Open Letter to The Community

Dear Friends,

For the past eight years, Rogue World Music, in collaboration with Ashland Parks and Recreation, has been proud to bring the Rogue World Music Festival to life in Lithia Park. This award-winning event has celebrated cultural performances, workshops, storytelling, and community connection, sharing the joy of music with thousands across the Rogue Valley and beyond.

Whether it was dancing barefoot on the lawn to rollicking rhythms or listening deeply with our hearts to the stories shared by music artists, together we created a rich experience of soulful connection. 

At this time, Rogue World Music has entered a phase of transformation and renewal, leading to the strategic decision to step away from producing the festival. While this marks the close of a beautiful chapter, it also opens the door to new opportunities. This period of reflection is vital for us to reimagine our mission, vision, and programs in ways that deepen our impact. Moving forward, we are focusing on programs that prioritize music-making and participation—experiences that foster vibrant health, soulful connection and community wellbeing. 

In addition to strengthening our Songbirds program, which nurtures musicality as a life skill for hundreds of elementary students in the Phoenix-Talent School District, we remain committed to fostering a vibrant musical community. While our primary focus is on expanding Songbirds, we will continue to support independent program partners, such as Ruth Hoffecker of Ashland School of Uncovering the Voice, as they bring meaningful community singing opportunities to the Rogue Valley. Together, these efforts reflect our belief in the power of participatory music-making to heal, inspire, and connect people in profound ways.

We are deeply grateful to all of you who have joined us in celebrating and supporting the festival over the years. Whether you attended as a participant, performer, volunteer, or enthusiast, you’ve been an integral part of the festival’s success and the spirit of community it represents.

We’re looking ahead with hope and inspiration as we embark on this next phase of Rogue World Music’s journey. We’ll keep you updated on our progress, share new opportunities to engage with us, and invite you to be part of what’s to come.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Rogue World Music family