Recognized as one of the premier vocal chamber ensembles in the Pacific Northwest, Eugene Vocal Arts presents an annual two-concert chamber series at the Hult Center’s Soreng Theater. The ensemble’s performances range from intimate a cappella works—showcasing clarity, precision, and nuance—to collaborations with the Eugene Concert Orchestra and distinguished guest soloists. Their versatility and artistry have also been celebrated through historically inspired productions, including immersive Elizabethan madrigal and Renaissance dinner performances complete with period costumes, dance, and song.
Eugene Vocal Arts has been honored for its excellence and artistry on both regional and national stages. In 2010, the ensemble was invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Northwest Conference in Seattle, representing choirs from a six-state region. In 2017, Eugene Vocal Arts and Diane Retallack received national acclaim as winners of the American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music for their recording of the world premiere of Shadow and Light: An Alzheimer’s Journey by Joan Szymko. The accompanying documentary by AO Films, The Story of Shadow and Light, received the Best Documentary Award at the 2017 Oregon Independent Film Festival.
The ensemble continues to champion socially relevant and contemporary works that inspire reflection and dialogue. In 2019, Eugene Vocal Arts joined a multi-state commissioning consortium to present the Northwest premiere of The Unarmed Child by celebrated transgender composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, a powerful response to gun violence against children. Most recently, in 2021, the ensemble presented In Celebration of Women, honoring the centennial of women’s suffrage through a program devoted to female composers across the centuries—a performance that was later released as a recording.
Through musical excellence, thoughtful programming, and fearless creativity, Eugene Vocal Arts continues to illuminate the profound connection between choral artistry and the human experience.
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