About ESCO

The Eugene Springfield Community Orchestra (ESCO) was founded to…

  1. Give local musicians an opportunity to learn and perform orchestral music, helping them improve their skills while enriching their lives through music.

  2. Provide free concerts to audiences who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend live performances of orchestral music.

Meet the Conductor

Tyler Boorman

Tyler Boorman received his bachelor and masters degrees in music education from the University of Oregon. He taught for nine years at Kennedy Middle School in Eugene and now works as a real estate agent for more flexibility. From 2015-2018, Tyler was a featured conductor at Northwest Band Camps at Rockaway Beach, OR. In 2023 he was a guest conductor with the Eugene Symphonic Band. He has acted as guest clinician for several local schools and currently serves as a supervisor for student teachers at the University of Oregon. He performs trumpet with the ESB and teaches privately. Tyler lives in Eugene with his wife, Christina, their son, Dean, and their dog, Freya.

A young man with glasses and a tie giving a lecture or presentation in a classroom, standing in front of a whiteboard with handwritten notes and diagrams.

History

The Eugene Springfield Community Orchestra is one of the longest-lived orchestras in Lane County. Since the early 1960s, it has given local amateur musicians an opportunity to learn and perform. The group rehearses weekly between September and May, and gives three performances per year.

In its long history, the orchestra has performed under the baton of a succession of talented and enthusiastic conductors including Don Loftus, William Tweedy, Ray Morse, Philip Bayles, Chet Peterson, Richard Long, Jonathan Bridges, and Tyler Boorman. Through the years, the orchestra has grown from a handful of players to its current size of 70.

The orchestra occasionally performs concertos with professional soloists including, most recently, violinist Yvonne Hsueh and the Delgani Quartet.

The Eugene Springfield Community Orchestra took two years off due to COVID-19 restrictions and resumed in the spring of 2022.

Orchestra members playing string instruments, including violins and cellos, during a rehearsal or performance, with music stands and sheet music in a classroom or rehearsal space.

Board of Directors

  • Tyler Boorman, Conductor

  • Jon Bridges, Conductor Emeritus

  • Alex Zunterstein, Concertmaster

  • Eleanor Montagna, President

  • Barry Jarvis, Vice President

  • Gabriela Norton, Treasurer

  • B. J. Novitski, Secretary

  • Linda Ague, Librarian

  • Dennis Pipes, Webmaster

  • Linda Ague, Emma Anderson, Jeanne Gurda, David Payton, Beth Roy, Rena Segebartt, Eric Selker

Group of musicians playing French horns in a band rehearsal or practice, seated in a row with sheet music in front of them.

Acknowledgements

A special “thank you” to our generous supporters during the past year

Willamette High School: Joe Freuen, Band Director; Tome Coates, Auditorium Manager; Royal Yoakum, Auditorium Manager

Cascade Middle School: Christina Boorman, Band Director

Abracadabra Printing and Design

Donors: Anne Chou, B. J. Novitski, Bee Payne Stewart Foundation, Eleanor Montagna, Ellen Novitski, The Gibney-Allen Family, Gordon Wright, James K. Graham, Janet & Todd Mathistad, Judy Spearin, The Kramer Family, Leslie Hildreth, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Community Foundation, Richard & Amey C. Herman, Ronald Maleson, Sabine & John Diehl, Warren & Patti TenBrook, Willow Health & Aesthetics

Eugene Springfield Youth Orchestras

Web Production: Dennis Pipes, webmaster; Lauren Evitts, logo; Ken Blanchard, photography

Library: Linda Ague, Karen Fiedler, Diane Livermore, Judy Spearin, Alex Zunterstein

Concert Programs: Emma Anderson

Stage Manager: David Payton

Publicity: Karen Fiedler

Concert Greeter: Chip Kiger

Three people playing percussion instruments in a music practice room. The person on the left is a young man in a gray hoodie, the middle person is an elderly woman with glasses playing a snare drum, and the person on the right is a young woman with glasses playing a bass drum. All are focused on their music.