Rebecca Richardson

Music has been an integral part of my life since my earliest memories. From a childhood spent in children’s choirs, piano lessons, and musical theater productions to earning college degrees in voice performance and writing program notes for “fun money,” my life has been guided by the call of classical music. I’m a Southern Californian transplant currently settled in SE Portland after spending nearly a decade writing and performing on the East Coast. I got my first taste of music research while working as a Music History T.A. in grad school, and ever since, I’ve been obsessed with humanizing and contextualizing the names behind the music we love so much. When I’m not stooped over my desk gleefully going down composer-related rabbit holes, you will likely find me on a long walk around the neighborhood with my husband and daughter, savoring a glass of good wine, or immersed in a sturdy historical biography.

Latest blog entries from Rebecca Richardson:

Music Terminology 101: Expressive Terms

Have you ever wondered why classical music is referred to as a “work” or “piece” rather than a song? Or perhaps the difference between a motif and a theme? Do you want to understand what differentiates classical music from other genres and what aligns with music heard all over the world? As part of our …


Five Contemporary Asian American Composers You Should Know

All Classical Radio is proud to feature artists of Asian heritage on our playlist every day. We’re constantly adding new voices to our programming, both past and present. In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we’re highlighting five contemporary composers who are expanding the cultural landscape and making the …


Music Terminology 101: Foundational Terms

Have you ever wondered why classical music is referred to as a “work” or “piece” rather than a song? Or perhaps the difference between a motif and a theme? Do you want to understand what differentiates classical music from other genres and what aligns with music heard all over the world? As part of our …


Lieder – A Celebration of Poetry through Song

Poetry has long been a wellspring of inspiration for composers. In this post, we’re going to look at a beloved genre of classical music that exquisitely interweaves music and poetry – Lieder, or “songs” in German.


Six Women Composers You Haven’t Heard Of

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re putting the spotlight on six women composers you may not have heard of but who truly deserve to become household names. Their stories offer lessons in perseverance, resilience, and ingenuity.


Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month is a meaningful time to recognize the contributions of African Americans to this country and beyond, including our musical legacy. When you tune in this month, here are some of the ways we are celebrating Black musicians.


The Stories of Twelve Carols: 2025 Edition

All Classical Radio’s Festival of Carols returns once more with four days of cherished seasonal music from cultures around the world, curated to lift your spirit and warm your heart. Each December, our Program Director, John Pitman, selects twelve pieces from our extensive Festival of Carols library for a deep dive into their origins. Over the past several …


Celebrating Two Years of Artist Anthology

Two years ago in October 2023, All Classical Radio launched the NEA-funded Artist Anthology, celebrating contemporary creatives of the Pacific Northwest. With the goal of capturing the lives and work of the region’s culture bearers, we’ve unveiled 42 lovingly curated artist profiles, first available online at anthology.allclassical.org and then in a limited-edition book. Each artist …


Six Composers We’re Celebrating for National Hispanic Heritage Month

At All Classical Radio, we celebrate the musical contributions of Hispanic and Latino composers—both past and present—every day on the air. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’d love to share about the lives of six extraordinary Hispanic composers you will hear as part of our daily programming. José White Lafitte (1836-1918) Born in …


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