In 2016 a group of Newport classical music education enthusiasts gathered at the Performing Arts Center to discuss creating a new unique festival for Oregon high school music students.
The idea proposed by former Newport Symphony Orchestra board President Dr. Michael Dalton and board member Jim Myers was to create an annual Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival every spring where Oregon high school string orchestras would be invited to attend a four day event in Newport consisting of workshops, clinics, and two free public concerts at no cost to them.
Support grew for such a Festival among the music community including Newport Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Adam Flatt and the late David Odgen Stiers among others. Financial support from grants, business and individuals help fund the project. In April of 2017 the Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival was launched in Newport with five Oregon High School orchestras attending and performing over two nights of free public concerts.
One of the original 2017 orchestras came from North Medford High School under the direction of Lynn Gervais. Among her orchestra students was a young cello player by the name of
. A talented cellist, she also was adept at playing other instruments and aimed for a career in music education following graduation.
Ms. Candy graduated from North Medford High School in 2020 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon in 2024.
From a 2017 Festival student participant Lexi is now returning this April 25 and 26 as a Festival teacher and conductor of the Klamath Union High School string orchestra. She teaches grades 5 through 12 and travels between six different schools, working with a wide range of young musicians every day. Lexi said “I first attended the Oregon Coast Youth Symphony Festival in 2017 as a high school student. It was such a memorable experience to be invited to play and learn alongside students from five other schools across the state. I loved being able to connect with other orchestra students, teachers, and professionals in such a unique and supportive environment. We didn’t just make music; we built friendships, played games, and created a true sense of community.
Now, it’s incredibly special to return to the festival as a teacher. It’s a full-circle moment I’m incredibly grateful for. I’m honored to come back to the place that inspired me as a student and now have the chance to inspire the next generation of musicians.”
Candy’s Klamath Union String Orchestra will be performing Saturday, at 7 p.m. at the Newport Middle School gymnasium. The other high school orchestras from Grants Pass, Pendleton, South Eugene, Newberg and McNary will also perform on Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm in addition to special guest the Drake University String Ensemble (Friday) and the mass orchestra finale (Saturday) when all 150 perform numbers by Ernest Block and Soon Hee Newbold. For further information go to youthsymphonyfestival.org.
