During our 2023 Music Builds campaign, All Classical Radio is celebrating the ways that the music played on this station builds connections, inspiration, and joy. During this special 40th anniversary year, and in recognition of our Music Builds fundraiser, some our local friends and colleagues in the arts have shared their words about how All Classical helps build community through music.
Listen below to learn about what All Classical Radio means to our partners in the arts, and share your story when you make a contribution today at allclassical.org, or by calling 888-899-5722. Let’s build together, as we celebrate 40 years of orchestrating magic on the radio–and many more to come!
In addition to our local arts organizations and leaders, All Classical Radio thanks our generous corporate partners at Olson & Jones Construction–building community since 1982, and supporting All Classical for over a decade. Inspired by our shared values of honesty, caring, and community, All Classical Radio and Olson & Jones are working together to enrich lives and uplift our community, one brick, and one musical moment, at a time.
2023 Music Builds: Let’s Build Together!
Ron Blessinger, 45th Parallel Universe
Violinist Ron Blessinger is an Oregon native and a proud graduate of Hermiston High School (’83). He received his B.M. from the Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. with distinction in performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. After completing his master’s degree, Ron joined the Oregon Symphony in 1990. As a member of the orchestra, Ron has been a frequent soloist and chamber music performer. In 2014, he was elected as a player representative to the Oregon Symphony’s Board of Directors.
Ron is currently the executive director of 45th Parallel Universe, a performing arts collective of members of the Oregon Symphony. Working with the players and board, Ron has quadrupled the organization’s annual budget, doubled the number of performances, and overseen the production of groundbreaking music projects.
Learn more at 45thparallelpdx.org
Christina Devlin, Beaverton Symphony Orchestra
Christina Devlin joined the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra as their Executive Director in the fall of 2020, bringing over 30 years of experience in event management as well as a strong background in strategic planning, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, logistics, multimedia production, and special events and convention services. Devlin joined BSO at a time when the organization was looking to adapt and grow through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to lead the organization as the BSO transitions to its newest chapter, finding a new Music Director.
Christina comes from a long line of German musicians and composers and grew up playing piano and cello. She first entered the world of event management in college at Western Michigan University, during which time she worked on multiple musical and theatrical productions at several community theaters. Christina has also served on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations including the Oregon Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, where she gained multiple years of board leadership experience. Christina’s passion is bringing people together and she instantly connected with BSO’s mission of sharing music with the public through enriching, affordable community performances.
Learn more at beavertonsymphony.org.
Gloria Chien & Soovin Kim, Chamber Music Northwest
Together, Gloria and Soovin are artistic directors of Chamber Music Northwest (CMNW) in Portland, and Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont. In 2022, the couple realized a dream and made CMNW’s Young Artist Institute (YAI) a reality. YAI brings together 16 talented string players, ages 14-17, and two piano fellows from around the world to Portland to work with an esteemed faculty for an intensive three-week program that includes instruction and performance, in Portland. Chien and Kim received Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s 2021 CMS Award for Extraordinary Service to Chamber Music.
Pianist Gloria Chien has one of the most diverse musical lives as an award-winning performer, concert presenter, and educator. In 2010, she was appointed Director of the Chamber Music Institute at Music@Menlo by Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han serving in that role until 2020. Gloria is also founder and artistic director of String Theory at the Hunter, a chamber music series at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, TN. Gloria received her B.M., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music. She is a former CMNW Protégé Artist.
Violinist Soovin Kim enjoys a broad musical career, regularly performing Bach sonatas and Paganini caprices for solo violin, sonatas for violin and piano ranging from Beethoven to Ives, Mozart and Haydn concertos and symphonies as a conductor, and world-premiere works almost every season. First prize winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition at age 20, he is also recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award. For 20 years, he was the first violinist of the Johannes Quartet. He was bestowed an honorary doctorate by the University of Vermont for the LCCMF’s great contributions to its community. Soovin has devoted much of his time to his passion for teaching at the New England Conservatory in Boston since 2014, and recently joined the faculty at the Yale School of Music.
Learn more at cmnw.org.
Pat Zagelow, Friends of Chamber Music
Pat Zagelow was drawn to the field of arts management in 1991 where she could combine her love of music with her ten years’ experience as the owner of Denim Designs, a small business devoted to the manufacture of children’s clothing and gifts. Since 1991, she has worked as Executive Director of Friends of Chamber Music. She was also Executive Director of Portland Piano International (previously the PSU Piano Recital Series) from 1991-2005, and Executive Director of the Oregon Repertory Singers from 1995-1998. She also managed the Portland-based chamber ensemble, The Florestan Trio, for several years. When not working to bring FOCM’s world-class chamber ensembles to Portland, Pat enjoys playing (piano) in chamber ensembles herself and doting on her two granddaughters.
Learn more at focm.org.
Laura Grimes, Oregon Arts Watch
Laura Grimes is the executive director of Oregon ArtsWatch. She worked as a journalist at The Oregonian for 24 years, where for most of that time she produced features sections. She occasionally writes quirky essays when the muse strikes, and has published in The Oregonian, Oregon ArtsWatch, and Art Scatter. When she’s not keeping ArtsWatch in line, she’s the marketing and public relations manager for The Portland Ballet. Always a sucker for cute kids, she spent several years growing arts programs in schools and working to improve playgrounds.
Learn more at orartswatch.org.
Dr. Ethan Sperry, Oregon Repertory Singers
Hailed by The Oregonian for providing “the finest choral concerts in Portland in recent memory,” Dr. Ethan Sperry has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of Oregon Repertory Singers since 2011. Dr. Sperry began studying conducting at the age of eight, cello at the age of twelve, and singing at the age of eighteen. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Harvard College and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern California. Ensembles under his direction have toured to Bermuda, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, Russia, and Taiwan, and have performed at major venues in the United States including The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, The Washington National Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, The Nassau Coliseum, Cincinnati’s Music Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and the United Nations.
Learn more at orsingers.org.
Julian Perkins, Portland Baroque Orchestra
Julian Perkins has been named Portland Baroque Orchestra’s Artistic Director.
Julian enjoys a busy and varied career as both conductor and keyboard player. Described as ‘exuberantly stylish’ by The Sunday Times, he loves bringing his experience as a leading performer on period instruments to his work with both period instrument ensembles and modern orchestras and to singers of varied performing backgrounds. He is Artistic Director of Cambridge Handel Opera and the Founder Director of Sounds Baroque. Learn more about Julian on his website.
Learn more at pbo.org.
Stephen Shepherd, Portland Chamber Orchestra
Stephen Shepherd has performed throughout the country since leaving Kansas City, MO for the University of Iowa where he completed his Bachelors degree in music performance. He relocated to Pittsburgh, PA to work towards a Masters in Music performance and Artist Diploma degrees and upon receiving them decided to pursue a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa completing the terminal degree in 2003. His orchestral playing includes several seasons with the Westmoreland Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, and the Cedar Rapids Symphony and Cedar Rapids Opera Orchestra before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2003. Stephen has served as the Concertmaster of the Linfield Chamber Orchestra in McMinnville, OR, is a regular performer with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and is the Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony in Vancouver, WA.
As an educator, he has served as a Teacher and Assistant Principal with several school districts in Portland and Southwest Washington. He is a staunch advocate for the importance of the visual and performing arts in the schools.
Learn more at pcsymphony.org.
Steven Byess, Portland Columbia Symphony
Currently celebrating his 10th season as music director of the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Steven Byess is a dynamic and passionate conductor, hailed by critics as “masterful and brilliant,” “creating the epitome of instrumental elegance,” and capturing “the full spirit and vitality of the score perfectly.” In addition to his role with the PCSO, Steven is also the music director of the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Recognized for his musical versatility, multi-faceted presence on the podium, and passion for music education, he is devoted to promoting a life-long love and enthusiasm for music and the arts. He is a prolific conductor of opera, operetta, musical theatre, and ballet, leading multiple productions each season across the U.S. As a passionate advocate for the arts, Steven is sought after for his speeches on the arts, music, and education. He wrote and co-directed a PBS presentation, Count On It!, designed to connect music and mathematics for children grades K-3. Since 2013, he has shared this passion with over 85,000 children around the country as a conductor of the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Link Up orchestra education concerts.
Learn more at pcsymphony.org.
David Hattner, Portland Youth Philharmonic
David Hattner is the Musical Director of the highly acclaimed Portland Youth Philharmonic, the nation’s oldest youth orchestra. The fifth music director in its distinguished 93-year history, he is the first to be born in the United States. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of American repertoire, Hattner’s programming is relevant, thoughtful, and “especially attractive.” (The Chicago Tribune)
Selected from a pool of 112 candidates Hattner received rave reviews following his debut with PYP in November 2008: “The Portland Youth Philharmonic roared like a Maserati on Saturday in its first concert under music director David Hattner. The route was challenging, the execution distinguished and the ride delightful,” wrote David Stabler for The Oregonian.
Learn more at portlandyouthphil.org.
Sarah Tiedemann, Third Angle New Music
Sarah Tiedemann serves as Artistic Director of Third Angle New Music and is a member of the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra. She has also performed with the Swedish Radio Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Oregon Symphony, Britt Festival Orchestra, and Boise Philharmonic. A contemporary music specialist, Sarah’s world premiere performance of Derek Jacoby’s Flute Concerto was broadcast internationally on WGBH’s Art of the States, and she is a featured soloist on Third Angle’s album Alone Dancing: Music of South Asian-American Composers. She teaches at Lewis & Clark College and Portland State University.
Learn more at thirdangle.org.
ABOUT MUSIC BUILDS
Since 2017, All Classical Radio has partnered with Olson & Jones Construction annually to celebrate the power of music, and our shared values of honesty, caring, and community. Together, we have provided over 53,000 meals to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity (Music Feeds, 2017-2018), uplifted 20+ organizations using music as a tool for healing (Music Heals, 2019), and provided a lifeline for safe connection, comfort, and restoration during a time of great isolation (Music Connects & Builds, 2020-2022). In the 2023 Music Builds campaign, we expand on our past achievements, and invite you to join us in celebrating the music that enriches our lives, shared on All Classical Radio.
All Classical Radio supporters have shared these thoughts on how music builds community and connection:
We invite you to share your own story of the how music builds community, confidence, connection, and joy in your life when you make a donation, or through our contact form.
