AN OREGON ORIGINAL
Oregon Festival Choirs (OFC) was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit corporation to operate the Pacific International Children's Choir Festival and establish community children's choirs and provide choral music education services.
The Festival, known as PICCFEST, was founded by Peter Robb in 1997 and occurs each June in Eugene. Up to 10 treble choirs from the U.S. and beyond are selected based on audition. PICCFEST involves a week of rehearsals, concerts and cultural exchange in collaboration with the Oregon Bach Festival.
OFC’s six ensembles serve young singers ages 7 to 19 from more than 45 public, private, and home-school settings throughout central Lane County. The OFC concert season, community performances, and festival activities reach a combined audience of 12,000 annually.
PREPARING YOUNG SINGERS TO MEET THE WORLD
OFC provides motivated young singers with world-class opportunities to learn and grow. Regular weekly rehearsals, community concerts, social events and touring are all part of the experience that choristers often refer to as life-changing.
The variety of musical experiences include:
Partnering with outstanding professional and university ensembles, notably the Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene Ballet, Oregon Mozart Players, Eugene Concert Choir, Eugene Opera, Dance Theatre of Oregon, Oregon Wind Ensemble, and the UO's top a cappella ensembles, On the Rocks and Divisi
Participating in Performances and workshops directed by master conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Henry Leck, Sandra Snow, Anton Armstrong, Doreen Rao, Axel Theimer, Richard Nance, Judith Willoughby, and more.
Communicating directly with composers, among them Bob Chilcott, György Orbán, Paul Halley, Audrey Snyder, Ron Jeffers, Robert Jager, Valerie Shields, and many more.
Hosting and performing with visiting children’s choirs and professional ensembles from throughout the world.
Touring as Music Ambassadors to destinations throughout Oregon, Washington, California, British Columbia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and England. |