Logo for Shaniko Music Sanctuary with music notes and musical staff, overlaid on a cozy rustic room with dartboard, chair, water bottles, and string lights.

Key Initiatives

Engage the Community

Bringing people together to learn, play, and enjoy music fosters a sense of community. Giving these performers an opportunity get to know the attendees throughout the day by hosting classes & letting loose in jams is a festival staple – it really builds community in sending the message that everyone is welcome, regardless of skillset or age or background.

Include Immersive Experiences

Workshops provide learning experiences for musicians of all skill levels, keeping traditional music alive. Open jam sessions allow musicians to connect, learn, and create spontaneous music together. A mix of well-known and emerging artists make Central Oregon an exciting hub for bluegrass enthusiasts.

Highlight Local Cities through Events

A successful bluegrass scene will build on Central Oregon’s reputation as a destination. Scheduling local music events encourages people to explore rural Oregon, increasing exposure to the region. It’s common for bluegrass-ers to attend festivals with their spouse and kids who are often seeking out additional entertainment, of which Central Oregon has a-plenty

Stimulate an All-Ages Atmosphere

Bluegrass doesn’t care what year you were born. A trad-grass jam is truely special in that it really does provide inclusivity to all ages. Jam circles are often comprised of the old and young, alike, building a generational bridge in the community.

Strengthen the Bluegrass Scene

There is an undeniable bluegrass community of listeners and pickers in the state of Oregon area. There is high-demand for local bluegrass with prime opportunity to fill a hole in the market. Bluegrass is blooming in Portland and Northern California, and Central Oregon is perfectly placed to celebrate and preserve the tradition.

Collage of kids and adults playing bluegrass instruments with the Shaniko Music Sanctuary Mission stated

Overview

Collage of four images depicting outdoor musical activities and folk culture. The first image is a black-and-white photo of a man playing an acoustic guitar, wearing a cowboy hat. The second image shows a group of musicians performing on a stage with an American flag in the background, and children sitting on the grass watching. The third image features a man and woman playing musical instruments outdoors under trees; the man is playing the violin and the woman is playing the banjo, with another person in the background. The fourth image is of a man sitting outside a small wooden church playing an acoustic guitar on a sunny day with blue skies.

Forming as a non-profit in 2022, Shaniko Music Sanctuary utilizes events to raise funds for Oregon Music Education.

The bread and butter of our structure centers around producing music events throughout the year with proceeds going to various recipient organizations in rural Oregon. South Wasco County Public Schools Music Director, Marty Hansen, has leveraged a $5900 donation to acquire instruments for his classes, and has built brass and string programs into his current general music offering. South Wasco Library now offers instruments for checkout with a library card in Maupin. And we are working to stand up music venues throughout the County in the next 5 years.

Shaniko Music Sanctuary aims to help sustain the growing momentum for music in Wasco County and the rural Central Oregon Region.

Our Story

Built on the Vision: Bringing Music to Underserved Communities.

Executive Director, Pam Brown holds a Music Education degree from the University of Florida, and began studying flute at a young age.

Upon entering the public school system as a K-12 music educator, Pam quickly realized there was a severe lack of funding for music programs.

She taught for a decade, often without text books for music appreciation classes, without support for band kids who couldn’t afford instruments, and without any stipend for basic classroom supplies. 

Shaniko Music Sanctuary was founded to break down these barriers faced by underserved communities, and to move toward supporting music teachers, students, and the arts —and to create lifelong learners.