Tickets for May 2022 Concert Now on Sale

We’re delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for A Distant Song on May 14 and 15. You can attend in person and/or watch the concert via live-stream or replay. Click here to order tickets or call the box office at 541-552-0900. Performances take place in the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall at 450 S. Mountain Avenue in Ashland.

Paul French says: “A Distant Song captures moments of great beauty from across time and space. Two seldom-heard works by Baroque master, Claudio Monteverdi, are the oldest pieces on the program, the choir accompanied by flutes, keyboard and cello.

“Jumping ahead to the 19th century, we sing Josef Rheinberger’s justly famous part song ‘Abendlied’ (Night Song) as well as two very recent arrangements of songs by a hidden gem of the 19th century, Clara Schumann, arranged here for choir and piano.

“Another too-long neglected 19th century composer, Lili Boulanger, composed the feature-work of the first half of the concert, ‘Soir Sur la Plaine’ (Evening on the Plain). Scored for choir, soprano soloist and piano, this Impressionist-sounding cantata is full of the same lush, sensuous harmonies we associate with Boulanger’s contemporary, Claude Debussy.

“The second half of the concert moves ‘farther away’ not in time, but culturally, with ‘Edo Lullaby,’ a Japanese folk song; ‘Selene’s Boat,’ an homage to the Greek godess of the moon; and a setting by American composer, Alvin Trotman, of poetry by the 8th century Chinese poet, Li Po.

“The concert title, “A Distant Song,” comes from a lovely French poem by Rainer Maria Rilke which ends: ‘When all I wanted was to sing, I was granted the honor of living.’

“We hope this concert’s beautiful poetry and music, refreshes you and gives you renewed strength for these difficult times.”

COVID PROTOCOLS

The health and safety of our patrons and performers is our top priority. All patrons for our May 2022 concert must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID and show proof of vaccination and booster at the door. All are required to wear masks throughout the performance. Unvaccinated children cannot attend. Thank you for  your understanding.

Dates of the 2021-22 Season

The Waiting Sky, December 18 and 19, 2021

4th Annual James M. Collier Festival of New Choral Music, March 5 and 6, 2022 – Canceled

A Distant Song, May 14 and 15, 2022

Non-Discrimination Statement

Southern Oregon Repertory Singers is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for our staff, musicians, audience members, and volunteers. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, national origin, physical ability, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation in any of our activities or operations.

Watch our Videos

Paul French interviews Nick Tennant

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Paul French interviews Jennifer Matsuura

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Paul French Interviews Jodi French

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Holiday Mini-Concert 2020, Part 2

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Southern OR Rep Singers Holiday Mini-Concert 2020, Part 1

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A Conversation with Eric Whitacre, Part 1 of 2

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Paul French and Shelly Cox-Thornhill discuss "O Pulse of My Heart" by Karen Marrolli

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Paul French on "The Stranger Among You" by Jodi French

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  Paul French interviews Nick Tennant

  Paul French, Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' Music Director, interviews Nick Tennant, bass, on 2-2-21 in Ashland, Oregon. The piece mentioned, "Ya Eres Mia" by Morton Lauridsen, can be seen and heard at https://youtu.be/O1jcjlJI_Ls.

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  Paul French interviews Jennifer Matsuura

  Paul French, Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' Music Director, interviews Jennifer Matsuura, soprano, on 1-21-21 in Ashland, Oregon. The pieces mentioned, "Give Me Little Water, Sylvie" and "Pilgrim's Blessing - Each Step of the Journey" can be seen and heard at https://youtu.be/0msqWJ3co_E and https://youtu.be/Y5K49JdIma8.

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  Paul French Interviews Jodi French

  Paul French, Music Director, interviews Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' Composer-in-Residence, Jodi French. 1-6-21 in Ashland, Oregon. The composition mentioned, "Sleep of the Seven Lights," can be seen and heard at https://youtu.be/XiZIIGcGZGk.

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  Holiday Mini-Concert 2020, Part 2

  Dr. Paul French presents Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' Holiday Mini-Concert Part 2, featuring festive songs performed by the choir in recent years.

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  Southern OR Rep Singers Holiday Mini-Concert 2020, Part 1

  Dr. Paul French presents Southern Oregon Repertory Singers' Holiday Mini-Concert Part 2, featuring festive songs performed by the choir in recent years.

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  A Conversation with Eric Whitacre, Part 1 of 2

  Dr. Paul French talks with composer, Eric Whitacre, along with members of Southern Oregon Repertory Singers and the Southern Oregon University Chamber Choir. 10-12-20. Part 1 of 2.

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  Paul French and Shelly Cox-Thornhill discuss "O Pulse of My Heart" by Karen Marrolli

  Dr. Paul French, Music Director of Southern Oregon Repertory Singers and mezzo-soprano Shelly Cox-Thornhill discuss "O Pulse of My Heart" by Karen Marrolli.

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  Paul French on "The Stranger Among You" by Jodi French

  Dr. Paul French, music director of Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, discusses "The Stranger Among You" by Jodi French.

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Major Funding Provided By:

Additional supporters include:

• Jackson County Cultural Coalition funded by the Oregon Cultural Trust
• James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
• Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts
• Oregon Cultural Trust
• Shuttered Venue Operations Grant program of the U.S. Small Business Association