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Home > Who We Are > Choir History
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Choir History
In September, 2003, with talent, conviction, and dedication, Artistic Director Mia Hall Savage teamed up with Pianist Signe Lusk to start two choirs; one for elite treble singers and one for high school students. Within weeks those two choirs doubled in size and voice to become four choirs, and added Associate Director Ben Landsverk to the organization. While Mia worked with the singers, Program Coordinator Ruth Finn began organizing the choir members and all business details. Pacific Youth Choir was born.... and then immediately found a wonderful home as the choir “In Residence” at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Pacific Youth Choir is now made up of eight auditioned choirs: Music Makers (grades kindergarten through first), Coro Nova I & Coro Nova II (first through fifth grade beginning voices), Cascadia (middle school treble voices), Coro Pacifica (middle and high school treble voices), Pacific (high school voices), and Tsunami (men’s voices). Coro Pacifica performed their first concert, in Tacoma, Washington, within weeks after forming, and received rave reviews from internationally known conductor Dr. Rodney Eichenberger. All four choirs had full programs as they performed during the winter 2003 holiday season, and culminated their first year with the premiere concert, ‘True Light’, at Trinity Cathedral. In two short, action-packed months, Pacific Youth Choir became a fully functioning non-profit organization under the governance of a 14 member board, and an illustrious honorary board. Although Pacific Youth Choir is new, many of these students had already been singing together with Mia for years and were excited to join Pacific Youth Choir. With more than 180 singers representing 60 Metro-area schools, Pacific Youth Choir is fast becoming known as one of the finest choral programs in the area. With such an auspicious beginning the choir asks itself, “So where do we go from here?” The answer is apparent; upward and onward with continuing excellence! |
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2003-2008 HIGHLIGHTS
September 2003 Pacific Youth Choir holds it's first rehearsal. May 2004 Pacific Choir joins Dennis DeYoung at Keller Auditorium. May 2004 Pacific Youth Choir's all premiere-premiere "Song of Light" Concert, featuring four world premieres written for them. June 2004 Coro Pacifica was invited to be the host choir for the 6th annual Pacific International Children's Choir Festival (PICCFEST) in Eugene, Oregon. September 2005 Pacific Youth Choir singers with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and Portland Symphonic Choir in a musical journey to Middle Earth - "Lord of the Rings" November 2005 A collaboration with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and Obo Addy, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. April 2006 Eric Whitacre Festival - George Fox University May 2006 John Adam’s,” On the transmigration of Souls” with the Oregon Symphony and the Portland Symphonic Choir Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. October 2006 Coro Pacifica: Portland Chamber Orchestra "From Darkness to Light", Kaul Auditorium, Reed College. November 2006 Pacific Choir, Pacifica, and Tsunami: University of Oregon School of Music Music Today Festival Veljo Tormis, composer-in-residence Hirvo Surva, guest conductor April 2007 Tsunami: Chanticleer concert and workshop October 2007 Coro Pacifica: "Mid Summer Nights Dream" in collaboration with the Oregon Ballet Theatre. March 2008 Pacific sings with the White Bird Dance Company, Schnitzer Auditorium May 2008 Coro Pacifica sings with Oregon Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Carmina Burana, Schnitzer Auditorium Home Page |
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