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 since 1973 and now includes four choruses and over 300 singers comprised of both youth and adults. The group has conducted multiple 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.
To learn more about the Rogue Valley Chorale click on a season below.
2020-2021 – Holiday Faire, Surviving the Covid-19 Pandemic
2019-2020 – Home for the Holidays, Mozart’s Requiem, Covid-19
2013-2014 – Laurie Anne Hunter takes the baton, Lynn Sjolund named Conductor Emeritus
2012-2013 – Lynn Sjolund’s final year as Artistic Director of RVCA
2006-2007 – Haydn’s Mass in the Time of War
1997-1998 – 25th Anniversary Season
1992-1993 – Eastern European Tour
1985-1986 – Mass in B Minor, Johann Sebastian Bach
1984-1985 – Great American Picnic
1982-1983 – Youth Choruses Founded
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
Carnegie Hall
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.
2011
The Chorale traveled to England and Wales during the summer of 2011, performing in major cathedrals and venues throughout the isle.
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.