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CARMINA FOR ALL _Carmina Burana_ straight ahead. You might have seen, in recent season announcements, that the Goddess of fortune, luck and fate will be uplifted in the fall by both the

Oregon Symphony, with Portland State Chamber Choir and the Vancouver Symphony, with Portland Symphonic Choir. In July the Oregon Bach Festival will close their 2025 season by returning to

Orff’s original “danced” _Carmina_. And the choral grapevine is vibrating with news that _Carmina_ is being staged in Salem in early 2026 by Willamette Master Chorus.  But on June 7 and 8

the OREGON CHORALE is gracing us with the powerful, two piano arrangement of the cantata authorized by Carl Orff himself. After the 1937 premiere of the full orchestral version, _Carmina_

became so popular that in 1956 an Orff follower, Wilhelm Killmayer, reduced the instrumental forces to two pianos and six percussion thus making _Carmina_ accessible to smaller choirs around

the world. Listen to an excerpt of the powerful reduction here: Your favorite choral and solo moments will all be there, sung by tenor Steven Evans-Renteria, baritone Erik Hundtoft, and

soprano Madeline Ross. The two pianists are Oregon Chorale’s regular pianist Ryan DeHaven and guest Colin Alexsei Shepard. The guest children’s choir is Cascadia, the middle-school ensemble

of Pacific Youth Choir. And the energetic percussion role will be performed by Portland State University Percussion Ensemble. What an rousing conclusion to the Chorale’s 40th year of

community singing.  _Carmina Burana is on stage in Hillsboro on June 7 and June 8, both performances at 4 pm, at __Liberty High School Auditorium__. More information and tickets are__

here__._ *** On that same weekend you can enjoy another PACIFIC YOUTH CHOIR event, one performed for and by PYC alumni. “We remain dedicated to fostering our vibrant alumni community; the

bonds forged through music should last a lifetime” (PYC website). Join legacy singers, some now working in the musical arts, from PYC’s past 21 years as they connect with current Artistic

Director Chris Maunu and reconnect with former Founding Artistic Director Mia Hall Miller. Alumni “audiences”–you are part of the family, too! Sponsor _It’s a PYC full-length Alumni Concert

on June 8, 5 pm at __Trinity Episcopal Cathedral__. Tickets are __here__.  _ HEAR IT HERE Ever hear someone talking about an awesome event they attended and you’re like “doggone it, why

didn’t you tell me?” Okay, consider yourself told. Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music is being performed by THE CHUCK ISRAELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA in a “profound and joyous experience of music and

worship” (media post) on Sunday, June 8 in St. Gabriels Church in Beaverton’s Bethany area. St. Gabriel’s choir director soprano Jessica Israels and her composer/bandleader father have

curated and arranged the music for choir, an outstanding group of vocal soloists, and – let’s say it again – the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra. Here’s a phenomenal 1965 video of Israels with

the Bill Evans Trio: Joining the voices of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church Choir are vocalists Margot Hanson, Erik Hundtoft, Jessica Israels, Brandon Michael and Orchestra: Paul Mazzio,

Trumpet; John Moak, Trombone; Tim Willcox, Alto Sax; David Evans, Tenor Sax & Clarinet; Joe Manis, Baritone Sax; Darrell Grant, Piano; Chuck Israels, Bass; Michael Rodenkirch, Drums. 

_St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church__, with the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, offers a “Duke Ellington” Pentecost service on Sunday, June 8, 10 am. Come and enjoy._ CHOIRS FINDING THEMSELVES IN

SONG “This is the close of my third grateful season with Aurora,” wrote Aurora Chorus’s Artistic Director Rebecca Parsons in recent email to OAW. For their upcoming June 7 concert Parsons

has selected music for when we “find ourselves at sea” like _Spring Shall Bloom_ by Susan LaBarr and _Song In My Heart_ by Jocelyn Hagen which express deep hope and gratitude in times of

change. “We have a few pieces I love,” said Parsons, “about the intense renewal of storms, like _Aia lā ’o Pele i Hawai’i_ by Jace Kaholokula Saplan, and _We are the Storm_ by Jerod

Impichchaachaaha’ Tate.” Listen to that piece here: Sponsor _Share music from “Sky to Sea” when Aurora Chorus performs on Saturday, June 7, 7 pm at __First United Methodist Church__. Tickets

and more information__ __here__._ *** WESTSIDE SINGERS has a couple of concerts coming up in the Beaverton area in honor of their 80 years of singing. The group, which specializes in jazz,

big band and broadway, began as Forest Grove Gleemen in 1945 and after several reincarnations settled on their current name in 2000. _Their “Sentimental Journey” will be offered on Friday,

June 20, 7:30 and Saturday, June 21, 2 pm at __Southminster Presbyterian Church__. Tickets and more information are__ here__._ *** Salem’s CONFLUENCE WILLAMETTE VALLEY LGBT CHORUS is also

concluding a noteworthy season – 25 years of singing with founding conductor Raymond Elliott on the podium. On June 6, 7, and 8 this 50-ish voice community choir is spreading choral joy with

“songs from our yesterdays for brighter tomorrow” (choir website) in three Willamette-valley locations.  _Join Elliott, accompanist Ingrid Unterseher and the singers of Confluence in Salem

on Friday, June 6, 7:30 at __First Congregational UCC__; Portland on Saturday, June 7, 7:30 at __Cedar Hills UCC__; and in Corvallis on Sunday, June 8, 4:30 at__ First Congregational UCC__.

  Tickets and more info are__ __here__. __ _ Sponsor *** Tune in on June 14 and 15 with PORTLAND LESBIAN CHOIR who wants you to sit back comfortably as the music that is near and dear to

them wafts over you. The choir members have selected choral arrangements that resonate with their community and with us all. It’s a throwback to the meaningful texts and tunes set in a

current world where singing out loud and proud is so important. You’ll want to be singing along to “People Like Us”_ _by Kelly Clarkson and swaying with the rhythm of Whitney Houston’s “I

Wanna Dance with Somebody_._”_ Love Yourself_, a work commissioned for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, is a good place to start and “I Will Survive”_ _by_ _Gloria Gaynor is a fervent hope.

This choir is heading into their 40th year of singing and are turning up the volume. _Ride the airwaves with the Portland Lesbian Choir on Saturday, June 14, 7 pm and Sunday, June 15, 3 pm

at __Parkrose Performing Arts Center__. Tickets and information are__ __here__._ MAHLER THROUGH THE GENERATIONS Pacific Youth Choir is on the choral calendar in one more concert this month.

You will see them in Gustav Mahler’s _Symphony No. 3_, in one of the most heart-melting children’s choir roles in the Romantic choral/orchestral oeuvre. Our Oregon Symphony, conducted by

Music Director David Danzmayr, is performing the six-movement, 90ish-minute work on June 14, 15, and 16. But the piece calls for even more treble voices so you’ll also enjoy the soprano and

altos of Portland State University and Oregon Repertory Singers. The solo role will be sung by contralto Jasmine White.  If you are excited about the choral forces, just get a load of the

expanded instrumentation: 4 each from the families of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons; 4 French horns, trumpets, trombones, one tuba and one off-stage flugelhorn “wie die Weise eines

Posthorns” (in the manner of a post horn). Of course there are extras of all strings, including two harps, and enough percussion to portray every sound in the natural world. After the

lengthy first movement in which every instrument is allowed to contribute its voice to a wide range of emotion, the dignified minuet of Movement Two puts your feet back on the ground. It’s a

full therapy session. But the third movement is so perfectly prankish, almost as if “Til” himself has leapt from Richard Strauss’s contemporaneous score to gleefully confound the listener,

only to be recalled by the post horn: time to come in – to come home. In movement four the mezzo, singing text from Friedrich Nietzsche’s _Also sprach Zarathustra_, advises “Oh Man, take

heed.” And then enter the voices of hope; the children imitate bells and the soloist and trebles sing text from _Des Knaben Wunderhorn_–of which Mahler was, like so many of his fellow

countrymen, enamored. The final 24-ish minutes of music rise and fall several times over in the endless quest for redemption and salvation – a la Mahler. Sponsor _Mahler’s Symphony No. 3

fills the __Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall __stage on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, June 14 (7:30), 15 (2 pm) and 16 (7:30). Tickets and more information are__ here__._ *** Singing in service

is the goal of Portland choir A NOTION, A SCREAM in their upcoming concert on June 17. “Join us in a benefit concert for THE MARIE EQUI CENTER (enriching the health of the trans, queer,

gender diverse, and intersex community) and RAHAB’S SISTERS (a community for women, trans, and nonbinary folks experiencing poverty, houselessness, and isolation).” _Join A Notion, A Scream

on Tuesday, June 17, 7:30 at __Taborspace in Portland__.  More information is__ __here__._ ELVISH IS IN THE HOUSE Salem Symphonic Winds is a vibrant community of 50-60 adult musicians who

have shared a passion for performing great music for 50 years. And, of course you know Salem’s FESTIVAL CHORALE OREGON shares that passion. Now the two organizations unite to present _Return

to Middle Earth: Symphony No. 5_, of Dutch composer Johan De Meij. _Return to Middle Earth, _premiered in 2018, is a six movement, 45-ish minute work for choir and voices based on the

mythological world created by J. R. R. Tolkein. Soprano Kurleen George will soar in the soprano solo role alongside some expressive choral moments. Conducting the performance will be SSW

Artistic Director John F. Skelton, whom regional music educators might know from his long service to music education in the state of Oregon. He spoke recently to OAW about one challenge for

the choir. “The singers have to sing in Elvish, the language of Middle Earth and,” he said with a chuckle “pronunciation guides are a bit scarce.” Indeed. But the music speaks for itself.

Listen to it here. Sponsor Tolkeinists, you are in for a treat. Cinematic and media music fans, the “scenes” in this choral symphony will take you on a vivid musical journey. A complete

analysis of _Return to Middle Earth_ is available on Meij’s website here. And, since we love music trivia: what’s the reason for “Return” in the title? Meij’s first symphony_ _is titled…you

guessed it…_Lord of the Rings._ _Salem Symphonic Winds and Festival Chorale Oregon perform Return to Middle Earth on Sunday, June 15, 3 pm, __Rose Auditorium in Salem__. Purchase tickets__

__here__._ *** MULTNOMAH WOMEN’S CHORUS members must be excited about this upcoming “Opera Masterworks” performance. Opera choruses are good music but when sung out of context, without the

stage drama swirling about them, their luster can be lost. That’s why this June 16 concert looks so special. The drama is invited to the concert stage. Chorus selections like “O Pastorelle

Addio”from Giordano’s _Andrea Chénier _and trios like “Spogliati Bambolino” from Puccini’s _Gianni Schicchi _will be interspersed with solos and duets by choristers and special guests. Erik

Hundtoft will perform “Pierrot’s Tanzlied” from Korngold’s _Die Tote Stadt _with MWC wafting above. There’s Purcell, Humperdinck, Mozart and Bizet – much more opera music for you to enjoy.

Kelly Bard and Rebecca Stager share the enormous accompaniment duties and Chuck Israels joins in on double bass.  _“Opera Masterworks” are performed by MWC on Monday, June 16, 7 pm, at __St.

Gabriel’s Episcopal Church.__ The concert is free. More information is__ __here__._ Sponsor *** “Pride Goes Pop”! On June 21 downtown Portland is all about Pride. After the parade winds

down PORTLAND GAY MEN’S CHORUS will be ready to lift their voices in celebration and unity. With genre-busting front runners to today’s very best Queer icons, “watch us turn the Arlene

Schnitzer into Portland’s hottest club as we celebrate Pride with a show about love, authenticity, power, and the right to exist just as we are” (PGMC website). _PGMC’s 45__th__ Anniversary

season-closing concert, ICONS: Pride Goes Pop, is Saturday, June 21, 7 pm at __Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall__. Tickets and details are__ __here__._ *** For twenty years PORTLAND SYMPHONIC

CHOIR’s “Summer Sings” have been favorite community events. Congrats! For the past several years one Summer Sing event each season has been dedicated to PSC’s “Call for Scores” project.

Dozens of numerous new choral scores have received their first public readings in these sessions. In PSC’s upcoming “Rising Together” concert on June 22 the choir takes some of those

locally-created winning scores to the concert stage. Hear the premiere of _Peace _by Jesse Preis and enjoy _Finding the Light_ by Drew Swatosh. You’ll also get a sneak peek at a work in

progress by Aaron Nigel Smith.  But this is a chance to hear the works of another Portland composer, and longtime local music educator, Judy A. Rose. Rose’s compositions have been getting

more performances in festivals and concerts in the greater choral world; her works are some of Portland Symphonic Choir’s favorites. Hear why in this preview from a recent Chemeketa

Community College performance: Sponsor Four compositions by Rose will be performed: _I Feel Tired Sometimes; I Found Me a River; Soon Ah Will be Done; _and “Rise up Singing and Dancing” from

_Walk In Beauty, Walk in Light__ _premiered this past October by commissioning ensemble In Medio Choir and reviewed in OAW here. It isn’t a long “concert,” but that’s because there’s more

than singing. Participate in the “Composer Talkback,” not an add on but part of the event “that is meant to invite audiences into dialogue through relevant choral music” (PSC media). 

_Portland Symphonic Choir invites us to “Rise Together”  for this special nod to local creativity and new choral art on Sunday, June 22, 3 pm at __Christ United Methodist Church, Portland__.

Tickets and info are__ __here__._ LIFELONG SINGING PORTLAND SAGE SINGERS are making their debut! Join Artistic Director Tim Seelig and the brand new Portland choir on June 26 as they

celebrate “the power, humor, and heart of elderhood” (Sage website). In “It’s Our Time” they will perform, in addition to some Sondheim, Bach and Houston, two world premieres about which

they have posted: > “If laughter is the best medicine, there will be lots of medicine > including a new commissioned piece from Los Angeles composer Dave > Volpe. The piece titled 

“Organ Recital,” shares the maladies > reserved for folks of a certain age. “Senior Psalm” by composer > Daniel Gawthrop will also have its world premiere.” > (Reser promo) _It’s

their time! See beyond the surface of Portland Sage Singers in their debut concert on Thursday, June 26, 7:30 at __Patricia Reser Center for the Arts__, Beaverton. Tickets and more info on

the concert are__ __here__.  Information about PSS is__ __here__._ OUT OF THE ASHES On July 5, PORTLAND PHOENIX CHAMBER CHOIR wants to take you on a tour of sacred polyphony, and more. Join

them for “O May Our Day Begin,” which includes the music of Peter Phillips, Jacopo Corsi, Messian, Bruckner, Aleotti and Portland composer Carolyn Quick. But why is the choir waiting until

July to offer us this special concert? So we can be their “bon voyage” audience! Just days later Artistic Director Justin Smith and the singers head off to the 62nd Seghizzi International

Choral Festival in Gorizia, Italy. Sponsor _Show up to give them a hearty send off and to hear some great music on Saturday, July 5, 7:30 pm at __Lake Oswego United Methodist Church__.

Tickets are available at the door for a donation. _ Any more choral music going on in June and early July? Ha! Just kidding. The Oregon Bach Festival gets underway on June 28th. And of

course, the abundance of choral music in this year’s Festival deserves its own preview. Grab your calendars and watch for the OBF Choral Music Preview coming up right here real soon.