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.
December 7, 2013
On Deck with Kristin Qian
Violinist, pianist, published poet, artist (George W. Bush owns one of her paintings), research scientist, fencer… those are only a few of the words which describe Kristin Qian, a 16-year-old senior who we chat with this week. Tune in to hear Kristin play the piano, as well as a recording of her playing the violin …
November 30, 2013
On Deck with Emily Brother
We visit this 16-year-old pianist both in the Newmark Theater (where she played Liszt with the MetroArts Orchestra last Spring) and at a lesson with her piano teacher, Dorothy Fahlman.
November 23, 2013
On Deck with The O’Connor Method
This week we’re On Deck not with a young musician, but rather with a method of learning for young musicians: a new American school of string playing by award-winning violinist Mark O’Connor. We’ll examine the so-called “O’Connor Method” by chatting with Mark himself about how American song can spur creativity and improvisation in string players. …
November 16, 2013
On Deck with Byron Fulop Laing
This 16-year-old violinist raises money for his musical education by busking outdoors at the Portland Saturday Market. He’ll be performing indoors as a soloist with the Oregon Symphony on November 24.
November 9, 2013
On Deck with Blair Shepperd
This 18-year-old bassoonist loves that her instrument is a little different. She is a little different: in addition to being a dedicated musician, she’s a competitive highland dancer and sews her own costumes for cosplay. She was chosen to participate this summer in Carnegie Hall’s prestigious National Youth Orchestra. A fascinating girl, Blair hopes to …
November 2, 2013
On Deck with Hannah Moon
A junior at Lincoln High School, Hannah is both a pianist and violist. She’ll be playing both instruments in a single Portland Youth Philharmonic concert on November 9: she’s the soloist for the Grieg Piano Concerto, then will join the viola section for the rest of the concert.
October 26, 2013
On Deck with Becky Yakos
We’ll visit with a 16-year-old singer who is focused on an operatic career. Becky got her start in the Pacific Youth Choir (pictured below). We’ll listen in on a PYC rehearsal, and also sit in on one of Becky’s voice lessons with Angela Neiderloh.
October 19, 2013
On Deck with Justin, Jonathan and Caitlin Huang
Hear 14-year-old triplets Justin (violin), Caitlin (piano) and Jonathan (cello) play music together and individually, Find out which one is the most driven, who is hopeless in the kitchen, and who gets in trouble at school.
October 12, 2013
On Deck at the Metropolitan Youth Symphony auditions
Listen in as a number of young musicians –some nervous, some confident- audition for placement at the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.
October 5, 2013
On Deck with Emily Wu
Emily is a 16-year-old violinist and a remarkable young woman. She was featured as soloist with two orchestras in the Spring of 2013: she performed the first movement of Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No.2 with the MetroArts Orchestra, and then the 2nd & 3rd movements with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. We’ll hear both performances, talk to …
