Noack recalled, “so I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to use the actual outdoors?’” in a performance.
The 27-year-old Noack, who was born in Newport, studied at Interlochen Arts Academy to develop their prodigious pianistic talents. Noack followed their teacher to the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music, then moved to Los Angeles to study with another respected teacher at the University of Southern California, and graduate studies at London’s Guildhall School before returning to Oregon.
Noack created “In a Landscape” as a new approach to presenting classical music. "This is the spirit of Oregon, the Wild West, where nothing is impossible, where the wagons circle round and everyone gives what they can to build something greater than any one person," claims Noack.
Playing music outside poses many challenges, with the sound easily dissipating or being distorted by amplification. Noack came up with the novel idea of passing out wireless Sennheiser headphones (made possible with support from the Regional Arts & Culture Council and arts patron Jordan Schnitzer) to attendees who want to use them, beaming the music they're playing to them via radio frequencies, even enhancing the sound a bit with digital magic to make it sound even more like a concert hall.
“We roll into a park or town square or schoolhouse, and I do what I love to do,” reliving their idyllic childhood combo: classical music and outdoor Oregon.
Admission is free to "In a Landscape: Music in the Wild," but reservations are requested and can be made by calling 541-523-1843.
All ages are invited and attendees are encouraged to bring beach chairs and blankets for seating in the wagon encampment.
The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Ore. on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call 541-523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit blm.gov/nhotic.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.