The Arts Blog

collage of composers

Four Black Composers Reimagining Classical Music

February 2, 2021

What will classical music sound like for future audiences? We may not have the answers, but if these composers offer any indication, we are excited to see and hear where the future takes us. SistaStrings The sound of SistaStrings can’t be described in one word. Formed in 2014 after the sisters graduated from college, the …

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Celebrating Black Voices in Classical Music

February 1, 2021

All Classical Portland celebrates the music of Black composers and artists year-round, and this month, we invite you to join us as we take a closer look at the contributions that Black composers and musicians have made to classical music. Let’s meet a few of the artists whose music you’ll hear on the air this month, …

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Christmas Painting

The Stories of Twelve Carols: 2020 Edition

December 1, 2020

As we look forward to this year’s Festival of Carols on All Classical Portland, it’s time to again share the stories of twelve famous carols! Our Program Director, John Pitman, has chosen a lovely selection of twelve carols for us to explore this year, and as All Classical’s Music Researcher, it’s been my mission to …

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Doreen Ketchens playing her clarinet boldly

Six Black Clarinetists To Know

August 23, 2020

The clarinet is one of the most ubiquitous and versatile instruments, has a wide range of natural habitats, from singing out through the symphony to famous jazz tunes. Our modern family of clarinets can be traced as far back as 1690 to a man named Johann Christoph Denner. At that time, there was another instrument …

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Heroines of Opera

August 18, 2020

Since the early days of opera, women composers have given us works with fascinating characters and unique perspectives. From Francesca Caccini’s 1625 opera, La liberazione di Ruggiero, to the latest installments of Shirley J. Thompson’s Heroines of Opera series, this list will explore just a few operas by women from throughout history. In these works, …

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Black and White Photo of Mike Alston sitting at a piano

The Magic of Radio: Behind the Scenes with Chief Engineer Mike Alston

August 18, 2020

National Radio Day crackles to life on August 20th every year in the United States for us to celebrate the miracle of sound waves travelling to our ears from far and wide. The history of National Radio Day is about as fuzzy as an untuned radio though, with rumors of its beginnings lying somewhere in …

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Emmanuel Henreid

All Classical Portland Announces 2020 Rising Tide Grant Recipient!

July 14, 2020

All Classical Portland is excited to announce that Future Prairie is the recipient of the 2020 Rising Tide Grant, in support of Onry’s project Livin’ in the Light. About the Rising Tide Grant: This grant is awarded annually by All Classical Portland to small arts organizations to support and promote creative projects that enrich the …

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photo of violin with daisies on it

Celebrating Composers Who Emigrated to America

July 4, 2020

In “Coming to America: Composers Speak Out,” Theodore Wiprud interviewed a group of composers who had emigrated to America. When he asked composed Jin Hi Kim how “being a newcomer in America affected [her] career,” she discussed a unique opportunity for artists to share and collaborate in this multicultural country.  “It is only in America …

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Rose City Pride Bands group photo from their Facebook

Nine Fantastic LGBTQI+ Classical Music Groups in Oregon

June 23, 2020

LGBTQI+ pride in Oregon has a long history, dating back to 1975 when 200 people gathered in the South Park Blocks near Portland State University for what would be Oregon’s first Pride celebration. The creation of space for LGBTQI+ individuals has gone through countless evolutions both in Oregon and worldwide. In this article, we’re featuring …

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Chari Glogovac-Smith profile photo with a sunset

Nineteen Black Composers You Should Know

June 18, 2020

In this article, we highlight nineteen powerful voices in our musical community. Their voices and stories are essential parts of the tapestry of our musical lives. We invite you to carry their music and stories with you, today and every day. Photo courtesy of Chari Glogovac-Smith’s website

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