Category Archives: Contemporary
Four Black Composers Reimagining Classical Music
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.
Six Black Clarinetists To Know
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… More
Nine Fantastic LGBTQ+ Classical Music Groups in Oregon
LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ individuals has gone through countless evolutions both in Oregon and worldwide. In this article, we’re featuring… More
Five American Women Conductors You Should Know
Women are helping to shape the sound of classical music right now, as musicians, artists, and most certainly as conductors. Here are some of our favorite American women conductors.
10 Contemporary Women Composers You Should Know
If you’re familiar with the history of classical music, you may know that historically classical music hasn’t been the most welcoming field for women, and there is a long way to go before women classical composers of today are performed and recognized at the same level as their male peers. That said, here are some… More
Adam Eccleston shares personal reflections on his favorite music by Black and Brown composers
Black History Month is a time for me to reminisce and give thanks to those who have paved the way for Black and Brown people in classical music and thinking of all of the Black and Brown service members who have paved the way for my family. It wasn’t until a few years ago when… More
Sampling Classical Works in Modern Songs
To some, classical music may seem like something of the past, yet many artists have sampled classical music, bringing the music to the present. Yet, the issue remains of where one song ends and another begins. It is always smart to give credit to musicians for inspiring a song. Sampling is the process of taking… More
James Horner Leaves Listeners a Lifetime of Music
The American composer James Horner, who composed more than 100 film scores, including “Titanic,” “Apollo 13,” “Braveheart” and “Avatar” passed away June 22 at the age of 61. Horner was a classically trained musician and scholar, who began playing the piano at age 5. He attended the Royal College of Music in London as a… More
