Central Oregon Symphony Association

The Central Oregon Symphony is sponsored by the Central Oregon Symphony Association, (COSA, Inc.) and Central Oregon Community College.

COSA, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides logistical and financial support to the Central Oregon Symphony. The COSA board of directors is composed of music lovers who meet monthly with the conductor and executive director to plan activities that include fundraising, communication with the community, ticket distribution, production of brochures and programs, ushering, and much more.

The Executive Board of COSA for 2006-2007 includes:
Marlene Morrison, President
Linda Louk, Secretary
Robert M. Barr, Treasurer

Members of the board include Karen Shepard as the Executive Director, Ward Buckingham, Wendy Bloom, Sharon Goodmonson, Juanita Serrano, and Katie Wendel.

COSA is partnered with several like-minded organizations to provide hands-on string instrument instruction for area youth. The Awesome After School Orchestra and Summer Strings are co-supported by Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District. Offered during the school year and summer months, respectively, the AASO and Summer String programs offer string instruction for elementary school aged children at two locations in Bend: Bear Creek Elementary School and Highland Elementary School. In partnership with Cascade Community School of Music, COSA also offers string instrument instruction at two locations in Redmond: John Tuck Elementary School and Tom McCall Elementary School. All instructors in these COSA-supported education programs are COS musicians as well as professional teachers with the highest credentials.

COSA welcomes the help of volunteers in many aspects of symphony support. Anyone interested in getting involved can call 317-3941 for more information.

Central Oregon Community College's support of the fine arts dates back nearly to the inception of the institution in 1949. The history officially began in 1956 when COCC hired its first full-time music professor. As the college grew in size and scope, the fine arts department began to expand as well. Within fifteen years, there were two full-time music professors, two full-time art professors, and the college supported several community-based music ensembles and a theater program. By 1980 COCC had increased its full-time fine arts faculty to six, creating a theater position and an additional music position.

Today, COCC continues its generous support and promotion of the fine arts with five full-time fine arts faculty and by enlisting several Central Oregon artisans to teach part-time in their area of expertise. Over fifteen part-time faculty are teaching in the COCC fine arts department during any given term. And because of their assistance, COCC is able to offer courses in such diverse areas as drawing, ceramics, photography, calligraphy, piano, guitar, music theory, and jazz. The community is further enriched by the opportunity to hear, see, and perform with such COCC supported groups as Big Band Jazz, Central Oregon Concert Band, Cascade Chorale, and the Central Oregon Symphony.