About Us

What is Ovation West Performing Arts?

Ovation West Performing Arts is the umbrella organization that encompasses three main areas of operation:

The organization began as the Evergreen Chorale back in 1972 as a small group of singers rehearsing in members' homes. Since that time, we have grown to include musical theatre and operatic productions, a chamber choir, a variety of education programs, a concert series of nationally renowned musicians from multiple genres, a film series, and management of a historic theater venue. Our programs engage around 500 performing artists and reach around 7,000 community members every year and include collaborations with numerous other arts organizations from all over the region.

Mission:

Our mission is to Transform and Inspire community through excellence in music, theatre, education, and through historic Center Stage.

Statement on Human Dignity:

Ovation West Performing Arts affirms the dignity, inherent value, and unalienable rights of each and every human being on this planet.

At Ovation West Performing Arts, we are devoted to telling those stories of the human condition which hold the power to celebrate our infinite expressions of individuality and simultaneously remind us of our shared humanity. We believe that human societies, cultures, and organizations are strengthened by a diversity of cultures, ideas, perspectives, lived experiences, talents, and abilities, and that accurate representation and amplification of historically marginalized voices serves to create connections and dissolve divisions among us.

We continuously strive to make the performing arts accessible to our entire community by mitigating challenges of affordability, geography, or disability.

Ovation West Performing Arts Staff

Graham Anduri, Executive Director - graham@ovationwest.org

Dr. Graham Anduri joined Ovation West Performing Arts as the Executive Director in January of 2023. Dr. Anduri is a lifelong performer and learner. His musical training began in 4th grade playing the clarinet in his school band and continued through a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. He performed in plays and musicals throughout high school, and discovered opera in college, which led him to pursue a professional performing career which continues to this day. A passionate educator, Anduri taught voice, choir, and opera at the university level for ten years, ran international training programs for emerging professional musical theatre and opera singers, and was a career coach for professional singers around the world. Graham believes strongly in the transformative power of the performing arts to create connections and dissolve divisions.

Christine Gaudreau, Director of Choral and Orchestral Activities - christine@ovationwest.org

(see bio on the Evergreen Chorale page)

Tonje Williams, Operations Manager - tonje@ovationwest.org

Alex Woosely, Production Manager and Stage Manager - alex@ovationwest.org

Sarah Gumina, Marketing Manager - sarah@ovationwest.org

Ovation West Performing Arts Board of Directors - 2024/2025

Pat Magerkurth - President

Claire Terry - Vice President

Kevin Atkinson - Treasurer

Mande Mischler - Secretary

Bob Baldwin

Dodge McCord