ABOUT US
Our Mission
Bringing Music To Our Community
The purpose of the GHPCO is to bring quality music to our community; to serve the skilled amateur musicians of the region by providing performance opportunities; and to develop enthusiasm and love of music for the enrichment of the cultural environment of the South Puget Sound.
“Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” Keith Richards
OUR CONDUCTOR
Matthew Underwood was destined to be a conductor. (No, he doesn’t ride a lot of trains – yet.) The story goes that as soon as he was old enough to stand, he would wave his arms and “direct” the radio. In junior high, he was given an opportunity to direct a real orchestra and the rest, as they say, is history. It was that moment, in eighth grade, that he decided that he would be a music educator. (Thanks, Vern Hayes!)
With that focus, he launched himself into the University of Washington (a couple of times) and in the process earned his B.A., B.M. and M.A. in music education. He has studied privately on the viola with Eileen Swanson (Northwest Chamber Orchestra), Paul Colletti (world renowned violist) and not Milton Katims (founder of the Seattle Symphony). By the way, that’s kind of a funny story.
Matthew began his teaching career as the instrumental music director at Charles Wright Academy and currently teaches string orchestra at Meeker Middle School and Stadium High School (The Castle) in the Tacoma Public Schools. In addition, he is currently the director of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. He is also sought as an adjudicator for both solo and large ensemble contests.
He has been the Executive Director and conductor of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Civic Orchestra since its inception in 2004. His leadership continues to expand the orchestra both in size and in the scope of its literature. He also just really likes making music with the members of this orchestra.
“The man who leads the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.” James Crook
Our MUSICIANS
Violin I
Heather De Pree*
Shaaron Droke
Brianna Howland
Nancy Poppe
Wendy Rawlings*
Holly Turley
Erica Palmer
Violin II
Mimi Fielding
Shirley Herridge
Becky Johnson
Brenda McCormick
Betty Moore
Tim Olson
Teresa Orris
Jonathan Stanley
Patrick Williams
Sarah Cox
Mariam Sholtz**
Viola
Ben Beers
Bri Mears
Clara Binnington
Candace Dautel
Lauren Luedeke
Cello
Rebecca Floyd
Keira Merwine
Nancy Perillo
String Bass
Bri Mears
Jeff Oeterson
Piccolo
Mona Willis*
Flute
Dee Dee Babich
Pat Constantino
Mona Willis
Oboe
Chanda Morris*
Lora Duncan
English Horn
Mary Lou Hunt
Clarinet
Gary McCabe*
Corey Berman
Bassoon
Cheryl Stone
French Horn
Jane Mouatassim
Trumpet
Lew Asmussen
Stephen Stewart
Trombone
Paul Bogotaj
Laura Bundren
Jen Cohen***
Tuba
–
Percussion
Sonja Johnson
Bob Koehnke, Jr.
Kris Underwood
Timpani
Bob Koehnke, Jr.
Keyboards
*Board Member
**Historian
***Librarian
The GHPCO is a community of people who love to play music together. The music covers a wide range of styles and forms, from the three B’s (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms) with Mozart and Dvorak, to more contemporary pieces – some jazz, some popular and some show tunes – to more recent “classical” composers who deserve to be heard in concert. Matthew Underwood shares his love of music with the orchestra and its audiences, revealing knowledge, curiosity and what some would call humor.
We welcome players who want to join us. Our musical backgrounds are varied and our love of playing is deep. We rehearse at Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor on Thursday evenings.
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