Professional Studio Southeast Portland, Oregon

(503) 775-2894 collinheade@aol.com

Biography

Collin G. Heade embarks on celebrating his 13th season as artistic director/conductor of Westside Community & Youth Orchestra in Hillsboro, Oregon (wcyo.org); and his 12th season as conductor of the Junior Symphony of Vancouver, Washington.

As a conductor, he has attended workshops with the Virginia, Baltimore and Norwalk Symphony Orchestras.

As an avid composer he had begun working up 2nd versions of his earlier pieces, beginning from 2015, and will again be working thru them in chronological order in

late 2024. The 2nd versions have been denoted thru his Compositions web page with the initials v.2. All his compositional endeavors can be viewed from his website at PortlandCello.com. Currently he has been taking time working on an extended piece

for piano, with many sections, each in a different key.  

                      

                               He has been selected as a finalist by The American Prize, which

                               celebrates American excellence in the performing arts, in many fields:

                               orchestral programming (2014); composition An Abandoned

                               Lighthouse, which is a fantasy for orchestra and choir; and a

                               composition for string orchestra in three movements, Expressions, 

                               (both from 2021). In 2022 he became a finalist again for two more

                               works in the professional category: “The Story of the Song Bird &

                               the Elephant,” which is a double concerto for piccolo, tuba and

                               orchestra, with narration; and in the chamber category a piece for

                               recorder orchestra, entitled “Reminiscences,” in four short movements.

                               In an American Prize judge review for the for string orchestra, they

                               related: “Characterized by lyricism and rhythmic creativity, there is

                               an American feel to the materials, Coplandesque...that makes them

                               especially appealing. The pizzicato second movement...is almost as

                               successful as a similar movement in Britten’s Simple Symphony...the

                               col legno in the final movement is a wonderful idea (and sound): these

                               (movements) are excellent for teaching, and convincing for young

                               people (especially) that living composers create truly living music.

                               Quite delightful actually.” (~D.K.)

                               In the review of The Story of the Song Bird & the Elephant” they said:

                              “Here is that rare piece that can work on both family and serious

                               concerts, namely a double concerto for piccolo, tuba & orchestra with

                               an optional narrator, that has nothing but charm, grace & total fun.

                               Heade’s ear is very attuned to color and nuance, and his melodic

                               material is very engaging for the audience to swoon and enjoy.

                               Children will love how the orchestra not only embellishes the two

                               soloists, as their musical dialogue is incredible, but also how the

                               composer conveys the ensemble to play a lot of passages that keeps

                               them alert at all times! This work is a total winner on all counts.” (K.S)

                                                  

                               As a cellist, Collin has performed as principal with the Oregon   

                               Chamber Players, and the Oregon Arts Orchestra, with whom he has

                               made three European tours.

                          

                               He has concentrated on cello instruction all his professional life and   

teaches at his home studio in southeast Portland as well as the Valley Catholic Music

School in Beaverton.

During the Covid months, in striving to maintain a connection with orchestral members, Collin wrote an assortment of theoretical Letters to the Orchestra. These were sent out to members during the pandemic, in an attempt to simplify an assortment of music theory

related topics. In part he accomplished these by incorporating visual software thru Dorico to portray examples. These were both exhilarating and fun in portraying, similar to writing short excerpts of explanatory notes, yet in a way which would be fun for the reviewer toward a better understanding of certain musical topics. 

Collin’s principal teachers have included Tomas Svoboda, composition; John Trudeau, orchestral conducting; and David J. Wilson, choral conducting. He had the honor of being Hamilton Cheifetz’s very first cello student in the Portland area, and received instruction from cellist Dorien de Léon as well.

Collin enjoys his home life immensely with spouse, Cameretta. His daughter, Julie, is a Sr. Manager, Reputations Programs, Corporate Affairs, for Banfield Pet Hospital headquarters in Vancouver, WA.

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