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Singing Crater Lake's Virtues, In Person

Crater Lake is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, a feast for the eyes.  What sounds should accompany the sights? 

The Britt Festival commissioned New York-based composer Michael Gordon to create an audio portrait, "Natural History."  The orchestra, led by Teddy Abrams, went to Crater Lake to perform it in late July. 

Musicians were joined by members of the Klamath Tribe and singers from three Rogue Valley choirs.  JPR Classical Music Director Don Matthews, a bass, joined the choir and brought back this first-person account.

Don Matthews received a B.A. in Music from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters in Vocal Performance from USC. He performed as a member of the San Francisco Opera chorus for three seasons.  He moved to Boston to study and became involved in radio, working at both WBUR and WGBH, where he was a producer for Robert J. Lurtsema.