Today, nonprofit performing arts organizations across the country find that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must innovate. Some of the most promising solutions are generated by those of us who are willing to work differently by working together. Partnerships enable performing arts organizations to make the most of each other’s strengths and thereby better serve our communities.

In the last three years, Britt has partnered with more than 30 other arts, community and educational organizations throughout the region. About a year ago, Britt began a partnership with Crater Lake National Park, and commissioned composer Michael Gordon to write a Crater Lake-inspired piece, in celebration of the National Park Service’s centennial. The piece, titled Natural History, will include 40 members of the Britt Orchestra, 15 members of Steiger Butte Drum from the Klamath Tribes, brass and percussion students from Southern Oregon University, and a 50-voice choir. Imagine over 100 musicians performing with Crater Lake as the backdrop: it will be quite the sight (and sound) to behold! Britt and Park Staff have been working for over a year on the project, and on July 29 and 30, it will all come to fruition.

Over the course of two days, Britt will present six concerts at the park, which will be completely free to all park goers, beyond the park entrance fee. In anticipation of the influx of visitors to the park over those days, Britt will be providing a limited number of seats for free bus transport into the park for these performances. This transport is by reservation only, and will include no fee for the bus transport, and no park entrance fee. All buses will depart from two snow parks outside of the park approximately one hour prior to performance time. For more information regarding schedules and bus reservations, please visit: brittfest.org/performances/craterlake16.

The Britt Orchestra will also collaborate with the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers and the Rogue Valley Chorale, to present the exciting and monumental Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler, a work of incomparable depth and beauty. Subtitled “Resurrection,” the 90-minute symphony depicts the grandeur and horror of life, death and rebirth. This particular Mahler piece is rarely performed (never at Britt) and is an event you will not want to miss!

Finally, we are working with Oregon Shakespeare Festival company members to feature a program that will whimsically marry songs from OSF musicals with Shakespeare-inspired works by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and William Walton. This show promises to please both music and theater lovers.

We hope to continue pushing our own boundaries by joining others in the spirit of collaboration and community.