Rep Singers reveal a 2026–27 season built on ‘big-heart’ music
By Jim Flint for Ashland.news
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers will lean into what Music Director Paul French calls “big-heart music” in its 2026-27 season, a four-concert lineup that moves from Brahms to contemporary composers, from holiday favorites to newly commissioned works.
The season, revealed Saturday, April 18, at a donor event at Grizzly Peak Winery, traces an arc French describes as both emotional and intentional.
“I am a fan of big-heart music, music that will move the listener, inspire them and offer a life-enhancing alternative to the oppression of the daily news cycle,” French said in an interview ahead of the announcement.
“Whatever style we sing in, the music has to strongly communicate and, obviously, has to be artistically strong.”
The season opens in November with “Holding Wonder,” a program centered on what French calls music of emotional immediacy. Anchoring the concert is Johannes Brahms’ “Nänie,” paired with works by Ēriks Ešenvalds, Lucy Walker, Dolly Parton, Jacob Collier and composer-in-residence Jodi French.
Artistic growth
Paul French says programming the Brahms piece marks the arrival of the ensemble at a new level.
“There are several pieces I’ve been waiting to program. One is the Brahms “Nänie,” he said. The title is derived from the Latin nenia, meaning a funeral song or dirge. The piece is often praised for its “beautiful moral vision” and is considered a masterpiece of late Romantic choral repertoire.
“It is a 13-minute work,” French said. “It constitutes a big chunk of a choral 35-minute half program. We’re doing it now because we have a group that will sustain the long romantic lines really well. It is just so beautiful.”
Holiday tradition renewed
The December program, “A Scattered Light in Winter,” continues a long-standing Rep Singers tradition: a holiday concert that balances familiarity with discovery. French said maintaining that balance requires constant searching.
“I spend a lot of time on this program because music during the holidays is so important to us all,” he said. “I am constantly looking for new pieces and new texts.”
Among the highlights this year are new works by Eric Whitacre and Taylor Scott Davis, alongside carols and seasonal music from around the world.
“The music is out there, you just have to take the time to find it, and arrange the program in a way that is fun and entertaining,” French said.
Looking to the cosmos
The March concert, “We Are Stardust,” turns toward larger philosophical themes, pairing canonical composers with contemporary voices. At its center is the “Requiem” by Icelandic composer Sigurður Sævarsson, a work French has been eager to bring to local audiences.
“This requiem Mass is absolutely stunning,” French said. “It has a fresh sound that is unlike anything I have heard.”
French emphasized the work’s emotional clarity as much as its scale.
“The music is still, lyrical and absolutely beautiful. I think this piece will be one of the year’s best loved pieces. Can’t wait to do it,” he said.
New voices, new works
The season concludes with the James M. Collier New Works Festival in May, featuring major commissions from Jodi French and British composer Lucy Walker. The program highlights women composers at a moment of expanded opportunity in the field.
“For most of music history women were not given the opportunity to study and compose. Now that they can, there are double the number of possible composers,” French said. “These two are writing some of the best music in the world, and they just happen to be women.”
Walker’s commission marks her first major work for a U.S. ensemble, and she is expected to attend the performances for a post-concert Q&A. French said the festival reflects a broader commitment not just to presenting music, but to shaping the future repertoire.
French says his long-standing collaboration with his wife, composer and accompanist Jodi French, is central to the ensemble’s work.
“We are very lucky that we work so well together,” he said. “Our musical tastes are very much the same and we have complementary skill sets. And Jodi is an invaluable help to me in rehearsals.”
A varied musical menu
Across the season, the repertoire spans centuries and styles — from Haydn and Brahms to Dolly Parton and Jacob Collier — a mix French sees as essential rather than incidental.
“I think variety is the spice of life, and it is fun to hear a variety of styles and historical periods,” he said. “It gives the choir a chance to show their tonal versatility and gives the audience an entertaining mix.”
That philosophy extends to his long tenure with the organization, which he noted has grown significantly in scale and ambition.
“Rep Singers has grown so far as an organization,” he said. “The culture of the group is to really go after the high end.”
All concerts are at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall in Ashland, with one exception — an additional performance of the December holiday concert at Medford’s Holly Theatre.
Closing the current season
Before the new season begins, the ensemble will close out its 2025-26 season with the James M. Collier New Works Festival on May 9 and 10 at the SOU Music Recital Hall. The program features world premieres by Peter Relph and Jodi French, with baritone soloist Christòpheren Nomura, and explores themes of community, belonging and transformation.
Original Article: https://ashland.news/rep-singers-reveal-a-2026-27-season-built-on-big-heart-music/