LIVE: Chris Mothersole & Oasis Ensemble - Music to an Imaginary Video Game
<div>Join electric clarinetist Chris Mothersole and classical trio Oasis Ensemble for a dynamic evening of chamber music and genre-bending original works combining clarinet and bass clarinet with guitar effect pedals.</div><div><br></div><div>Chris Mothersole</div><div> </div><div>“His performances for the past few years have been standing-room only events [...] His incorporation of electronic pedal effects with performance on the clarinet has opened up a new set of possibilities that borrow from the visceral and energetic sound world of the electric guitar.”</div><div>“Vibrant and confident–a true treat for the listener.”</div><div>-International Clarinet Association</div><div> </div><div>A conservatory-trained clarinetist with a love of rock and vintage video games, Chris Mothersole is a classical crossover artist and composer based in Eugene, Oregon. Praised for his “pure, yet colorful tone and amazing technical facility”, Mothersole’s work is at the forefront of clarinet performance with guitar pedal effects in classical music. His music is inspired by video game soundtracks old and new, blending the expressive versatility of the clarinet with the tonal palette of the electric guitar to create sounds rarely explored in the genre. This evening celebrates the release of his debut solo album as a performer-composer, “Press Start”. A passion project four years in the making, this groundbreaking concept album combines classical composition techniques with the rhythmic gestures and harmonic language of video game music, answering the “What If?” of the possibilities of using pedal effects with classical wind instruments.</div><div> </div><div>Oasis Ensemble</div><div> </div><div>Oasis Ensemble is a unique flute–cello–piano trio comprised of highly accomplished and passionate chamber musicians, performing classic masterpieces, and exploring innovative programming with visionary living composers. </div><div><br></div><div>Dawn Weiss was the principal flutist of the Oregon Symphony for 25 years prior to founding the Oasis Ensemble, receiving high critical acclaim throughout her career. Cellist Austin Bennett was a member of the Eppes String Quartet and has performed with the Tallahassee Symphony and the Eugene Symphony. Tung Nguyen is an award-winning pianist, chamber musician and solo recording artist on the Naxos label.</div><div><br></div><div>Founded originally as a flute and cello duo in 2022, in 2023 we expanded into a trio with piano to give us a wider range of musical options, focusing on well-known masterpieces, hidden gems, superb quality arrangements, and exceptional compositions fresh off the press. Our carefully curated programming showcases a beautiful and diverse range of colors, dynamics, textures and emotive potential that is unique to our combination of instruments. To augment our music library, we do extensive research, encourage composers to write for us, and arrange works originally composed for other instrumentation.</div><div><br></div><div>To continue the process of enlarging the pool of excellent flute, cello and piano pieces, in April 2025 we established our first "Oasis Ensemble Call for Scores" competition, which drew a remarkable response from 85 composers representing 23 countries. The award-winning composition was "Soundtrack to an Imaginary Video Game" by Meadow Bridgham, which will be featured in our Fall 2026 concerts. Many of the submissions were so compelling that we have begun including them in our programs. </div><div><br></div><div>We hope to be able to continue commissioning new works and to establish future composition events to encourage seasoned composers as well as talented young composers to write for us. We are actively seeking funding for this endeavor. Since our inception, we have performed over 65 works, including 23 World or West Coast Premieres. Our recent project with Cascadia Composers (the Pacific Northwest chapter of the National Association of Composers/USA) featured us in "River of No Return" on their 2025–26 Marquee Series: a five-concert tour across Western Oregon, with programs drawn entirely from the work of living composers. </div><div><br></div><div>As advocates for bringing chamber music to Oregonians where they live, we offer concerts in multiple cities across western and central Oregon. We perform for audiences inside and outside the concert hall by partnering with schools, universities, libraries, retirement centers, and cultural organizations and offering educational workshops and interactive performances. We are committed to expanding cultural awareness and knowledge of the beauty of live and recorded classical chamber music through accessible, engaging, and meaningful musical experiences. Oasis Ensemble is a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Poster artwork by Chris Mothersole and Emily Winfield Martin.</div>Chamber Music // Classical Crossover // ElectronicPT2H2026-10-10LIVE: Chris Mothersole & Oasis Ensemble - Music to an Imaginary Video Game"LIVE: Chris Mothersole & Oasis Ensemble - Music to an Imaginary Video Game"Showtimes
October 1, 7:30 pm
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