The CASCADE CHORALE is a
community chorus and is part of the music department at
Central Oregon Community College. When the College was
founded in 1949, its first president, Dr. Donald Pence, saw
to it that the school had a choir from the very start. For
several years it performed on an irregular basis. In 1967 a
community chorus that met on a more regular basis was
established, and came to be known as the Central Oregon
Concert Chorus.
From 1978-1995 the chorus was directed by Forrest Daniel.
Under his leadership, in addition to its regular concerts,
it gave performances of Handel's Messiah every other
year, took trips to Germany in 1988 and 1992, and a group
from the chorus sang at Carnegie Hall in 1993. During those
years the chorus hosted three different choirs from Europe
that were touring the United States, as well as a choir from
Canada.
From 1995-2004, Dr. Clyde Thompson was the director of the
chorus. During the summer of 1996, the chorus traveled to
Alberta, Canada on a concert tour. In 1997, the name of the
group was changed to Cascade Chorale, in honor of the
Cascade Mountain range that lies just a half-hour from the
college. The group toured England in 1998 and Victoria, B.C.
in 2000.
James W. Knox began as director in 2004. In December,
2005, the Holiday Magic concerts began at the Tower
Theatre, featuring the Chorale and benefiting
CORIL (Central Oregon Resources for
Independent Living). Accompanied by a full orchestra, these
concerts have become an annual tradition.
The group gives three formal concerts each year in December,
March and June, performing repertoire from all styles and
periods of choral music.
|
