Coffee with the Musician:
Melissa Peña, Principal Oboe, Eugene Symphony
The Sea in Sound: Debussy’s La Mer
Join Eugene Symphony Executive Director Dave Moss and Melissa Peña, Principal Oboe and Associate Professor of Oboe at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, for a behind-the-scenes look at the November 19 concert, The Sea in Sound: Debussy’s La Mer. Featured in the concert, Melissa Peña brings her artistry to Vaughan Williams’ lyrical Oboe Concerto. Learn more about the unique voice of the oboe and gain insight into the music and the musician behind it.
Whether you’re a longtime classical music lover or simply curious to learn more, come listen, discover, and ask questions—and experience the music from a whole new perspective!
Doors open at 1:00 PM. Come early, grab a coffee and a bagel, and settle in!
Note: A traditional 30-minute pre-concert talk will also be offered at 6:30 PM before the 7:30 PM concert on Nov. 19.
General admission is $10 per person.
Location: Eugene Art House
492 E 13th, Eugene, OR 97401
On-site parking available but limited. Street parking nearby.
The Sea in Sound: Debussy’s La Mer - November 19, 7:30pm
Guest conductor Cosette Justo Valdés leads a sweeping journey across the sea, anchored by Debussy’s monumental La Mer, a vivid portrait of shifting light and surging waves. Principal Oboist Melissa Peña is featured in Vaughan Williams’ lyrical Oboe Concerto, offering pastoral warmth and reflection. Britten’s dramatic Four Sea Interludes and Ravel’s shimmering Une barque sur l’océan deepen the maritime atmosphere, while Berlioz’s Le Corsaire overture brings exhilarating, windswept energy.