Ethos West chamber orchestra plans April concert

By Linda Bell
Livermore Correspondent

When Ron Holleman created his first chamber ensemble, Ethos Chamber Orchestra, back in 1982 in Chicago, it became noted not only for its fine classical repertoire, but for its eclectic inclusion of jazz, world music and what is called "third-stream," a synthesis of classical music and jazz. Now he has brought that same passion and mix of styles to Fort Collins with the creation of Ethos West.

Ethos, says Holleman, comes from the Greek theory called the "doctrine of ethos," meaning that music has a direct and profound influence on character.

Holleman, who with his wife, Sue, retired in Livermore in 1999, plays both trumpet and flugelhorn. He plays jazz with the same passion that he does Bach, he says, and his goal has been to combine different styles and periods within one performing group. With some urging from local musicians like drummer Chuck Landgraf, Holleman said it was an obvious step to try to bring together an orchestra.

The former music educator and director says he didn't have any trouble finding receptive musicians in northern Colorado. For the Ethos West orchestral debut concert last September he found one of the featured soloists, professional soprano Lydia Milá, only a generous stone's throw away from his own mountain home.

Ethos West is a private nonprofit orchestra. It has a board of directors and received seed grants to get started, including one from Fort Collins Fort Fund and one from Re/Max Advanced Inc.

Holleman says the pool of musicians available for any one concert generally determines the selections, drawing on the group's strengths and favorite styles. So far there are 11 string players, a strong brass ensemble and various woodwinds and keyboard musicians who can be featured.

Ethos West will perform the second concert in its inaugural season on April 10 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2000 Stover St., starting at 3 p.m. The program will include works by Vivaldi, Dvorak, Scarlatti, Russo and Mingus and a solo piano rendition of "A Small Hotel" by Rogers and Hart. For more information call 482-4099 or check www.ethoswest.org. Admission (paid at the door) is $10 for adults, $8 for college students and seniors, and free for high school students and younger.

Besides Ethos West, Holleman conducts the Northern Colorado Concert Band and plays with the Just Jazz Quintet, the Fort Collins Wind Symphony and the Main Street Brass Quintet.