Waterfront Concerts

Timeline Photos

We congratulate the Doctors, Lawyers and some of the finest High School Seniors in our State as they walk across the stage at Merrill Auditorium to receive their diplomas!

The events page has been updated to now include the 2017 / 2018 concert season of The Portland Symphony Orchestra!

Be sure to check out the Events Calendar ~ we've updated it with events from Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ , Portland Ovations and more!

Ray Cornils | Orgelfest17, Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series

Portland’s very own Municipal Organist, Ray Cornils, wraps up Orgelfest17 Kotzschmar Summer Series with the help of Kotzschmar Festival Brass! Pre-concert Kotzschmar Konversation at 6:30pm in Merrill Auditorium’s Rehearsal Room. Concert at 7:30pm.

Nathan Avakian | Orgelfest17, Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series

Nathan Avakian brings his creative talent to the Kotzschmar. Renowned for his tasteful blending of twenty-first century virtual instrument technology with theatre organ music, Nathan creates performances that satisfy contemporary musical tastes and pay tribute to the historical legacy of the theatre organ. He was commissioned to compose seven original theatre organ soundtracks for the International Youth Silent Film Festival, a program that challenges young filmmakers to create contemporary silent films to theatre organ music. He helped pioneer the festival’s expansion which now includes regional festivals in Oregon, Missouri, Adelaide and Melbourne, Australia. Pre-concert Kotzschmar Konversation at 6:30pm in Merrill Auditorium’s Rehearsal Room. Concert at 7:30pm.

Monica Czausz | Orgelfest17, Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series

Monica Czausz kicks off Orgelfest17, The Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series. Ms. Czausz has been recognized by The Diapason as one of top 20 organists under 30 for her “superior accomplishments, leadership, creativity, and innovative thinking.” Pre-concert Kotzschmar Konversation at 6:30pm in Merrill Auditorium’s Rehearsal Room. Concert at 7:30pm

98.9 WCLZ

Waterfront Concerts

Timeline Photos

The Best-Selling Author, Humorist and Contributor to This American Life will be Live at Merrill Auditorium David Sedaris, author of the previous bestsellers Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and regular National Public Radio contributor will be appearing for one night only at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 7:00pm, following the release of his newest book, Theft By Finding Diaries (1977 – 2002). His new book is a collection of diaries that will be released on May 30, 2017. This is a unique opportunity to see the best-selling humorist in an intimate setting. As always, Sedaris will be offering a selection of all-new readings and recollections, as well as a Q&A session and post-show book signing. Tweaking the familiar until it warps, David Sedaris mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Including his recent releases, the New York Times’ bestselling books When You Are Engulfed in Flames and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, David Sedaris’ wickedly witty observations of the ordinary-bizarre are always sure to deliver insights and laughs. One of six children in a second-generation Greek family, he grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1977, he dropped out of Kent State University to hitchhike around the country. Aside from working as an elf, Sedaris has worked a number of charmingly quirky jobs such as a house painter, an apple picker, an aide in a mental hospital, a creative writing teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, and an apartment cleaner. Sedaris made his comic debut recounting his strange-but-true experiences of being a Macy’s elf, reading his Santaland Diaries on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition in 1992. His sardonic humor and incisive social critique have made him one of NPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, he was named Humorist of the Year by Time magazine and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor. All seats at Merrill Auditorium are reserved, and range in price from $46.00 to $56.00. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 9, 2017 at www.DavidSedarisOnTour.com or can be purchased by calling PortTix at 207-842-0800.

The Portland Symphony Orchestra

Merrill Auditorium's cover photo