Our History

In 1990, Beth Basham was asked to create an educational outreach for young singers under the umbrella of the Cascade Festival of Music, a summer orchestral festival in Drake Park, Bend, OR. 

The Cascade Festival of Music Children's Choir began with 4th through 8th graders, rehearsing in a school classroom once a week, performing several times a year and in the summer during the festival. By 1995, the choir had outgrown the festival and became its own nonprofit organization, the Youth Choir of Central Oregon. In addition, the choir grew each year to include another grade until YCCO served 5th through 12th graders rehearsing in Redmond and Bend separately, coming together to rehearse before the major concerts. The choir began touring during this time.

YCCO continued to expand, making it necessary to split the choir into two separate choirs, serving 4th through 8th graders (Debut choir) and 8th through 12th graders (Premiere Choir). Shirley Van Peapeghem was tapped to direct the Debut Choir for seven years. When Shirley moved away, Beth Basham began directing both choirs. A third choir was added which now serves 1st through 5th graders (Singers School) and the Debut Choir serves 5th through 8th graders.

In January 2020 it was announced that Megan Lapp would take over as Artistic Director in June 2020 after Beth Basham’s retirement. Megan has been involved with the YCCO choirs since Fall 2016 and is thrilled to help continue the excellent musical education to Central Oregon youth as well as grow the YCCO community. With experience as an educator in Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, she brings a strong cross-cultural understanding to her work as a director. She strives to make every performance a unique experience for the audience, with an emphasis in creativity and self-expression for every singer.

The choirs have always striven for excellence in singing technique and stage presence. Over the years the choir has participated in international festivals overseas in Canada, Japan, Greece, Turkey, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Austria as well as in domestic festivals in Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, Indianapolis, Eugene, Portland and Chicago, always keeping in mind that the choir is an ambassador of Central Oregon.