The Southern Oregon Repertory Singers’ Community Partnership Program reflects our belief that music is not only an artistic expression, but a meaningful way to connect with and uplift our community.
Each season, we collaborate with local organizations whose missions align with the themes of our concerts to create opportunities to amplify their work, raise awareness, and inspire collective impact. Through these partnerships, we deepen the connection between music and community, turning performance into shared purpose.
The Southern Oregon Women’s Leadership Council is dedicated to advancing women’s leadership through mentorship, professional development, and community connection, while fostering opportunities for women to lead and shape business, government, and nonprofit sectors in ways that reflect and strengthen the broader community.
This work is reflected in the leadership of advocates such as Catherine Lutes, President of the AAUW of Oregon (and one of Rep Singers’ newest board members), whose efforts focus on expanding educational access, supporting women in STEAM fields, and advancing equity through public advocacy and community engagement.
In partnership with our May 2027 concerts and part of the James M. Collier Festival of New Works, we celebrate these shared values through a program centered on women’s voices in composition. Featuring new works by composers Lucy Walker and Jodi French, the concert highlights creativity, leadership, and artistic innovation by women. Together, this collaboration underscores the power of mentorship, representation, and storytelling, which amplifies the voices of women not only in leadership, but on the concert stage.
The Southern Oregon Japanese Association promotes cultural understanding, education, and the celebration of Japanese heritage within our region. Our May 2026 collaboration is rooted not only in cultural exchange, but in remembrance and reflection. Oregon’s 5th Poet Laureate, Lawson Inada—who was incarcerated as a young child in U.S. internment camps during World War II—has devoted much of his poetry to exploring that experience and its lasting impact on identity, memory, and resilience.
This program also features guest baritone Christopheren Nomura, whose family history is similarly connected to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the war, bringing a deeply personal dimension to the performance. Together, these artistic voices are brought to life through a newly commissioned work by composer Jodi French, inspired by Inada’s poetry and the lived experiences it reflects.
Through this partnership, music becomes a vehicle for storytelling, honoring those who endured internment while fostering dialogue, understanding, and cultural connection within our community.
ACCESS works to alleviate poverty and improve quality of life in Jackson County by providing essential services including food assistance, housing support, and community resources. In partnership with our 2025 holiday concerts, we joined efforts to support this vital mission through our annual Holiday Food Drive.
Thanks to the generosity of our audience and community, we collected four bins of food and raised $762 in donations—providing more than 2,286 meals for families in need across the Rogue Valley.
We were also proud to partner with Harry & David, a company rooted in Southern Oregon with a long-standing commitment to sharing joy through food and gifting. Their mission of connection and generosity was reflected in their donation of eight gourmet gift baskets, which were given as incentives to concertgoers who brought food donations—adding an element of surprise and celebration to the spirit of giving.
We extend our gratitude to ACCESS, Harry & David, and our Community Connections Chair Muriel Garcia-Hart, and all who contributed to this meaningful effort, demonstrating how music can inspire generosity and tangible support for our community.
