About
OASIS ENSEMBLE
Masterful Chamber Music
Oasis Ensemble is comprised of award-winning, seasoned musicians who have received high critical acclaim for their live performances and recordings: Dawn Weiss, who was the principal flutist of the Oregon Symphony for 25 years prior to founding the Oasis Ensemble, Louis Lowenstein, long-time member of both the Chicago and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, and Andrew Cannestra, award-winning pianist and solo recording artist on the Naxos label who is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon.
The Oasis Ensemble presents versatile programs curated for specific venues and audiences, concertizing as both a Trio and a Duo as well as occasionally joining with highly accomplished guest artist.
Oasis Ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire including actively collaborating with local, national, and international composers to showcase their artistic visions. We enjoy playing for audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds: at churches, bookstores, retirement communities, house concerts, outdoor concerts and at educational institutions, including colleges, primary and secondary schools.
Our essential and vital goal is to foster and cultivate the performing arts, providing a cultural and artistic safe haven: an “Oasis” of inspiration, meaning, and fulfillment to our community.
MEET THE –
Ensemble Members
Dawn Weiss, Flute
DAWN WEISS, flutist, is a versatile orchestral, solo and chamber musician. She served as Principal Flute of the Oregon Symphony for 25 years, and previously as Principal Flute of the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra in Toluca Mexico, and Second Flute of the Miami Philharmonic. As a soloist, Ms. Weiss performed concerti with the Oregon Symphony, Vancouver Symphony (WA), Pasadena Symphony, Los Angeles Doctors Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, Yaquina Chamber Orchestra, Colors of the Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Sunnyside Symphony and Chamber Music Northwest, among others. She concertized internationally and nationally in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, Peru, California, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Music critics have called her work “exquisite,” “imaginative, polished and memorable.” As a chamber musician, Ms. Weiss performed and recorded the highly critically acclaimed album “The Weiss Family Woodwinds”, with her brothers, David Weiss, (Oboist) and Abraham Weiss, (Bassoonist). She also performed and recorded with “Trillium Winds” and with “Michael Allen Harrison and Friends”, and she produced and performed the well received multi media video of Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango: Bordel” with guitarist John Mery and tango dancers. Ms. Weiss served as adjunct flute professor at several Portland, Oregon colleges and taught several summers for Flute Alliance: “Flute Boot Camps.” She now resides in N. Eugene where she teaches a limited number of private students. For more information, please visit: http://www.dawnweiss.com
Louis Lowenstein, Cello
LOUIS LOWENSTEIN, born in Cleveland and raised in Arizona, began his musical development at age seven as a pianist, discovering the cello two years later. As a 13-year-old he was cello soloist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra playing the Saint-Saens Concerto, and at 15 studied for two years with Gregor Piatigorsky at USC, Los Angeles. Louis is a former member of both the Chicago Symphony (1990-1992) and Pittsburgh Symphony (1992-2013).
Andrew Cannestra, Piano
Pianist and composer Andrew Cannestra is the grand prize winner of the 2021 Aeolian Classics Emerging Artist Competition. His debut album, Mystic Pool, was released in 2022, featuring one of his own compositions alongside works by William Grant Still, Alexander Scriabin, Frederic Chopin, and Henri Dutilleux.
Andrew has performed at some of Chicago’s premier venues such as Guarneri Hall and Ganz Hall, and he has also been featured as guest artist for the recital series Henry Fogel Presents. In addition, he performed the Ravel Concerto in G across the Midwest on tour with the St. Olaf Orchestra. He is passionate about programming music by living composers and historically under-represented composers alongside more familiar masterworks. In the coming months, he will perform the Amy Beach Piano Concerto with the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra, and will also give the world premiere of Ryan Johnston’s Piano Concerto no. 1 with Horizon Ensemble.
Equally accomplished as a composer, Andrew often performs his own solo piano music in concert. Notable performers of his other works include the St. Olaf Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the St. Olaf Band, the St. Olaf Philharmonia in 2017, and the Artaria String Quartet in 2016. His music has also been featured in Peter Nelson’s award-winning animated film, Intruder Man.
Andrew currently resides in Eugene, Oregon, where he teaches secondary piano at the University of Oregon. He is currently pursuing his D. M. A. in piano performance, studying with Alexandre Dossin and David Riley. Outside of music, he enjoys fly fishing, hiking, Italian food, and spending time with his wife, fellow pianist Kaitlyn Clawson-Cannestra.
Oasis Duo
Oasis Ensemble originally was conceived as a Flute and Cello Duo. The gorgeous sonorities of the Flute and Cello together offer a wide range of colors, dynamics and articulation. Together, these instruments encompass a 5-octave span, and offer subtle and distinctive nuances. As we began gathering repertoire for our duo, we discovered that there were surprisingly few successful pieces that earned the stature of being considered as standard literature, so we began our mission to change that!
We believe that the Flute and Cello as a duo has the potential to offer a huge palate of emotional expression. To that end, we have begun collaborating with various local, national and international composers to expand the scope and range of repertoire available. We have already commissioned several stellar pieces! Please refer to our Commissions page.
Oasis Trio
In 2023, the Oasis Ensemble officially expanded to become a Trio. We now offer both Duo and Trio performances. This has greatly increased the range and scope of repertoire available. As a trio we have discovered some little known works that are amazing gems that we believe should be included along with the most renowned chamber music pieces. It is our goal to record some of these works and to continue to encourage composers to write for us. Please refer to our Commissions page.
Oasis Ensemble
The inspired chamber ensemble comprised of award-winning, seasoned musicians who have received high critical acclaim for their individual live performances and recordings. Performing versatile programs curated for specific audiences, we present concerts as both a Trio and as a Duo, depending on the venue. We are Dawn Weiss, who was the principal flutist of the Oregon Symphony for 25 years prior to founding the Oasis Ensemble; Louis Lowenstein, protegé of Gregor Piatigorsky and long-time member of both the Chicago Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras; and Andrew Cannestra, award-winning pianist and solo recording artist on the Naxos label, currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon.