Chamber Orchestra branches out to Anderson

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Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra has been named orchestra-in-residence of the new, $17 million Anderson Center, to open in March on Five Mile Road.

"We've been talking for a long time about doing something in Anderson Township," says Larry Magnesen, incoming president of the Chamber Orchestra board and a Fifth Third Bank executive who lives in Anderson Township. "When we heard (the center) included a theater of 225 seats – it's really perfect for the sort of intimate, personal performances that the Chamber Orchestra is known for."

The theater in the new Anderson Center has a full stage with orchestra pit, rigging, dressing rooms, a sound system and other state-of-the art features. Chamber Orchestra trustees took a hard hat tour while it was under construction.

"It's a great facility and I think acoustically it will be very nice, so we thought it would be a terrific thing," Magnesen says.

The Chamber Orchestra will help kick off Anderson Center's grand opening weekend with a gala concert on March 13.

The orchestra will continue to call Memorial Hall its home, but will add second performances at the Anderson venue. Three concerts are scheduled for June: A children's concert with Madcap Puppets (June 1); a concert with violinist Nicolas Kendall (June 15) and a concert with soprano Indra Thomas (June 22).

In addition, says CCO executive director Robert Kellison, the orchestra will perform outreach visits to schools in the Forest Hills School District. Conductor Mischa Santora has already guest-conducted the orchestra at Anderson High School.

Magnesen hopes that having an orchestra in ones own community will inspire residents to give classical music a try.

"Having it right in your community is a plus," Magnesen says. "I think people will like the idea of having the concerts available in their community to take their children to. It breaks down another barrier, in that people don't have that additional drive into the city on a Sunday."

Anderson Township trustee president Russ Jackson said he was pleased that the orchestra had approached the Township about a relationship.

The theater is good news for other groups, too. The Beechmont Players will be moving back to Anderson after a decade of playing at Clermont College in Batavia. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is slated for late February. Other groups to use the new hall include the Forest Aires, Anderson Community Band and the Southwest Ohio Music Teachers Association.