The popular concerts return on December 14 and 16 at Summit High School, presented by the Cascade Chorale of COCC under the direction of James W. Knox.  

For the seventh year in a row SELCO Community Credit Union is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors to date include Tennant Developments, Central Oregon Radiology, BendBroadband, Horizon Broadcasting Lite 95.1, The Bend Chamber of Commerce and Cascade A&E.

Friday evening and Sunday matinee concerts will feature soloist Lindy Gravelle, premiere Central Oregon songwriter and performer along with the full orchestra and chorale.

This year’s music will feature the world famous Welsh composer, Karl Jenkins, who made his mark in the world with the composition Adiemus, which features famous Irish songwriter, Enya. Since then, his music has become one of the most recognized pieces around the world ranging from movies to television commercials.

James Knox is featuring two of Jenkins’ 2010 Holiday Pieces, Stella Natalis and Joy to the World. These highly energized and familiar songs are filled with catchy rhythmic feels and the music crosses over from Jazz Classical, African to Celtic.
The COCC Cascade Chorale, the full Orchestra and all the special musicians volunteer weeks of their time to bring these great concerts to you and your family to support Abilitree. The previous seven years of concerts have brought the audiences to their feet in applause at the close of each performance.

This wonderful event gives the community a chance to come together around the holidays and support Abilitree, an organization that celebrates all the great achievements people with disabilities experience in their lives each and every day when they are given the right opportunities and support to achieve their dreams.  

Tickets
www.bendticket.com or www.abilitree.org.
Dec. 14, 7pm.
Dec. 16, 4pm
Summit High School
$15 for either show, plus handling fees.  
Will Call will be available one hour prior to each show for all pre-performance ticket purchases made by check. For sponsorship opportunities or group sales please contact Jim Lee at jiml@abilitree.org or 541-771-6184.        

James Knox, professor of music and director of choral activities at Central Oregon Community College, directs the Cascade Chorale, the College Choir and is the founder of vocal jazz ensemble, Central Singers. In addition to teaching music courses, he is also a sought at guest clinician locally and throughout the Northwest.

Prior to COCC he was the vocal jazz director at Portland State University and the choral director at Mt. Hood Community College. Through James’ studies and member of a select group of choral educators, he has had the privilege of working with distinguished conductors and composers from around the world, such as Arvo Pärt, Frieder Bernius, Veljo Tormis, Fred Stoltzfus, Simon Carrington, Joseph Flummerfelt, Morna Edmundson, Yaccov Bergman, Maria Guinand ,Vance George, Alice Parker and Ann Howard Jones.

His involvement and love for music is also displayed as a baritone soloist. James’ work included principal role-Guglielmo in W.A Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutti PSU Opera Production, guest artist at Seattle, Washington’s Opera Banquet, Metropolitan Opera Guild’s regional finalist. He has been featured with Douglas Webster in the Oregon Symphony’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, and Peace Through Music pieces Dona Nobis Pacem by R.V. Williams, Cantata Misericordium by Benjamin Britten, Faure’s Requiem, Portland’s Baroque Ensemble, portrayed Jesus in the premiere of J.S. Bach’s St. Mark’s Passion, principal role-Cascada in The Merry Widow, and Menotti’s one act opera The Telephone, and he was Pooh-Bah in Obsidian Opera’s Production of The Mikado.