First to attend college, thanks to Oregon Bach Festival

“If it weren’t for the Youth Choral Academy,” says Rachel Weirichs, “I probably would not have gone to college.”

The first in her family to go to college, Weirichs is studying music thanks to a scholarship. And the Youth Choral Academy, a festival program for high school singers. She first attended the academy when she was fifteen.

“The Bach Festival was especially important to me at that age, coming from a small town. It was my outlet, my little chance to shine and spend time with people who felt the way that I felt about music. I won’t ever quit until I get my diploma because I want to show all these people their hard work paid off.”