Community Outreach
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While singers enrolled in our full-year Youth Choir program enjoy weekly honor-choir style rehearsals and performances with professional ensembles, residencies with composer/educators, commissions, recording projects, and headline concerts—we are equally excited to open our rehearsal spaces to area choir singers with invitationals, providing thoughtful music education development opportunities with festivals, and clinics designed to inspire and celebrate musical growth all year.
These experiences are crafted to inspire singers, strengthen choral skills, and foster musical community—whether students join for a single day, a few weeks, or the full year. Mark your calendar and sign up for each event using the links provided below.
Invitationals for school ensembles
>ChoirFestNW
>Rising Voices
>EchoChamber
>The Big Sing (NEW!!)
Special Opportunities for ORS Youth Choir singers
>Hyo-Won Woo Collaboration
>Oregon Ballet Theatre NUTRCRACKER!
>pe:ar Partnership
>Professional Recording Project
ChoirFestNW
Middle and High School Developing Choir Members
Directors bring a group of singers, or their entire ensemble, to participate in this skills-building workshop.
September 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
12625 Crescent St.
Beaverton, OR 97005
The fourth annual ChoirFestNW is a one-day festival focused on leadership, sight-reading, and ensemble skills. Middle and High School choir directors select singers from their program to attend ChoirFestNW who show promise of musical growth and leadership skills. Singers return from the festival with ensemble leadership skills and increased confidence when sight-reading.
Cost: $100 per school
Deadline: August 31, 2026
** Enrollment for Ensemble Directors Only **
** Each student singer (or parent/guardian) must complete the ORS Student Waiver 2026–2027 form in advance of the event date to participate. **
Rising Voices
Middle School Choirs
Directors bring their intermediate or advanced ensemble with one prepared piece and one work-in-progress.
November 2026 (date TBA) | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location TBA
Middle school choirs participate in the second annual Rising Voices, geared toward intermediate and advanced middle school ensembles. Choirs bring one polished piece to be celebrated, as well as one work-in-progress to be coached. Our directors will engage in fast-paced, positively framed on-stage mini clinics, as well as like-voice developmental sectionals on a new mass piece to be performed together at the close of the day. Singers will walk away with the ability to confidently navigate a festival and on-stage adjudication, as well as work with mature voices and learn new repertoire.
Cost: $100 per school
Deadline: TBA
* Note: Enrolled ORS Youth Choir Singers participate at no cost. *
** Enrollment for Ensemble Directors Only. **
** Each student singer (or parent/guardian) must complete the ORS Student Waiver 2026-2027 form in advance of the event date to participate. **
EchoChamberPDX
High School Chamber Choirs
Directors bring their ensemble with one prepared piece and be ready to learn several selections for Solo & Ensemble Festivals that follow.
February 2027 (date TBA) | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Lewis and Clark College
Agnes Flanagan Chapel
615 S Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR 97219
Celebrate the joy of small ensemble singing! EchoChamber includes individualized masterclasses for your chamber ensemble with tailored feedback and coaching from expert clinicians: Lewis & Clark College Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Katherine FitzGibbon (soprano); Lewis & Clark Visiting Professor of Music, Dr. John Cox (tenor); ORS Youth Choir Artistic Director (and Lewis & Clark College Voces Aureum conductor), Aubrey Patterson (alto); and ORS Youth Choir Tenor-Bass Conductor, Jimmy Brown (bass).
This low-pressure environment is the perfect “runway for success” for solo/ensemble festivals that follow, including training on carefully selected repertoire appropriate for small ensembles. Each high school chamber choir brings one prepared or partially workshopped piece to share and leaves with a second SATB chamber piece taught by expert singers, fully preparing your small group for their district ensemble festival.
Cost: $100 per school
Deadline: TBA
*Lunch will be on your own. Approximately $10 for dining hall.
Note: Enrolled ORS Youth Chamber Choir singers participate at no additional cost.
** Enrollment for Ensemble Directors Only. **
** Each student singer (or parent/guardian) must complete the ORS Student Waiver 2026-2027 form in advance of the event date to participate. **
The Big Sing
3rd – 5th Grade Choirs
Directors bring their ensemble with one prepared piece and participate in a rotation of workshops, music games, and performance/sight-singing labs.
March 2027 (date TBA) | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location TBA
Discover the joy of music at our brand-new elementary festival, where young vocalists grow into future choral musicians through high-energy singing, interactive musical games, and the incredible power of community singing. This festival culminates in a informal performance and celebration open to families.
Cost: $50 per school
Deadline: TBA
* Note: Enrolled ORS Youth Choir Singers participate at no cost.*
** Enrollment for Ensemble Directors Only **
** Each student singer (or parent/guardian) must complete the ORS Student Waiver 2026–2027 form in advance of the event date to participate. **