Community of music

By Kate Hayden | khayden@charlescitypress.com

Conductor John Chiles is joining the Charles City Community Chamber Orchestra, ready to collaborate on new ideas for the ensemble.

“The thing that made me want to be with this group is the plan that the board has to bring music and community to where this [didn’t] exist,” Chiles said. “To have an orchestra brings a slight amount of prestige to an area. That was their original goal, and I want to be part of that goal and continue to grow that community.”

Chiles, originally from Virginia, has already worked with two community orchestras in Cedar Falls while completing two master’s degrees in viola performance and conducting. Chiles revived a youth orchestra with the support of the University of Northern Iowa, accepting 12 students that first year together, which grew to around 30 students, including a wind instrument ensemble. Chiles also founded a community orchestra in Cedar Falls, where he saw a need.

“What I really enjoy about the smaller ensemble is you are able to impart knowledge that they do not have without you. There’s a lot of teaching that goes on, ways to think of things in a different manner that they just don’t know,” Chiles said. “I enjoy hearing the improvement that happens year after year after year.”

For the orchestra’s first concert this winter, Chiles and the board also want to expand the kind of experience audience members will have.

“It’s more than music-making, we are an entertainment ensemble,” Chiles said. “Our first concert will also include dancers…We’ll invite local bakers to sell their products at the venue, so it will be more of a winter event.”

In the spring, the concert will become a French-themed showcase of music, food from local bakers and soloists from UNI and locally, Chiles said.

“The orchestra is for the entire family and not just a date night, or something for history. The entire family can come have a good time,” Chiles said.

Meet the orchestra

The Charles City Community Chamber Orchestra is hosting a reception to introduce new conductor John Chiles to the community. The reception will be Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 5-6 p.m. at the Charles City Arts Center, with light appetizers and wine available.

Visitors are invited to stay and hear one of the orchestra’s weekly rehearsals starting at 6 p.m.

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