Testimonials

“We're very happy to participate in the Youth Choir, and our daughter really seems to be blossoming as she works with her instructors and the other students. She loves to sing, but she has been extremely shy to showcase her voice in front of others, to the point where she has repeatedly requested last-minute cancellation of participation in talent showcases at school functions. The Youth Choir has given her a chance to share her talents alongside peers, and she looked to be having an actively great time at both the first Glory of Christmas concert and at the Grotto performance… ORS Youth Choir is providing her with a safe haven for creating, collaborating, and sharing, and I am extremely grateful for the dedication of all parties at ORS in helping her develop a strong sense of self as a performer.”

- Tom (ORS Youth Choir parent)

“The most important thing I learned during my time with ORSYC was how to have faith in my own abilities. ORSYC is a community of love and acceptance which encourages and fosters the inner confidence every young person needs to find growing up. While the choir helped develop my singing voice, the support system helped me develop the courage to let the world hear that voice. I've found that courage translates to all aspects of life. Believing in yourself can be a challenge, but my time in the nurturing environment of ORSYC taught me to always believe in myself.”

- Youth Choir Singer

“The emphasis on musicianship training and challenging but age-appropriate choral repertoire along with fostering friendship in a peer community that drew young singers from schools throughout Portland (and beyond!) made ORS choirs an important part of our daughter’s life… Because of the confidence and passion nurtured in ORS, she continued singing in a selective choral group in college and her first year of graduate school and had the opportunity to serve as her conductor’s teaching assistant. We are very grateful for the formative role that ORS played; it has been a lifetime gift.”

- Youth Choir Parent

“ORSYC has been a wonderful experience for our family. Thanks to all the hard-working staff and volunteers and the other parents who are so involved and make the choir a lovely thing to be part of.”

— Youth Choir Parent

“Oregon Repertory Singers gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and be my best self as a musician and human. ORS is more than a choir to me, it is a community of people who come together for one simple, beautiful purpose: to make music. My time with ORS in rehearsals, at concerts, performing for local retirement communities, and going on tour to wonderful places has taught me not only to read and write music, but to have poise, patience, and compassion – lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am so grateful for the invaluable education and the strong foundation ORS has given me for my future.”

- Youth Choir Singer

“My son does not have music at school. I am so pleased to have found a high-quality music class for him. He looks forward to it every week!”

— Youth Choir Parent