On Deck with Young Musicians
As of March 2025, On Deck with Young Musicians is no longer producing new episodes. This program featured inspirational interviews that celebrate and showcase the incredibly talented young musicians who live and perform in the Pacific Northwest: the young people who are shaping the future of classical music. The archive below features episodes hosted by Christa Wessel, Adam Eccleston, Raúl Gómez-Rojas, Jahlysa Azaret, and Lisa Lipton.
November 9, 2024
On Deck with Della Simone
Della Simone is a jazz, pop, and classically trained vocalist hailing from Portland, Oregon. She has traveled all over the world with the Portland State Chamber choir, of which she is currently co-president. She performs regularly at local venues including The Old Church (TOC) Concert Hall, Mendelssohn’s, and Corkscrew Wine Bar. She is set to …
November 2, 2024
On Deck with Andrew Lee
Andrew Lee is a 17-year-old junior at Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon. He has been playing the violin for ten years and currently studies with Carol Sindell. Andrew joined the Portland Youth Philharmonic in 2021, serving as assistant principal second violin, and before that, as the concertmaster of PYCO. As a soloist, he was …
October 26, 2024
On Deck with Natalie Alexander
Natalie Alexander is a 17-year old clarinetist with both the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Portland Youth Philharmonic, and she envisions a future full of music. She wants to do it all: orchestra, chamber music, teaching. In this episode of On Deck, Lisa Lipton talks with Natalie about her interest in women composers, about leadership, and …
October 12, 2024
On Deck with Rohan Focer
Rohan Focer is a Senior at Tigard high school and has been playing the flute for 6 years. He has been a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony‘s Flute Ensemble for two years now and took lessons from Denise Westby. He has participated in the Flute Alliance Flute Boot Camp for two summers and enjoys …
October 5, 2024
On Deck with Annie Rhew
Annie Rhew is a 16-year cellist with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. She’s been playing cello since age 8 and has since won MANY awards. Annie was also the “Healing Through Music” volunteer at OHSU for 2 summers and is currently working as a music therapy volunteer at a local hospice care group. Lisa Lipton chats …
September 29, 2024
On Deck with Marcus Hanlon
Marcus Hanlon has loved music since before he knew what an instrument was. He’s played the bassoon for over six years, three of which have been with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. He also loves science and is combining his love of electrical engineering and music by transcribing various pieces of music for Tesla coils. In …
September 22, 2024
On Deck with Mia Hale
18-year old oboist Mia Hale started off playing music with the violin and piano, but has made the switch to the double reed family! In this interview with Lisa Lipton, we dive deeper into finding what inspires her in music. Mia is a recent graduate of Parkrose High School and will be attending the University …
July 27, 2024
On Deck with Emory Yu Guyer
Emory Yu Guyer is an incoming freshman at University of Oregon Honors College. They will major in Music Education, and double minor in Spanish and Finance. Having graduated recently from Lakeridge High School, they were the jazz band’s bassist, wind ensemble’s flute section leader, and pep band’s student director. This year, both their jazz rhythm …
June 30, 2024
On Deck with Emily Wen
Emily Wen, a junior at Sherwood High School, plays in her school Wind Ensemble and marching band, and the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra. This is Emily’s 6th year playing the flute and 5th year studying under Denise Westby. She is the principal flute of the Sherwood High School Wind Ensemble and the Portland Youth Conservatory …
June 22, 2024
On Deck with Charles A. Martin
Charles Martin is an 18-year old composer, pianist, actor, entrepreneur and writer. In this episode of On Deck, Raul Gomez-Rojas talks with Charles about all of his interests, as well as his decision to perhaps skip college and make a living in the music world without a degree. Charles began taking piano lessons when he …
