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.
February 22, 2014
On Deck with Trevor Dunn
Trevor Dunn is a 17-year-old football player who has his eye on music school. He’s a tenor, and the more he learns about opera, he says, the more driven he is to sing. Trevor is another of the MetroArts Young Artist winners this year; on April 1 he’ll be performing a duet with Becky Yakos, …
February 15, 2014
On Deck with Lauren Yoon
Meet 14-year-old pianist Lauren Yoon, another of the MetroArts Young Artist winners this year. (Lauren played in this concert 2 years ago, too.) Lauren believes that music is “magic” and hopes to achieve a career in music therapy or music education.
February 8, 2014
On Deck with Valerie Ding
Continuing our look at the winners of this year’s MetroArts Young Artist concert, this week we meet 16-year-old pianist Valerie Ding. Valerie has actually won a spot on this concert twice before (in 2010 and 2012). As musically brilliant as she is, though, she is every bit as academically brilliant: out of thousands of global …
February 1, 2014
On Deck with Rachel Graves
This week we begin profiling the eleven young musicians who have won a spot on the 20th annual MetroArts Young Artist Concert (taking place in the Newmark Theater, April 1). Rachel Graves is a 16-year-old violinist who played in the MetroArts concert two years ago, and since then has also played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto …
January 25, 2014
On Deck with Nick Arredondo
Nick is a double-bassist and his story is pretty unusual: he’s only been playing for a few years and he’s already the principal bassist of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. In fact, he just won the PYP’s concerto competition and will be performing solo with them in May.
January 18, 2014
On Deck at Chamber Music Camp of Portland
Held the first full week of July at the University of Portland, this day and overnight camp offers young musicians the opportunity to be coached in chamber music, chamber orchestra, music, art and dance. Tune in to find out more about Chamber Music Camp of Portland in this episode of On Deck with Young Musicians.
January 11, 2014
On Deck with Isabel Skau
A senior at David Douglas High School, Isabel is a drum major for her school’s marching band, plays saxophone in the jazz band, and is the principal clarinetist with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. She was one of the winners in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s young artist competition last Spring, and we’ll hear that performance in …
December 28, 2013
On Deck at PYP’s free bass and percussion lessons
The Portland Youth Philharmonic offers free bass and percussion lessons, taught weekly by members of the Oregon Symphony. In this episode of On Deck, we’ll find out more about this wonderful opportunity for young musicians in our community.
December 21, 2013
On Deck with Ruta Kuzmickas
Ruta is 17 and focused on a career as a professional pianist. We’ll hear her performance last Spring with the MetroArts Orchestra (in which she played Rachmaninov), and chat with her about her favorite movies.
December 14, 2013
On Deck at Portland Summer Ensembles
This week we’re On Deck at a summer camp that schools young musicians in chamber music. A day-camp for kids aged 9-18, Portland Summer Ensembles boasts a faculty comprised principally of Oregon Symphony members. Though the camp takes place in July, the application deadline is coming up in January.
