The Siskiyou Singers is a community choir comprised of intelligent, enthusiastic residents from the Rogue Valley and beyond. Its members travel from as far as Yreka and Grants Pass to experience the joy that is choral singing.
Currently, we present two concerts per year (one in December and another in May), each offering multiple performances. We also perform at various community events such as the Feast of Will, which marks the opening of the outdoor theater at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, the anniversary concert of Southern Oregon Concert Band, and joint concerts with other local choral groups. We also run an Educational Outreach program.
Mission statement
We are a diverse group of singers with varied levels of skills. We work together through disciplined rehearsal to present and make accessible outstanding choral works that encompass many countries and centuries. We share a deep concern to reach audiences in a personal way with the programs we present. We also seek to expand our own understanding and appreciation of a wide range of choral music.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012
Keith Baldwin* – President, Assistant Webmaster
Beverly Bowman* – Artistic/Production Coordinator, Choir Message Phone Monitoring
Wendy Crawford*- Co-Treasurer, Banker
Betsy Gentry* – Secretary, Rehearsal Schedule/Forms, Mailing Coordinator, Bylaws
Jim Gleaves – Concert Site Manager
Pat Gleitsmann* – Co-Treasurer, Practice CDs
Robin Griffiths – Grants Pass Liaison
Sooz Hall – Assistant Grant Writer, Grants Pass Liaison
Laura Lake – Ticket Manager
Rich LaVoy – Program Ads, Skit Producer
Annette Lewis – Corresponding Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, Registration
Sally Peterson* – President-Elect, Educational Outreach Programs, CD Storage and Distribution, Print Materials, Grants Pass Bus
Mark Reppert – Artistic Director and Conductor
Diana Shiplet
Harriet Snyder – Data Management, Handbook, Membership Roster, Mailing Labels, Potluck
Ian Wessler – Assistant Concert Site Manager
Jody Willis – Past President, Grant Writing, Section Leader Coordinator/Liaison
* Executive board member
History
The Siskiyou Singers–or the Siskiyou Chamber Singers, as we were originally dubbed–was the brain child of former Ashland resident Jacqueline Dougherty, who became the founder and director of our community choir in 1982.
In 1988, Dave Marston was concluding an eleven-year association with the Shakespeare Festival as a musician when he took over the leadership of the choir after Dougherty left the area. The choir grew in numbers gradually, dropping the “Chamber Singers” title (since it refers to a smaller ensemble), and eventually reaching its present total of 130 singers–all of whom have passed an audition to become members. After Dave Marston’s death in 2009, Mark Reppert was chosen as the new Artistic Director and Conductor.
