For 25 years, the Inland Northwest Musicians has performed hundreds of concerts in towns across Washington and Oregon, all completely free of charge.

The musicians and singers do it for the love of music.

“They’re veterinarians, pharmacists, doctors, teachers … people with all manner of careers,” said R. Lee Friese, the group’s longtime conductor and music director. “But they happen to also be singers and players who love to be able to get together and make music.”

Conductor R. Lee Friese

| Courtesy Inland Northwest Musicians

As a part of the group’s 25th anniversary season, Tri-Citians can attend a concert in Richland featuring four Young Artists Competition including winners featuring three from the Tri-Cities on April 27.

Though the Inland Northwest Musicians’ home base is in Oregon, it has a regional focus.

Friese, of Athena, Oregon, has headed the Inland Northwest Musicians as conductor and music director since the group’s inception in 1999. He conducted the Walla Walla Symphony for nine years before creating and conducting the Oregon East Symphony for 13 years. 

He has been with the Inland Northwest Musicians for 25 years. In that time frame, the group has performed more than 500 concerts in 50 different communities in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, ranging from as far north as Connell to a southern boundary of Ontario, Oregon. 

While the performances have taken place in larger areas like the Tri-Cities and Pendleton, Oregon, part of the group’s mission is performing in areas that don’t have access to concerts.

Some of the smaller Oregon communities where they’ve performed include Adams (population 404), Helix (population 193), Lexington (population 243) and Heppner (population 1,211).

“We’re serving unserved and underserved populations … and we’re doing all of it free,” Friese said.

Volunteer musicians

It’s a mission the musicians can get behind. 

Members of the Inland Northwest Orchestra, the Inland Northwest Chorale and the Willow Creek Symphony – the Inland Northwest Musicians’ three distinct ensembles – are all volunteers, though the conductors receive a stipend.

Associate conductor Phillip Simpson of Kennewick, who has been with the group for about two years, teaches at an elementary school in the Tri-Cities. He was previously the band and orchestra teacher at Southridge High School for about 23 years. 

The groups “welcome all of the people who come with talent that they wish to lend,” said Friese, and the Willow Creek Symphony is specifically geared toward those who are less advanced. 

Will travel for music

The conductor noted that everyone can find success, joy and opportunities to learn. They put on performances which musicians of many different skill levels can contribute to and feel proud of.

While roughly 60 musicians currently play in the orchestra, Friese estimated that nearly 800 or 900 musicians have performed with the Inland Northwest Musicians over the past 25 years. 

The group’s turnover is a result of its composition. Many of the performers are younger people, who move away as they get older, or seniors, who must eventually part with the group.

While it is always a challenge to have the right number of players or singers, the group has a large pool to pull from. 

To attend practices in either Hermiston or Pendleton, depending on the ensemble, some musicians travel up to 120 miles each way on a weekly basis.

The travel doesn’t stop when it comes to concerts. 

Each ensemble performs four or five times in a season and must bring all their equipment with them for each performance. That means moving stage and percussion equipment, chairs, stands and podiums. At a recent concert in Heppner, a harpsichord had to be transported.

“We’ve given concerts in cafeterias, gymnasiums, churches, outdoors and of course in auditoriums as well,” Friese said. 

They can be ready to give a concert within three hours of arriving somewhere new. 

Richland concert

The Inland Northwest Musicians’ Richland concert will be a special one.

A Young Artists Competition was held on March 3, with the winner in each of four divisions offered a chance to perform with the orchestra in Richland. 

Young Artists Competition winners. From left, Evan Wang, Elisabeth Smith, Karissa Nakamura and Emma Little. 

| Courtesy Inland Northwest Musicians

Evan Wang from Richland (Elementary Division), Elisabeth Smith from Kennewick (Junior Division), Karissa Nakamura from Richland (Senior Division) and Emma Little from College Place (Young Adult Division) will perform on April 27. 

In addition to the winners’ performances, the orchestra will play two more pieces, one of which has a unique history. 

Friese first heard “Theme and Variations on Simple Gifts” by Larry Groupé on a CD created 20 years ago. When he called the composer to ask if they could get the score to perform it, the answer was not exactly what he’d been hoping for: the piece had been destroyed in a fire.

The Inland Northwest Musicians were able to commission Groupé to reconstruct the piece, albeit not strictly the same as the original. 

Now, this score might be the only version of the piece in existence, Friese said.

When asked if he had a favorite piece over the years, Friese said that “it would be like trying to decide which of your children do you like best.” 

Instead, he prefers to approach each piece as if it’s the most important piece at the time.  

The April 27 concert is at 4 p.m. at Central Church, 1124 Stevens Drive, Richland. 

Like all Inland Northwest Musicians concerts, there is no admission; however, donations are welcome.

Go to: inlandnorthwestmusicians.com.