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COMMUNITY
C O M MU NI T Y

BRITT FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA OREGON WINE EXPERIENCE® 2021

TWO CHANGES FOR 2022 SEASON MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION RAISED

he Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces two changes as it pre- ot able to gather in person didn’t dampen the generosity of
Tpares for the 60th anniversary of the Britt Music & Arts Festival in Nthose who attended the 2021 Oregon Wine Experience (OWE)
®
2022. virtual event series (September 27 – October 3), and who made it
®
a resounding success. The Oregon Wine Experience is a multi-day
First, following a national search, Britt is excited to welcome Renia wine and culinary event, where 100% of money raised stays local and
Shterenberg as its new General Manager of the BFO. Shterenberg began benefits Children’s Miracle Network and other health care programs
her career as a professional violinist, then moved into the world of arts supported by the Asante Foundation. The virtual Founders’ Barrel
administration. Her background as both a performer and administra- Auction, Miracle Auction, and Silent Auction generated more than
tor bring a unique and global perspective to this position. She joins the $1.6 million. All proceeds will benefit children’s health care, includ-
BFO from San Antonio, Texas, where she has been Executive Director ing a new women’s and children’s hospital-within-a-hospital, and
of the Olmos Ensemble, a growing chamber music group based there. other programs at Asante. “The support of Oregon Wine Experience is
She isn’t new to the region, as she was a violinist in the BFO 2004 particularly important as we raise the funds to build a new children’s
through 2011. hospital and other initiatives in the AsanteForward campaign,” said
Floyd Harmon, Executive Director of Asante Foundation. “We are so
She is excited to join Britt and work with Music Director Teddy thankful for the continued generosity and support of our sponsors and
Abrams. “Having performed in the Britt Festival Orchestra for eight donors” says Andrea Reeder, Asante Foundation Director of Campaign
years, I have always admired and appreciated the high-quality perfor- and Operations.
mances of orchestral music that Britt Festivals brings to the community
during the three-week orchestra festival. I am excited to once again be This year’s Miracle Kid, Elio, is twelve years old and battling a sec-
a part of the Britt family,” she says. ond round of Ewing’s sarcoma. Elio and his family are grateful he can
receive care just 15 minutes from home, allowing him to return home
Secondly, the BFO dates will change in 2022, with the 60th anniver- and spend time with his little brother Enzo. The new women’s and
sary season running from June 17 through July 3, five weeks earlier children’s hospital within the new Pavilion at Asante Rogue Regional
than it has been historically held. This change is due to successive years Medical Center will feature a state-of-the-art Pediatric Infusion Center
of wildfire smoke, with resulting cancellations and concert relocations. for kids like Elio facing cancer and other serious illnesses. “I’m so
This change will ensure the safety of orchestra members, staff, patrons, grateful we live in Southern Oregon and have a community that sees
and volunteers. The full BFO concert program will be announced in children are important and deserve to have a facility that caters to them
early 2022. and their families,” says Vanessa, Elio’s mother.

www.britfest.org www.theoregonwineexperience.com

24 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | winter 2022