Photo courtesy of The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts.
July 22–31
The Shedd Institute, Eugene, OR
BY DENNIS MORAN
After a pandemic-imposed hiatus, the prestigious Oregon Festival of American Music (OFAM) triumphantly returns July 22–31 at the Shedd Institute in Eugene. The OFAM is no stranger to exploring the relationship between great American films and music, with this year’s theme, Reel Music: Sampling the Sound Track. Whether it’s Dooley Wilson singing “As Time Goes By” in Casablanca, or a Bernard Hermann score heightening the suspense in a Hitchcock classic, music has played a crucial part in cinematic storytelling from the beginning.
Kicking off the festival, Executive Director, Jim Ralph, will provide a festival overview and what attendees can expect. Some of those features include a series of free public talks that will illuminate such themes as “The Sound of Noir” and “Underscoring Espionage,” free film screenings, and a community sing-along at the Sheffer Recital Hall performing classic tunes from 1929 to 1969. Festival Music Director, Chuck Redd, leads a band and singers to perform nostalgic favorites such as, “Over the Rainbow,” “As Time Goes By,” “The James Bond Theme,” among many other adored selections.
Each of the six planned concerts has both a matinee and evening show, presented inside the spacious 825-seat Jaqua Concert Hall. Concert themes include “Spellbound: Hitchcock’s Music” and “Some Like it Hot: From Screen to Nightclub.” Closing out the first weekend of film and jams is Round Midday: The 2021 Jazz Party.
Ticket prices for the concerts and gala range from $25-39 with discounts available for youth, group sales, and more. Top ticket prices for the Jazz Party go up to $45. For more ticketing information and a complete schedule, go to theshedd.org.
Oregon Festival of American Music: Thursday, July 22–Saturday, July 31; 9:30am–7:30pm (except Sunday, July 25, 4–7:30pm); The Shedd Institute, 868 High St. Eugene, OR 97401
