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 already in existence called the chalumeau, which produced a lovely sound in lower registers, but could not match the rich sound of the clarinet in the wide range of sound it produces. In this article we focus on Black clarinetists without whom our musical world would not be the same.

Portland Music Therapy

Portland Music Therapy is a branch of The Sage Center, a Holistic Health community of Alternative Health Specialists, that focuses on using Neurologic Music Therapy techniques to achieve non-musical goals like improved socialization and communication skills. They incorporate evidence-based research and individualized, quantifiable goals and objectives. They specialize in working with individuals on the autism spectrum, individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Portland Music Therapy utilizes music to enable those without language to communicate and express themselves non-verbally. For dementia patients, they use music to help increase memory recall which then contributes to reminiscence and satisfaction with life. They also use music as a way to increase social interaction with caregivers and families, as well as a platform for non-verbal expression.

Portland Music Therapy offers individual sessions that result in constantly evolving measurable goals and objectives catered to the specific strengths and opportunities for the client. They also offer music lessons on piano, guitar, voice, as well as music theory lessons. Portland Music Therapy takes pride in being able to help every client on their musical journey regardless of age, cognitive level, disability, or experience. In addition to individual lessons, Portland Music Therapy also offers group sessions when its clear that two or more clients are mutually beneficial to each other’s growth. The musical activities within these sessions are introduced within individual sessions so that everyone is confident and excited about their role in the group setting. Family-Centered In-Home sessions are another opportunity that Portland Music Therapy offers during which they work with clients in their familiar settings, using music to address some of the challenges to daily routines.

For more information, reach out to Kate Harris, MT-BC, at (662) 202 – 2777 or kate@portlandmusictherapy.com

Heroines of Opera

Since the early days of opera, women composers have given us works with fascinating characters and unique perspectives. From Francesca Caccini’s 1625 opera, La liberazione di Ruggiero, to the latest installments of Shirley J. Thompson’s Heroines of Opera series, this list will explore just a few operas by women from throughout history. In these works, you’ll meet powerful sorceresses, conflicted goddesses, patient sisters, passionate mothers, and freedom fighters. You’ll also meet composers who are just as memorable as any character onstage. I hope these samples will encourage you to explore the vast world of operas by women.

The Magic of Radio: Behind the Scenes with Chief Engineer Mike Alston

National Radio Day crackles to life on August 20^thevery year in the United States for us to celebrate the miracle of sound waves travelling to our ears from far and wide. The history of National Radio Day is about as fuzzy as an untuned radio though, with rumors of its beginnings lying somewhere in the early 1990s. The purported seed of this holiday is the WWJ radio station in Detroit, Michigan, who began its daily broadcasts as the “Detroit News Radiophone” on August 20, 1920, as one of the first pioneers of commercial radio (via Wikipedia).

In honor of National Radio Day, All Classical Portland Intern Kelly Lantz interviewed our Chief Engineer Mike Alston on what it’s like to run the technical magic behind the music. Mike has a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in this field and is an excellent storyteller, so if you’re curious about how you’re able to hear the dulcet tones of All Classical Portland on your own radio, read on!

Classical Music To Study To

If you’re searching for that perfect playlist to study to before a big final, while writing your thesis, or just enjoying the companionship of a good book, you may have just found it. As All Classical Portland’s 2020 Young Artist in Residence, one of my goals is to share my love for this music with people all over the world. I hope you enjoy this playlist I have curated for you, and may it help you achieve all of your scholarly goals!

Natalie Tan
2020 Young Artist in Residence
All Classical Portland

Photo of Natalie Tan
Photo Credit: Dmitri Von Klein

All Classical Portland Announces 2020 Rising Tide Grant Recipient!

All Classical Portland is excited to announce that Future Prairie is the recipient of the 2020 Rising Tide Grant, in support of Onry’s project Livin’ in the Light.

About the Rising Tide Grant: This grant is awarded annually by All Classical Portland to small arts organizations to support and promote creative projects that enrich the artistic landscape and strengthen the community.

About Livin’ in the Light: Directed by Emmanuel Henreid (also known as Onry) and produced by Portland nonprofit creative studio Future Prairie, Livin’ in the Light documents Onry’s experience as a Black, male, professional opera and crossover singer in Portland, OR. The documentary aims to shed light on the effects of the 2020 global health crisis and racial inequity and injustice.

Livin’ in the Light explores the joy, perseverance, and struggle of being a Black male artist in what is often called “the Whitest City in America,” while honoring the timeless art form of opera. Watch the new music video for Livin’ in the Light released on August 4th, 2020.

All Classical Portland President & CEO Suzanne Nance said:
“All Classical Portland exists to amplify the voices of our artists and to inspire listeners in our region and beyond, through music and creativity. With millions of listeners locally and worldwide, All Classical Portland is proud to share its wide-reaching platform with Onry and to support this artist’s work as the 2020-2021 Rising Tide Grant recipient.”

Onry shared:
“Being awarded the Rising Tide Grant is a huge honor and something that I hope is just the beginning of a long partnership with All Classical Portland. As someone who was born and raised in Portland and has been a member of many musical groups throughout the years, I’m blessed to be collaborating with one of the institutions that helped shape my musical upbringing. As a Black singer and composer, I seek to change the perception of classical music by bringing stories and narratives from my community to light. I encourage every artist to use their voice to continue to educate and raise awareness around issues of social justice.”

Photo of Emmanuel Henreid (also known as Onry).

Celebrating Composers Who Emigrated to America

In “Coming to America: Composers Speak Out,” Theodore Wiprud interviewed a group of composers who had emigrated to America. When he asked composed Jin Hi Kim how “being a newcomer in America affected [her] career,” she discussed a unique opportunity for artists to share and collaborate in this multicultural country.

“It is only in America that it is possible to bring together artists with different voices and create a new aesthetic. There are many non-Western musicians spread throughout the country who perform their traditional music as well as create new pieces with others. It is an invaluable experience for a composer to meet so many different musicians in a single city like New York and to collaborate with them.”

This list represents just a small sampling of the “different voices and new aesthetics” that émigré composers have brought to the United States.

Nine Fantastic LGBTQI+ Classical Music Groups in Oregon

LGBTQI+ 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 LGBTQI+ individuals has gone through countless evolutions both in Oregon and worldwide. In this article, we’re featuring nine different LGBTQI+ classical musical spaces right here in Oregon. Many of these groups are even non-audition and open to anyone who has a musical story to tell, so if you’ve been searching for a welcoming space to grow your musical talents, read on!

* This blog was originally published in June 2020. Some of the organizations mentioned may not be currently performing.

Nineteen Black Composers You Should Know

In this article, we highlight nineteen powerful voices in our musical community. Their voices and stories are essential parts of the tapestry of our musical lives. We invite you to carry their music and stories with you, today and every day.

Photo courtesy of Chari Glogovac-Smith’s website

Values and Commitment Statement

June 2020

It is moments like these that compel us to consider all of the ways we are using our public media platform to serve our diverse communities, and to be clear about All Classical Portland’s values: to listen deeply and amplify all voices; to embrace equity; to build trust, and to be accountable in our mission to provide access to the arts for all.

In a pre-pandemic world, May 23rd would have been the day All Classical Portland broadcast the world premiere of Damien Geter’s An African American Requiem live from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. This groundbreaking work, which was commissioned by Resonance Ensemble and to be co-presented with the Oregon Symphony, memorializes the Black lives lost to racial violence—from the founding of our country, to Eric Garner’s death in 2014.

This is not political. This is human. All Classical Portland condemns racism in all forms and across all sectors of society. We believe that Black Lives Matter.

The artist Nadia Fawad once said, “Art reflects the innermost realities of humanity.” Through the music played on All Classical Portland, we put forth an opportunity to understand the truths of our shared humanity. In addition to beauty and comfort, the music we share provides a powerful vehicle for reflection, grieving, and growth.

The classical music industry has historically marginalized the voices of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. We are committed to changing the narrative of our industry.

While public declarations are important and meaningful, we believe in doing the work. Lasting change requires action and commitment.

We have a responsibility to continue to expand access and share diverse perspectives, ensuring that the voices of those historically underrepresented and those often excluded today have a place at the microphone, in the office, at the Board table, on the stage, and in the concert hall.

Here are some of the actions we have taken and are taking to drive change:

Amplify Black artists, issues, and voices through programs like Where We Live, The State of the Arts, and Thursdays @ Three, as well as the Artists in Residence program. In addition to programming and initiatives that amplifies Black voices in particular, All Classical Portland is also committed to expanding opportunity, access, and visibility to the broader Indigenous communities and to People of Color.

Address the industry-wide shortage of broadcast-quality recordings of works by underrepresented composers. Once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, we will partner to produce high-quality studio recordings ourselves through All Classical Portland’s Recording Inclusivity Project. In the meantime, All Classical Portland has a dedicated team of music researchers working to unearth lesser-known pieces and recordings of works  by composers of color, creating a resource list that can be shared with other stations.

Expand youth access to music and mentorship. In 2017, we launched our JOY! Program (Joyous Outreach to Youth/You) dedicated to equity and inclusivity. The four pillars of the program include (1) Youth Roving Reporters, an arts journalism mentorship program for high-school students; (2) Where We Live, a radio segment dedicated to the intersection of art and social issues; (3) an Artists in Residence Program; and (4) ICAN (the International Children’s Arts Network), launched in April 2019. ICAN is a station for children designed to expand cross-cultural awareness and to promote empathy and emotional literacy. In its first year, ICAN shared content in more than 10 languages and recognized 15 cultural holidays.

We recognize that much more needs to be done. We will continue to increase opportunities for equity and advancement, internally and externally, and to be inclusive of different voices and perspectives. Action also requires partnership and collaboration and we hope you will join us on the long road ahead.

I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy.

In solidarity,
Suzanne Nance
President & CEO
All Classical Portland

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