GET TO KNOW THE HARDEST WORKING ORCHESTRA IN ALBANY, OREGON
Passion. Dedication. Sharing.
Now in its eleventh season, Albany String Orchestra was started in September 2013 by Kim Hall, who taught adult strings classes at the Albany Senior Center and saw the need for a local group for adult players to learn the art of string orchestra playing. From that first rehearsal with seven people (almost all of whom are still in the orchestra), ASO has grown to over 30 players who come from all over Oregon's mid-Willamette Valley area.
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The primary focus of the orchestra is a place for musicians to gather and share and learn together. The music spans a wide range of musical eras and styles, from the Renaissance to classical to contemporary and everything in between. Admission to the orchestra is open to any string musician. A tuition fee each term covers facility and music costs and pays the conductor a small stipend. Learn more.
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We are proud and grateful to have for our concert home the lovely Albany First Christian Church in downtown Albany. With excellent acoustics and room for a large audience, yet retaining an intimate feel, it has been our home since 2015. Our concerts are always free and open to all as our gift to our community.
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We look forward to the 2023-2024 concert season!
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KIMBERLY HALL
Conductor and Music Director
Kim began her violin studies at the age of 13. After setting the instrument down in college, she got back into playing through an adult strings group in Fairbanks, Alaska, called North Star Strings. This led to several years of further study with Dr. Kathleen Butler-Hopkins, picking up viola along the way, and growing to love the chamber and string orchestra repertoire. Starting the ASO fulfilled Kim's dream of providing a similar opportunity to other players.
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In addition to conducting ASO, Kim plays violin and viola in the Willamette Valley Symphony, Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra, and in many local musical theater productions. Kim enjoys playing chamber music with friends and family, especially her uncle Don Hall, an accomplished pianist. She teaches privately and in the schools. She also repairs and rehairs bows for stringed instruments.