History and Repertoire

The Rogue Valley Chorale is Southern Oregon's oldest public choral organization. It was founded in 1973 by a group of local musicians who were eager to provide a forum for performing fine choral music. After initial discussions regarding requirements for membership, programming and other considerations, Lynn E. Sjolund, then director of vocal music at Medford Senior High School, agreed to direct the chorus. Articles of incorporation were filed and non-profit status was acquired with five members serving as the first Board of Directors. Auditions were held and forty-five singers presented the premier concert of the Rogue Valley Chorale on December 4, 1973. On the program were Bach's Komm, Jesu komm and Respighi's Laud to the Nativity.

The Chorale Organization has grown in number and musical stature in the past four decades and now includes 100 adults and 200 youth. The group has conducted five European tours and performed in Salzburg, Austria for Mozart's 250th birthday celebration. The Chorale had the distinct honor of performing as the featured group at Carnegie Hall in a concert conducted by John Rutter.

Highlights

1985
In June of 1993 Commemorating the three-hundredth anniversary of the birth of J. S. Bach, the Chorale performed his masterpiece, the Mass in B minor. The performance featured nationally recognized soloists. The principal orchestra players were the University of Oregon String Quartet. The Chorale performed the work again fourteen years later.

1993
In June of 1993, the Chorale visited Veszprem, Hungary to take part in the American-Magyar Cultural Festival. It was a privilege to perform Zoltan Kodaly's, Te Deum  in the composer's native country. Chorale members were intermixed with Hungarians in the massed choir accompanied by the Budapest Symphony. Chosen to sing the difficult soprano solos was the Chorale's own Susan Olson. The old saying that "music is the universal language" is applicable here. A quote from the local Veszprem newspaper The Naplo reads, "Borders and national differences were washed away. . . . Our American guests have produced the best concert of their lives." The Composer Bela Halmos traveled across Hungary to hear the Chorale perform his music.

1995
The Chorale toured Sweden and Norway during the summer of 1995. At Santa Clara Kyrka in downtown Stockholm, the Chorale sang as a visiting choir taking part in the Sommarkonserta (summer concerts). The Chorale performed concerts in Ostersund, Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo. In Oslo the concert was attended by the distinguished composer Knut Nystedt.

1998
Italy was the destination for the Rogue Valley Chorale's third European concert tour. A total of six formal concerts were sung in Italy and a number of impromptu concerts given as well. The Chorale presented a varied repertoire that included music composed for Italian churches, anthems from other countries, twentieth century anthems, folk songs and spirituals. It was a wonderful experience to sing these selections in the magnificent cathedrals of Venice, Florence and Pisa. The Chorale collaborated with a local choir from Alba, Medford's sister city, for an evening concert. It was presented in their Civic Theater, the counterpart of our Ginger Rogers Craterian Theater. They also participated in an inspirational Mass in the Cathedral of Alba where the priest spoke of the universal bonding though music.

2000
The Rogue Valley Chorale was invited by Mid-America Productions of New York City to participate in a Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall during the Spring of 2000. The group performed a thirty minute solo concert prior to singing John Rutter's "Te Deum". The Chorale was fortunate to sing such a lovely piece under the direction of the composer himself. A letter from Mr. Rutter to the Rogue Valley Chorale conductor, Lynn Sjolund, read, Thank you so much for a splendid and inspiring performance. You were (we think) the largest chorus ever for a Mid-America concert, and the sound was thrilling. What a programme!"

2003
With trips on the Rhine and Mosel River, the Chorale celebrated its 30th anniversary singing in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. Highlights of the trip included special performances in Koblenz, Brugge and Utrecht.

2006
Invited to participate in the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart, the Chorale traveled to Switzerland, Germany and Austria. With special concerts in Luzerne and Bern the Chorale prepared for rehearsals in Salzburg. Performances of Mozart's Coronation Mass and motets by American composers were held in the Salzburg Cathedral where Mozart had been the organist choir director. Concerts were under the direction of Eph Ely and conducted by Janos Czifra. The festival moved from Salzburg to Vienna to be repeated.

2010
The Chorale is planning to travel to England and Wales during the summer of 2011, performing in major cathedrals.

Repertoire
The following is a representative selection of music performed by the Rogue Valley Chorale.

Bach
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Coffee Cantata  
Jesu, meine freude 
Magnificat SATB 
Komm Jesu komm
The Spirit also helpeth us 
Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen 
High Mass in B minor
The Passion According to St. John
The Passion According to St. Matthew
Cantata 140
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

Bernstein
Mass
Candide
West Side Story
On the Town
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Jeffrey Biegel
Hanukkah Fantasy

Bloch
Sacred Service

Brahms
A German Requiem
Liebesbieder Waltzer 
Lieder und Romanzen
Songs of Mary
Gypsy Songs
Vier Gesange
Alto Rhapsody

Britten
Ceremony of Carols 
Festival te Deum
Hymn to St. Cecilia 
Rejoice in the Lamb

Bruckner
Mass in E minor

Charpentier
Midnight Mass for Christmas

Childs
Where Your Bare Foot Walks
Weep No More
To Musick (commissioned by the Rogue Valley Chorale)
The Most Living Moment

Dello Joio
Song of the Open Road 
Mystic Trumpeter

Diemer
A Feast for Christmas

Dvorak
Songs of Nature

Faure
Requiem

Gabrieli
In Ecclesiis;
Jubilate Deo

Grieg
Four Psalms

Handel
Coronation Anthem II
Judas Maccabaeus 
Messiah
Israel in Egypt

Haydn
Mass in Time of War
Missa Sancti
Missa Bernardi
Missa Sancti Nicolai
The Seasons

Ives
Easter Carol
67th Psalm
90th Psalm

Kodaly
Te Deum

Mechem
Seven Joys of Christmas

Mendelssohn
Elijah

Mozart
Missa Brevis in D 
Coronation Mass  
Requiem
Vesperae Solennes de Confessore

Orff
Carmina Burana

Palestrina
Missa: Tu es Petrus for 3 chorus

Respighi
Laud to the Nativity

Rutter
Requiem
Te Deum

Schutz
Deutches Magnificat

Thompson
A Feast of Praise
Peaceable Kingdom

Vaughan-Williams
Mass in G minor
Hodie

Verdi
Requiem

Willcocks/Rutter
Carols for Christmas

Gilbert and Sullivan
HMS Pinafore
The Gondoliers
Trial by Jury

Strauss
Die Fledermaus


In addition to the above classics the Rogue Valley Chorale has performed many Broadway songs, anthems, spirituals and ballads from myriad time periods. Composers include Aaron Copland, Dr. David Childs, Simon and Garfunkle, The Beatles, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser and many more.