Oregon’s unique high school classical music program

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.

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!!!

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.

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!

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.