North Coast Symphonic Band kicks into high gear preparing for ‘Overture Overdrive’

North Coast Symphonic Band kicks into high gear preparing for ‘Overture Overdrive’

Published 4:55 am Saturday, January 17, 2026

Be prepared for a passionate answer when you ask conductor Terry L.  Dahlgren why the North Coast Symphonic Band is important. Dahlgren’s response is “to answer this question adequately would require literally pages.”

It’s his fourth season at the helm, and the group is kicking it into high gear preparing for their upcoming concert “Overture Overdrive.”

Board President Brian Bergman has been in the group as a trombone player off and on since 1996. He is also eager to share why community based music groups are important.
“Many people learn a musical instrument in school and it’s a good way to connect with your peers on another level into adulthood. You are valued and that’s really special. Everyone in society needs a place where they feel valued and this is where we get that. And in turn we give that back to the community,” said Bergman.

Dahlgren, who has a 32-year career behind him as a music educator at Seaside public schools, was part of a rotating group of guest conductors before he was asked to sign on as the permanent conductor.

Kathleen Strecker is a part of the winds section. She also serves as a board member and publicist for the group and has noticed a positive impact in the group.

“We’ve grown in numbers because people enjoy Terry. He’s always positive and has an uplifting leadership style. He’s very conscious of picking music for each concert that is fun and challenging enough for us to enjoy for the audience to enjoy. Not everybody does that,” she said.

Strecker and her husband Tom practice their instruments together in at-home practice sessions. Tom plays the french horn and trumpet, while Kathleen – who played flute all through high school and college – has become a solid alto sax player. She credits this to her time with North Coast Symphonic Band.

“This is the first time I’ve played it on a regular basis in a formal music group; currently I’m now better at the alto saxophone from practicing regularly,” said Kathleen.

Part of that is Dahlgren’s style of motivation.

“Terry makes it fun to practice because he will find listening links on Youtube so we can get a good sense of where the piece is going and how it’s supposed to sound,” said Kathleen.

Dahlgren said he sees making music as a physical and mental communal effort.

“We are training ourselves, a diverse group of nearly 60 individuals, to respond and communicate to our audience in a very precise way.  It’s not hard to be in awe of all the components of that process coming together at a single moment in time.  I love that this process drives us to be better in order to create and be part of something bigger than ourselves.  It can be difficult, time consuming, and even frustrating, but I can think of very few things that can challenge and engage us in quite this way.  The beauty of our group is that despite the musical challenges, everyone understands this and few of us would have it any other way,” he said.

• • •
North Coast Symphonic Band
“Overture Overdrive”
Conducted by Terry Dahlgren

• 2 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Liberty Theatre, 1203 Commercial St., Astoria.

• Admission is free for high school students
Middle school students and younger are free when accompanied by an adult.

• Regular admission is $15 in advance or $20 the day of the concert. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Liberty Theatre box office from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays or online at: www.libertyastoria.showare.com

• The North Coast Brass Quintet will perform prelude music starting at 1:30 pm.