Oregon’s unique high school classical music program

Our Programs

Newport is recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as a center for excellence in classical music, where youth find friendship and self-discovery through challenging musical enrichment.

The Festival pays for all the expenses of the students, teachers, and professional conductors. The schools only pay for transportation to Newport.

About Us
High School Orchestra Festival

The Festival is an annual 4-day event for six high school orchestras where they join together to learn in small innovative workshops, perform all-together in a concert, and bond with peers. The Festival includes a performance by a university orchestra and is led by professional music directors and conductors.

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Chamber Concert Series

The Chamber Concert Series features high school quartets and professional quartets performing side-by-side. The students also participate in a master class led by the professional musicians.

Upcoming Concert Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church located at 2315 N Hwy. 101 in Newport.
Featuring Duo Seirá (Sofie Yang, violin; Juan Avendano, piano) performing pieces by Brahms and Monti. Also performing will be the Newberg High School Wind Ensemble.

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High School Composers’ Symposium

The Symposium is a unique opportunity for high school students to submit an original composition, receive instruction from professional composers, and have their composition performed.

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Testimonials

Since most of the students at our school are low income, and the neighborhoods surrounding the school are also, raising money for a big trip like this for our entire orchestra is very challenging. We are truly grateful for all of the support given to make this trip possible for us.
Caleb, Cellist
I believe that this Festival was a really amazing opportunity and experience – it brought us together as an orchestra, it inspired me to practice more and increase my skills and the whole time myself and others were having fun!!! Thank you for such a wonderful Festival!!!
Sophie, Violinist
As the director of a Title 1 school orchestra program, I am so very thankful that this one-of-a-kind orchestra festival exists in our area. Our students benefited from wonderful educational clinics, a chance to perform in a splendid hall, an opportunity to learn from other orchestra programs in Oregon, and all while we stayed in scenic Newport. To top it off, we could afford to come, because the only expense was transportation.
Larry Garrett, Orchestra Director
Seeing firsthand how our donation made this experience possible for so many young people is something I won’t soon forget. It was incredible to see the way the students interacted with the community, the conductors and each other. It was also amazing to see each school play independently and then all come together to perform as a group. I look forward to next year!
Lisa Westerman, Umpqua Bank branch manager
In this challenging time, coming together with the students from the Composers' Symposium to exchange musical ideas, stylistic practices, and original compositions has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring. My hope is that more young people in the state of Oregon have the opportunity to not only create but to share with and learn from their peers, communities, and audiences.
Dr. Dana Reason, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music
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Newport is recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as a center for excellence in classical music. Become a Friend of the Festival.

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