Native Olympian Nathan Rødahl will conduct the Olympia Chamber Orchestra’s fall concert, where Arriaga’s Symphony in D, Janacek’s Suite for Strings, Korngold’s Shneeman (The Snowman), Debussy’s Petite Suite and Bizet’s Symphony in C come together in an unconventional performance. Each of the five composers share something in common with Rødahl, and the performance is designed as an intriguing riddle for the audience. There will be a prize for the individual who can guess the common thread.
Rødahl studied privately with Paul Elliot Cobbs (Tacoma Youth Symphony, Everett Philharmonic) and John Welsh (Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, formerly of the Georgetown Symphony). At the age of 18, Rødahl earned his first professional conducting appointment with the Plateau Community Orchestra. Since then, he’s had conducting opportunities while studying at Pacific Lutheran University, most notably a tour of California with the PLU Kammermusik ensemble. He recently began work commissioning new symphonic works from Italian composers under the tutelage of Italian conductor Fabio Pirola. Rødahl was able to connect with the maestro through work as concertmaster for the Ensign Symphony Chorus at Benaroya Hall. Pirola is a conductor in Russia and throughout Europe.