The Eugene Vocal Arts is one of the premiere vocal chamber ensembles in the Pacific Northwest. The award-winning group performs a 2-concert chamber series at Soreng Theater at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. The choir performs a blend of music presented with Eugene Concert Orchestra and acclaimed world-class soloists, and often performs a cappella, demonstrating great finesse. The ensemble is has enchanted audiences with authentic Renaissance presentations in resplendent Elizabethan dress, in character with period dancing and song for English Madrigal and Renaissance MayFest Dinners, as well as featured guest appearances in festive holiday concerts with the Eugene Concert Choir at Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center.
In 2010 the American Choral Directors Association Northwest Conference in Seattle extended an invitation to Eugene Vocal Arts to perform among choirs from a six-state region, which is an honor and recognition of artistry. In 2016-2017 the Eugene Vocal Arts, along with artistic director and conductor Diane Retallack,gained national recognition winning the American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music, community division, for the recorded performance of the world premiere of the original commission Shadow and Light; an Alzheimer’s Journey in 16 Movements by Joan Szymko. The documentary about the project The Story of Shadow and Light, captured by AO Films, won best documentary in the 2017 Oregon Independent Film Festival.
Continuing to raise consciousness through socially-relevant repertoire, the Eugene Vocal Arts participated in a multi-state commission consortium in 2019 and presented the Northwest Premiere performance and released a video of The Unarmed Child, written in response to gun violence against children, by celebrated transgender composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm (she/her). The performance featured guest artist Adrian Dunn, professional singer and founder of Hopera World, who also shared his message through community workshops that black music matters.
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