Doran concert spurs recordings, reconnection

Hazel Dell — The Feb. 28 Lifetime Recognition Concert honoring 92-year-old classical composer and musician Matt Doran, who relocated to Hazel Dell from Los Angeles in the 1990s, was many sorts of success. For one thing, it was a “high-quality performance” with “lots of variety and an especially moving ending by the Clark College Women’s Vocal Ensemble,” according to Doran friend and fan Alan Hemenway, an organizer of the event. Approximately 150 people attended the show, which was held at the Northside Baptist Church. Even better, if you missed the show you can visit www.onscenedigital.com/doran to hear Bob Haas’ fine live recordings of the concert, an offering of short pieces by Doran for woodwinds, strings, piano and voices. Perhaps most amazing of all: A historical consultant based in New York read The Columbian’s Feb. 17 pre-concert story on Doran and contacted the newspaper’s office, seeking to reconnect the maestro with a singer named Floradelle Wilson whom he once accompanied in a Los Angeles concert — 73 years ago.