FORIS CHOIR
Connecting, Nurturing & Amplifying New Voices
About Foris
Foris is a Portland area chamber choir established in 2018 — on indefinite hiatus since COVID — to spotlight emerging local composers through high-quality choral performances and by creating a welcoming space for them to engage with one another and with experienced singers as they further develop their craft.
Foris was founded and led by Kate Sattler, working closely with Associate Director Marisa Wildeman. Click on the concert program images below for a complete list of featured composers, participating singers, and seasonal conductors, along with the works performed.
Our Goals
• Creating a free, inclusive, and welcoming platform for emerging composers to hear their work publicly performed while building recognition and a portfolio
• Creating a mutually supportive space for composers and singers to develop their voice and skills
• Broadening perception of who is and who can be a choral composer and engaging composers working across a variety of genres including those without formal and/or classical training
• Fostering connections among diverse composers, singers, musicians, and activists, who share a passion for storytelling and social justice
• Influencing programming among other choral ensembles to promote more inclusive musical selection and spotlight emerging local talent
Why It Matters
Foris believes choral music is a limitless art form that should be accessible to everyone, yet it remains racially and economically exclusive with few opportunities for emerging composers to hear their work performed.
Composers often compete to hear their music performed through calls for submissions that require: submission fees; investment of time and labor to create original work that fits narrow guidelines (with no guarantee of performance); definitions of "emerging" that apply only to youth; formal classical music training; use of expensive composition software, and more.
These barriers exclude so many artists, not only from sharing their original compositions, but from pursuing choral music in general. The community in turn misses out on imaginative voices. Foris is excited to create an open platform for composers, conductors, and singers alike to grow their skills, voices, visibility and confidence together and to raise awareness of and eliminate these barriers.
Our Music
We select music through open calls for submissions and targeted solicitations to create a beautiful, varied, and dynamic mix of choral music. We seek works that allow our singers to stretch themselves individually and as a group and draw from multiple genres. We use open-ended themes and submission criteria to be as inclusive as possible so composers can submit the work they care about most. We also encourage Foris Choir singers to try composing and/or share their expertise with composers.
Our Choir
We offer a singer experience that’s welcoming, fun, nurturing, and challenging, that allows singers to grow individually and collectively – all in pursuit of harmonious sound and performing works by emerging composers. The choir is open to all, regardless of musical background. Our choir includes singers from the region’s most respected and well-known choirs, along with singers who are brand new to the choral experience.
Our Composers
The majority of composers whose works we’ve performed have never heard their music publicly sung before. They meet with the choir during the 8-week rehearsal process to hear the work in progress, share insights about their composition, and get feedback from singers. We also offer workshops where composers can bring works-in-progress and get feedback from experienced composers, conductors, and singers.
Our Conductors
Foris also has a conductor residency program, providing opportunities for emerging conductors to lead a choir through a rehearsal season and a performance.
Our Concerts
Foris has had two successful performance seasons. We held two concerts, both well attended and well received. Original choral works were performed by a diverse group of emerging composers, the majority of whom were hearing their music sung for the first or second time.
The choir rehearsed for 8-10 weeks prior and met each of the emerging composers whose music they performed. Rehearsals were held in a Portland home, adding to the intimate, accessible vibe. The concerts also included audience engagement activities.
Please enjoy the concert programs, photos, and testimonials below!
Testimonials
“Thank for you for creating this potentially career launching opportunity for choral composers.”
“Thank you for your acute understanding of the challenges facing the living classical composer.”
“Loved singing with Foris. Love singing new works by such talented composers. Love the community.”
“I was so thrilled to sing with Foris last summer. It had been years since I had an opportunity to sing with a choir, and Foris was a welcoming place and a truly unique experience.”
“Thank you for the amazing opportunity to have a read through of one of my unpremiered choir works! It already sounds so much better!”
“Foris is doing great things for Portland singers and emerging composers.”
“We’re especially blessed to have a variety of local choirs and chamber groups commissioning and performing music by Oregon composers, consider Fear No Music, Resonance Ensemble, Oregon Repertory Singers, Foris Choir, and Third Angle New Music.”
- Oregon ArtsWatch