Chamber Choir performing at Collegiate Choral Festival, Ainsworth United Church of Christ April 23-26

Alumni page

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

The EOU Chamber Choir plans on taking a tour to the west side of Oregon next week with stops at several high schools.

La Grande, Oregon - From singing at the Annual Collegiate Choral Festival to working with the Ainsworth United Church of Christ Gospel Choir, the Eastern Oregon University Chamber Choir is ready for its yearly trek to the west side of Oregon.

The four-day tour, starting Wednesday, will include the Chamber Choir performing at a number of high schools and elementary schools in the Portland area and along the Interstate 5 corridor. Thursday night, the Choir will be at the Ainsworth United Church of Christ from 6:30 to 9 p.m. They will participate in a workshop/concert with Ainsworth choir director Leslie William's singers. EOU alumni are invited to the performance. The Ainsworth United Church of Christ is located at 2941 NE Ainsworth.

The Chamber Choir will also perform at Hermiston High School, Portland's Westview, Sunset, and Cleveland high schools, and Harriet Tubman Middle School.

The trip will present more learning experiences for members of EOU's Chamber Choir.

"Going on tours and performing elsewhere outside of La Grande lets us learn more about ourselves as performers," said senior Sarah Watterson (La Grande).

Watterson, and fellow Chamber Choir members Eric Schwartz (sr., Petersburg, Alaska) and Geoff Barton (sr., La Grande), has experienced much growth the last four years in the program. Along with the annual Westside tour, the three were also were with the Chamber Choir when it traveled to Ecuador two years ago.

"Seeing a different culture in Ecuador was one heck of an experience," said Schwartz. "The people almost all but worship you because you take the time to sing to them."

In the past, the Chamber Choir has also performed at Harriet Tubman Middle School, a predominantly African-American school in Northeast Portland. They will stop at the school during the tour.

"The Tubman Middle School Choir is so much fun," said Schwartz. "Their director is such a great teacher for us. They sing simple songs but they're so much fun to sing."

Barton added that the Tubman school's choir also exudes a certain energy while moving to the songs. "We have energy, but we have energy tenfold when we're moving and swaying side-to-side like they do.

"Going on tour is a very bonding experience," said Barton. "We get to see other choirs and see what kind of music they sing."

Check out the EOU alumni page at www.eou.edu/alumni for additional information on attending the Thursday night EOU alumni performance at Ainsworth.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement