Thursday, May 15, 2025

😱 So Much Happening This Weekend!

 

Central Oregon
Music and Theater News


Want to share COMAT NEWS?

Sign Up Here!

Have news to share? Check out the deadline and rates at the bottom!

Cascade Chorale Sings the Pops!

Under the direction of James W. Knox, the Cascade Chorale Community Choir is proud to present Sing the Pops an electrifying concert celebrating the joy of music, the power of song, and the strength of community. Guest artists Academie de Ballet Classique. Join us at the First Presbyterian Church of Bend on Saturday, May 17, at 7 PM and Sunday, May 18, at 3 PM for an unforgettable musical experience. Admission is free, ensuring that everyone in the community can enjoy this special event.

Sing the Pops will showcase an exciting selection of beloved pop hits, spanning decades and genres, performed by the talented voices of the Cascade Chorale. From classic favorites to modern chart-toppers, this concert promises to uplift and entertain audiences of all ages. The Cascade Chorale’s mission is to bring great musical experiences to the Central Oregon community. By offering free concerts, the Chorale ensures that high-quality live music remains accessible to all, enriching the cultural fabric of the region.

All are welcome to attend. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening (or afternoon) of high-energy performances, community spirit, and the magic of live music.

For more information, visit cascadechorale.orgClick here to donate.

CO Symphony Spring Concert!

The Central Oregon Symphony invites you to our Spring Concert Series. The concerts will be May 17 at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm and May 18 at 2:00 pm. The venue for these dates will be Mountain View High School. You can learn more about the concerts and how to reserve your tickets at cosymphony.com. We look forward to a lovely weekend of music in May.
 
Recently retired after nearly four decades playing clarinet and bass clarinet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), we are honored to have J. Lawrie Bloom join the Central Oregon Symphony for our season finale. In addition to his work with the CSO, Lawrie has appeared throughout the world as a chamber musician and concerto soloist. He will be performing the sublime "Concerto for Clarinet" by W.A. Mozart. The second half of the concert will feature one of the staples of the symphonic repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4”. In this colossal four-movement work, Tchaikovsky wrestles with the idea of “fate” and all of its complex manifestations in our human existence.

For ticket information, please visit cosymphony.com.


Spring Concert Online Auction

For our final concert this year, we are doing an online auction that features wonderful handcrafted donations from our Central Oregon Symphony community. This exclusive online auction features items ranging from a luxuriously soft alpaca wool shawl and a rugged artisan-forged steel knife, to an adventurous Hoodoo ski package complete with hand-knitted skiers headband. Support local artistry and our musicians with this chance to own something truly unique. 

All proceeds will support our community outreach efforts. We are passionate about sharing the rich traditions of classical music with future generations and providing meaningful music education programs for both youth and the young at heart. Every bid brings us closer to making that vision a reality.

The auction is online only, but items will be on display at our Spring Concerts on May 17th and 18th. You can also view the items and bid on the by clicking here.

Celebrating the Great American Songbook!

The Redmond Community Choir presents their spring concert on Sunday, May 18th at 4 PM. The 75 member choir will be Celebrating the Great American Songbook, singing timeless classics from George Gershwin, Cole Porter and others. They will also be performing Bob Chilcott's "A Little Jazz Mass", accompanied by a stellar rhythm section featuring Central Oregon musicians and guest artist Richard Tuttobene on piano.

The concert will be held at Redmond High School, and is free to the public (donations are appreciated).  The Redmond Community Choir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and is a COCC Community Education program.

Cascade Winds Spring Concert!

Join us for our final 2024-2025 season concert,
Sunday, June 1 at 2:00PM at Summit HS in Bend!

Maestro Michael Gesme has a great lineup of symphonic band music on our program. We have two wonderful marches, Alford’s Army of the Nile (so British, you’ll be “gasping for a cuppa”!), and Broadbent’s Centaur March. Boysen’s beautiful Song for My Children will fill your heart, and Shaffer’s Costa Del Sol will have you wanting to flamenco in the aisles! Anyone who has read Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows will appreciate the characters, grandeur, and humor in de Meij’s work of the same name. And not to be missed, Leshnoff’s Symphony for Winds is a profound work originally commissioned for The United States Marine Band in honor of its 225th Anniversary.

Join us at 2:00PM in the auditorium at Summit High School in Bend. As always, our performances are free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted at the performance or here on our website.

Bend Pops Celebrates
American Music & Composers!


Join us Sunday, June 15, as Pops celebrates American music and American composers! We’re featuring the music of John Philip Sousa, George M. Cohan, Tim Shackelton, David R. Gillingham, Scott Joplin, and more. We’re also celebrating well-loved American folk music and music made famous by the legendary Louis Armstrong. Not to be missed!

In addition to our orchestral program, we welcome pianist extraordinaire Gary Ruppert, a jazz and classical performer and music educator.  Gary will be performing The West Side, his own arrangement of music by Leonard Bernstein. He will also be performing Eric Ewazen’s Pastorale for flute, horn, and piano along with Pops musicians Cathy Biber and Lisa Hakesley. 

Admission is free, as always, and you will enjoy fresh home-baked treats and coffee at intermission.

Concert Details
Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 PM
Mountain View HS
2755 NE 27th St, Bend


Free admission!
(Donations gratefully accepted)

Would you like to help us by volunteering at a concert?  We need volunteers to help with hospitality before the concert and during intermission.  Please contact us at info@bendpops.org if you can help us out!  Thank you!

Our concerts are free to the public, but your contributions are greatly appreciated.  All donations go directly to bringing our music to the people of Central Oregon.  Donations to the 501(c)3 non-profit Bend Pops Orchestra are tax deductible.  You can make donations at our concerts or give online at BendPops.org.  Thank you for your continued support!

Feel free to contact us:
Email: info@bendpops.org
Phone: 541.241.8767

Taizé! 



A meditative interfaith service of music, prayer, silence

Last session until fall: June 5, 2025
St. Helen’s Hall
Trinity Episcopal Church
231 NW Idaho St, Bend (across street from Trinity sanctuary)

Families Welcome!

Location are wheelchair accessible

Sponsored by
Taizé Choir of Central Oregon
taizebend@gmail.com
541-815-5574
Find us on Facebook

SUNRIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Raise the Baton Fundraiser!


Sunriver Music Festival’s annual fundraising party, Raise the Baton is Saturday, June 21 at 5:00 PM in Bend at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. Reserve your table today at sunrivermusic.org for a delicious night of music and dining.

Hosted by Maestro Brett Mitchell, the event features performances by Central Oregon’s finest young musicians. The Raise the Baton auction will include the season's original art by acclaimed photographer David Young-Wolff, plus the opportunity to bid on/sponsor the elements of music: featured soloists, orchestra musicians, individual musical works, and more. The auction and sponsorship opportunities will be entertainingly emceed by local personalities Dr. Stephen Marshall and Brett Bizik.

“Raise the Baton offers intriguing glimpses into the myriad elements that create world-class orchestra concerts in Bend & Sunriver each summer,” said Executive Director Meagan Iverson. “Continuing a treasured tradition, the paddle raise at this event directly funds the Young Artists Scholarship Program. By participating in Raise the Baton, you directly support the future of music!”

Throughout its 30-year history, Sunriver Music Festival’s Young Artists Scholarship program has awarded almost $750,000 in scholarships to exceptional young classical music students from throughout Central Oregon. In 2024 alone, 15 musicians aged 13-24 were awarded a combined total of $35,800 in scholarships to aid with expenses related to college tuition or private music lessons.

Tickets are $125 per person, and includes dinner, complimentary wine and soft drinks, and performances. To save your seat (or table of 8 – table reservations get special perks!), visit sunrivermusic.org, email tickets@sunrivermusic.org or call 541-593-1084.

Sunriver Music Festival’s 2025 summer season will be held in Bend and Sunriver from August 2-13. Events are at the iconic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend and the historic Great Hall at Sunriver Resort. Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell will lead world-class orchestra musicians and soloists in a remarkable 48th season. For details and tickets, visit sunrivermusic.org.

Sunriver Music Festival is a year-round nonprofit presenting world-class orchestral performances and supporting music education throughout Central Oregon. Through a commitment to excellence, collaboration and innovation, the Festival seeks to foster a lifelong love of classical music in its many diverse forms. | sunrivermusic.org

HDCM Raises Funds for Educational Outreach with Hanging Flower Baskets and Culinary Herb Baskets!

High Desert Chamber Music is offering hanging flower baskets and culinary herb baskets to fund Educational Outreach efforts. These 12" diameter baskets will at a minimum double in size, and you can choose from a large variety of high-quality mixed flower baskets. For those who like to cook with fresh herbs, the new culinary baskets will consist of Lemon Balm, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, and/or Thyme/Mint. 
 
Grown in the valley, orders will be taken until mid-May, with the delivery of these beautiful baskets to Bend on Thursday, May 22. For those who want delivery before Mother’s Day, we can also accommodate this request.
 
Baskets can be purchased on the High Desert Chamber Music website by clicking here. Flower baskets are priced at $39 and Culinary Herb baskets are priced at $80.
 
High Desert Chamber Music's goal is to allow young children to experience the highest levels of music performance and cultivate an interest that can lead to a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of the performing arts. All our programs are provided at no cost to students, teachers, or schools in Central Oregon. Our Educational Outreach efforts have three areas of focus: 1) Visits to Local Schools; 2) Master Class; 3) Spotlight Chamber Players. More information about their programs can be found online.
 
High Desert Chamber Music’s mission is to bring exceptional chamber music and musicians to Central Oregon. Now in its seventeenth season, HDCM presents an acclaimed concert series featuring world-renowned artists and meaningful educational opportunities. Join us in experiencing the impact that live musical excellence can bring to our community!
 
Further information:
Contact:  541.306.3988 / info@highdesertchambermusic.com / 961 NW Brooks St. (Downtown Bend

Want to see your listing here? Check out the different ad services available!

Contact: centraloregonmusicnews@gmail.com

Submission deadline:
EOD Wednesday of each week for Thursday or Friday distribution

Distribution: 
Email, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and the Central Oregon Music and Theater News blog!

2025 Rates:

$20 - A single event posting in the weekly digest for up to 3 months
$20 - Send a one-time, stand-alone News Flash distributed on the day of your choice
$75 - Unlimited postings in the weekly digest for 365 days from the date of purchase

2026 Rates:

$25 - A single event posting in the weekly digest for up to 3 months
$25 - Send a one-time, stand-alone News Flash distributed on the day of your choice
$75 - Unlimited postings in the weekly digest for 365 days from the date of purchase

PayPal link - click here

(@RichcraftStudios)

Sing out!  Play on!

Central Oregon Music and Theater News