40th Season Finale: Southern Oregon Repertory Singers Present Two World Premieres on Mother’s Day Weekend
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present its 40th season finale with two concerts as part of this year’s James M. Collier New Works Festival. The program will feature the world premieres of two commissioned works that explore the journey from unrest to peace, and from displacement to belonging.
British composer Peter Relph, known for his richly expressive choral works, presents To the End in Songs—a meditation based on Psalm 4. Relph describes his composition as “moving from a state of restlessness to peace.” The work draws on plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical singing, and musical influences from Relph’s home in England’s Lake District. The result is a deeply resonant and transporting soundscape that reflects what Beethoven described as “both inward and outward peace.”
“This composition is lush, richly colorful, and almost unbearably beautiful,” said Music Director Paul French.
The second half of the program features Jodi French’s The Stranger Among You: Songs of Exile and Home, a sweeping and deeply human exploration of belonging, identity, and shared heritage. The work sets an eclectic range of texts: from Langston Hughes and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, to Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada. French also weaves Celtic and Japanese folk traditions and Emma Lazarus’ poetry The New Colossus into the composition. French describes her text selection as emphasizing “our ancient shared humanity, a theme that has never been more timely.”
Both works are scored for choir and orchestra and feature internationally renowned baritone Christopheren Nomura, whose commanding voice brings depth and brilliance to the premieres.
Members of Southern Oregon Japanese Association (SOJA) will provide a cultural and historical context of Lawson Inada’s poetry as a part of a special community collaboration. One hour prior to each performance there will be a pre-concert lecture. Following the concert, we will conclude with a brief Q&A featuring composers Peter Relph and Jodi French, Christopheren Nomura, Lawson Inada, and Music Director Paul French. The sessions will offer audiences a rare opportunity to engage directly with the artists and provide insight into the creative process and inspiration behind the music.
“This is more than a concert; it is an emotional and uplifting journey and a celebration of new music that resonates long after the final note,” said French.
Concert Details:
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Venue: SOU Music Building, Ashland, OR
Extras: Free pre-concert lectures begin 1 hour before each performance. Free parking is available in Lot #36 across from the Music Building.
Tickets & Info: 541-552-0900, email tickets@repsingers.org, or purchase tickets here
About Southern Oregon Repertory Singers
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers is a premier choral ensemble based in Ashland known for exceptional performances and a commitment to choral excellence. Celebrating its 40th season in 2025, the ensemble enriches the Rogue Valley with classical masterworks, contemporary compositions, and newly commissioned pieces. Under the direction of Dr. Paul French, Professor Emeritus of Choral Studies at Southern Oregon University, the group brings together more than 70 volunteer and professional singers from across the region. The ensemble is dedicated to advancing new music, commissioning works from composers such as Craig Kingsbury, Lucy Walker, and Jodi French. Their recordings are available at repsingers.org.