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This Week's Headlines Read on below for more details! March 14-15: Cascade Chorale Celebrates the Classics - Nature March 15: Cascade Horizon Community Band Spring Concert April 9: Taizé April 11: The Maestro at the Piano, Sunriver Music Festival May 8-17: The Secret Garden, BEAT Children's Theatre For Sale / Seeking Help / In the News Sunriver Music Festival Announces New Season April 10 - May 3: Come Say Hello to Me! Have news to share? Check out the deadline and rates at the bottom!

Sing with Western Sky Women's Pop Choir!   Join the Fun!   Join Western Sky Choir for its second season! Western Sky is a community pop choir for self-identified women and our second season begins February 19, with weekly rehearsals on Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club in downtown Bend. We'll be singing pop songs by Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Stevie Nicks, ABBA, and more, as well as some musical theatre songs. This choir is open to singers of all levels, and we hope you'll join us for our second season! You can learn more about the choir and register at  westernskychoir.com.

CELEBRATING THE CLASSICS - NATURE! Led by Director James W. Knox, Cascade Chorale and Chamber Orchestra invite the community to experience Celebrating the Classics ~ Nature, an inspiring choral concert celebrating the beauty of Oregon and the power of the natural world. Performances will take place on Saturday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday, March 15, at 4:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. The centerpiece of the concert is The Majestic Tapestry of Creation, a commissioned work for Cascade Chorale by acclaimed American composer Robert S. Cohen, featuring poetry by Ronald W. Cadmus.  Cohen’s expressive and architecturally rich works have been performed in major venues across the United States and around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.   Cohen is widely recognized for compositions such as Alzheimer’s Stories, a powerful, large-scale choral work that has earned national recognition, along with Genesis, Edison Invents, and numerous orchestral and chamber works. His music is published internationally and celebrated for its emotional depth, intellectual strength, and compelling musical voice. This powerful piece celebrates the wonder, balance, and beauty of the created world. Under the artistic leadership of Director Knox’s, the program blends classical tradition with contemporary expression.  Also featured is Three Songs for Nature, drawn from beloved art songs by Claude Debussy, Robert Schumann, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, offering intimate reflections on nature through diverse musical voices. The concert concludes with the vibrant and expansive Reflection on a Mexican Garden by Kevin T. Padworski, featuring soprano soloist Laurel Barnum. Rich in imagery and emotion, Celebrating the Classics ~ Nature promises audiences an evocative musical journey inspired by the natural world. The concert is free to the public with a suggested $20 donation at the door. For more information, please contact: Marilyn Elliott, Cascade Chorale Association, cascadechorale@gmail.com www.cascadechorale.org

Cascade Horizon Community Band Spring Concert! Free Concert March 15th! Join the Cascade Horizon Community Band for our March 15th concert. Rousing marches, Irish airs and show tunes will celebrate the season.  Our scholarship winner, Juliana Ives will be performing with us. Juliana is the 2026 winner of the Marilyn Burkholder scholarship given annually by the Cascade Horizon Community Band. An oboist, Juliana will perform the 1st Movement of Clemence de Grandvals Oboe Concerto at the the Sunday, March 15th concert.  Her accompanist is Gary Ruppert. In the Fall, Juliana, currently a senior at Caldera High School, will be attending the University of Oregon School of Music. Mountain View High School. 2PM Sunday, March 15th.  https://www.cascadehorizoncommunityband.org/

Next Taizé Session April 9th! A meditative interfaith service of music, prayer, silence 2025-2026 SEASON 7-8 pm on the first Thursday October through May* Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Helen’s Hall (across the street from Trinity sanctuary) 231 NW Idaho St, Bend Families Welcome! * April service to be 2nd Thursday, April 9 May service to be at Shalom Bayit 21555 Modoc Lane, Bend (off Ward Road, east of Bend) Both locations are wheelchair accessible Sponsored by Taizé Choir of Central Oregon taizebend@gmail.com 541-815-5574 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071919285548

Tickets on sale now for The Maestro at the Piano - April 11!   Hailed for the breadth of his work on the podium and at the piano, Maestro Brett Mitchell has carved a unique path for himself in the world of contemporary American classical music. Sunriver Music Festival’s Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell will present an exclusive solo piano recital featuring his own arrangements for film in Sunriver on April 11, 3:00 pm. Visit sunrivermusic.org for tickets to The Maestro at the Piano. As a conductor, Mitchell currently serves as Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony and Artistic Director & Conductor of Oregon's Sunriver Music Festival. He previously served as Music Director of the Colorado Symphony, Associate Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of both the Houston Symphony and Orchestre National de France. Working widely as a guest conductor, Mitchell has led the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and principal orchestras spanning the United States and beyond. As a pianist, Steinway Artist Brett Mitchell has a devoted fanbase of his work at the keyboard. The high standard he has set with artistic and professional achievements makes it most appropriate that Mitchell is formally included on the Steinway Artist roster—a list of the most accomplished and discriminating artists in the world. His exceptionally active YouTube channel @brettmitchellconductor features his original solo piano videos of iconic cues from film history and landmark works from classical, jazz, and pop canons. “Film music has always been an enormous part of what I do and one of the great musical loves of my life. When the pandemic hit back in 2020 and we couldn't present live orchestral music, I took to my piano and flexed my arranging chops, taking iconic scores from film music history and arranging them for myself at the piano. What began as a pandemic diversion has morphed into a continuing passion project that I'm now thrilled to share with more than 15,000 subscribers across my social platforms, and I couldn't be more pleased as we gear up for Sunriver Music Festival’s "America @ 250" celebrations in August 2026 to share many of these iconic selections with our audience in Central Oregon. The art of film scoring was born during the American century, and I can't imagine a better way to kick off our celebrations than with an intimate evening featuring some of my favorite music of all time. Please join me on April 11 in Sunriver.” -Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell Mark your calendars for April 11 and visit sunrivermusic.org on February 3rd when ticket sales open for Sunriver Music Festival’s exclusive concert The Maestro at the Piano. ______________________________________ 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. Visit sunrivermusic.org for more information.

SAVE THE DATES FOR THE SECRET GARDEN!   Open Space Event Studios 5/8/26-5/17/26 Ticket Link Presented by BEAT Children's Theatre, this adaptation by Tim Kelly of the literary classic you’ve loved for years tells the story of Mary Lennox, known as a difficult child, sent to live at her uncle’s estate in England after her parents pass away. Misselthwaite Manor turns out to be a gloomy fortress. Her uncle is rarely home, and his young son, Colin, never leaves his room, convinced he’s an incurable invalid. To her surprise, Mary discovers a strange walled garden that has been locked up for years. With the assistance of Dickon, the gardener’s apprentice, Mary brings the garden back to life and discovers Dickon’s amazing ability to communicate with animals. The garden seems to have a wonderful, magical effect on all who come into it, allowing Mary to help restore Colin to health and to reunite him with his father. This version also introduces the endearing Sowerby family, who add much laughter and love to this touching story. Take time to smell the roses.

SUNRIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL Announces 49th Summer Concert Series!   August 10-20, 2026 in Bend & Sunriver, Central Oregon Highlights Include: A celebration of American orchestral music as part of the nationwide commemoration of the country’s 250th Anniversary Four Classical Concerts with the Festival Orchestra conducted by Brett Mitchell Distinguished Guests: pianist Michelle Cann, violinists William Hagen and Tessa Lark, bass-baritone Timothy Jones, and the Central Oregon Mastersingers Pops Concert:  John Williams & the American Journey Family Concert with an Instrument Petting Zoo at Sunriver SHARC’s Benham Hall   From August 10-20, 2026, Sunriver Music Festival presents its 49th season in two spectacular, historic Central Oregon venues—the Sunriver Resort Great Hall and the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. Performances feature world-class orchestra musicians and renowned soloists, led by Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell. This summer’s concert series includes a celebration of American orchestral music as part of the nationwide commemoration of the country’s 250th Anniversary. Events include four classical concerts, a pops concert and a family concert. The Summer Concert Series opens August 10 at the Sunriver Resort Great Hall and closes August 20 at the Tower Theatre.    “This summer, America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence, and we're so pleased to mark the occasion with at least one work by an American composer on every program this season,” said Maestro Mitchell. “We'll feature American classics like Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring and Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto, plus we’ll introduce new favorites by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts and GRAMMY® winners Edgar Meyer and Joan Tower. We'll also bring to life so many of the great European classics we all know and love, including works by Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Bach, Mozart and Schumann.”   Ticket sales for Friends of the Festival members begin as early as April 1; tickets are available to the public on June 1. Members have first choice of the best seats, plus receive ticket discounts, gifts, invites to exclusive events and potential tax benefits.  Other Festival events prior to the Summer Concert Series include The Maestro at the Piano, a solo piano recital by Brett Mitchell on April 11 at Sunriver Christian Fellowship; Young Artists Scholarship Recital on June 5; the Raise the Baton Fundraising Party on July 18; and PLAY ON! Pickleball Bash in June. More information on these year-round events and more can be found at sunrivermusic.org.   Sunriver Music Festival also presents free music education events and masterclasses during these two weeks in August. Many orchestra rehearsals are free and open to the public. More details to be announced. 2026 SUMMER FESTIVAL CONCERT SCHEDULE Opening Classical Concert: Beethoven, Haydn & Made in America Monday, August 10, 7:30 p.m.  |  Sunriver Resort Great Hall Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor Michelle Cann, piano  JOAN TOWER  Made in America BEETHOVEN  Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major HAYDN  Symphony No. 101 in D Major, “Clock”   The Festival season opens with variations on America the Beautiful by one of today’s foremost composers, Joan Tower, in her GRAMMY-winning work, Made in America. Tower says that Beethoven is one of her biggest compositional influences, so his exquisite Piano Concerto No. 4 will be performed by GRAMMY-winner Michelle Cann. The evening closes with Haydn's masterful 101st Symphony, also known as the "Clock." Classical Concert II: America Meets Scotland Wednesday, August 12, 7:30 p.m.  |  Sunriver Resort Great Hall Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor William Hagen, violin  STILL  Darker America BARBER  Violin Concerto MENDELSSOHN  Symphony No. 3 in A minor, “Scottish”   This program celebrates the 100th anniversary of William Grant Still's jazzy tone poem, Darker America, premiered in 1926. Barber's Violin Concerto follows with William Hagen joining the Festival Orchestra for the third time, after his performances of the Brahms Concerto in 2022 and the Bruch Concerto in 2023. The concert culminates with Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, "Scottish,” inspired by his grand tour of Europe.   Family Concert: Harry Potter & the Instruments of the Orchestra Friday, August 14  |  Sunriver SHARC’s Benham Hall Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor Young Artists Scholarship recipient, TBA  This matinee explores the instruments of the orchestra through magnificent music by John Williams, featuring Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In a fun, informal setting, learn more about the strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, harp and the magical celesta — all accompanied by Harry, Hedwig & friends! Bring the family and enjoy a one-hour concert featuring a virtuosic Young Artists Scholarship recipient with the Festival Orchestra. An instrument petting zoo is held before the concert.   Pops Concert: John Williams & the American Journey Saturday, August 15, 7:30 p.m.  |  Tower Theatre, Bend Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor Central Oregon Mastersingers Enjoy the Festival Orchestra in a lively program featuring various works by American legend John Williams paired with other masterpieces to explore America’s journey from the Revolutionary War to today. Highlights include music from Saving Private Ryan, Born on the Fourth of July, The Cowboys, patriotic favorites and Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man.   Classical Concert III: The Genius of Music Tuesday, August 18, 7:30 p.m.  |  Tower Theatre, Bend Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor Timothy Jones, bass-baritone KEVIN PUTS  Einstein on Mercer Street J.S. BACH  Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major MOZART  Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major The third Classical Concert opens with a deeply moving, multimedia work about Einstein’s inner world and relationships, written by Kevin Puts and featuring the return of bass-baritone Timothy Jones. Einstein was a string player himself, so we're thrilled to present Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 with nine soloists from the Festival Orchestra. Einstein had no greater admiration or love for an artist than he did for Mozart, so the program closes with Mozart's Symphony No. 39, one of the final three symphonies he ever composed.   Season Finale Classical Concert: Appalachia & Spring Thursday, August 20, 7:30 p.m.  |  Tower Theatre, Bend Festival Orchestra Brett Mitchell, conductor Tessa Lark, violin COPLAND  Suite from Appalachian Spring EDGAR MEYER  Violin Concerto R. SCHUMANN  Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, “Spring” The season finale includes the most iconic American orchestral work of all time, Appalachian Spring, by the Dean of American Music, Aaron Copland. Violinist Tessa Lark wowed Sunriver audiences in 2024 with her performance of Michael Torke's Sky, and she'll do the same this year with the bluegrass-inflected Violin Concerto by Edgar Meyer. The season closes with one of the greatest Romantic symphonies ever composed: Schumann's Symphony No. 1, "Spring."   Patrons who purchase a full five-concert series of classical and pops concerts receive a 10% discount. Other flexible package options are available. Festival Orchestra single tickets start at $45; tickets for age 25 & under are $25. Details and tickets are available at sunrivermusic.org or by calling 541-593-9310. ______________________________________ 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. Visit sunrivermusic.org for more information.

Come Say Hello!   April 10 - May 3, 2026 Touring Central Oregon Yes, yours truly is getting back on stage! Come say hello at a performance of Into The Breeches, presented by Ellipse Theatre Community.  Cheers! Barb Tickets Here!

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