Non- Profit organization Musica Matrix with its mission of Bringing History to Life Through Music, received a $3,000.00 grant from the Umpqua Bank to do an eight day residency program in Southern Oregon at Ashland High School. This course, which is designed in part to promote the viola da gamba for youngsters and provide a connecting path to it from orchestral strings, is only possible through the generous donation of eleven viols by Charlie Ogle.
Pat O’Scannell will lead the residency program, which culminates in hands-on learning on the viola da gamba for both the school’s Chamber Orchestra and String Orchestra students. Pat will introduce the rudiments of basic technique, and share information about a wide gamut of styles and practices.
Students will progress from playing Early repertoire on their own modern instruments to playing violas da gamba for the final classes. They will be exposed to recorded musical examples, live mini-concerts, instrument demonstrations and will have the opportunity to play a diverse cross section of musical repertoire. O’Scannell will take them through an introduction to the modes and learning to read chant notation, and will present an overview of music history, to create context and a timeline for the gamba.
Musica Matrix, a small 501.c.3 organization was founded in 2016 by Pat O’Scannell. It supports Renaissance and Medieval Music in Southern Oregon and has received grants from The Oregon Community Foundation, The Jackson County Cultural Coalition, and the Carpenter Foundation in its brief lifetime. The grant monies have been used to support a variety of concerts by Artists, both local and from outside the area, as well as to help with general operations, and in support of a variety of community ensembles.