All Classical Radio is thrilled to congratulate Coty Raven Morris, who has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. Coty is one of 25 semifinalists, selected from more than 2,400 music educators nominated from across the country. Coty was previously named a semifinalist for the 2024 Music Educator Award, as well as a quarterfinalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award and the Portland State University George C. Hoffman Faculty Award.
The ultimate recipient of the 2025 Music Educator Award will be recognized during GRAMMY Week in February 2025, prior to the GRAMMY awards ceremony, and will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school’s music program.
“It is inspiring to see Coty’s commitment to accessible, inclusive, and exemplary music education recognized by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum again this year,” says Suzanne Nance, President and CEO of All Classical Radio. “Coty’s ability to open minds and change lives through music is powerful to behold—in the classroom, in the community, and on the radio.”
Enjoy this video of Coty’s journey as a music educator, submitted as part of her award nomination.
ABOUT
Coty Raven Morris joined the All Classical Radio team in May 2023, and was the host of the station’s 2024 summer series, Sound in Print. In addition to her role as on air radio host, she is a featured author on the All Classical Radio Arts Blog, and a familiar voice on ICAN Radio, the station’s 24-hour arts and music network for children, their families, caregivers, and educators.
Coty is the Hinckley Assistant Professor of Music Education and Social Justice at Portland State University. She is the Northwest Choral Representative for the National Association for Music Education, as well as the Community Choir Chair for Northwest region of the American Choral Directors Association. Coty is also the Founder of Being Human Together, a community rooted in music education striving to normalize difficult topics – like mental health, systemic oppression, diversity, and inclusivity – through conversation and connection.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose families originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The timing of the 30-day period beginning September 15th is significant for several reasons: September 15th is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16th, followed by Chile on September 18th.
At All Classical Radio, we celebrate the musical contributions of Hispanic and Latino composers—both living in the U.S. and outside—every day on air. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’d love to highlight a few extraordinary composers who have recently joined our daily playlist.
Ricardo Castro Herrera (1864-1907)
Mexican composer, pianist, and educator Ricardo Castro Herrera exploded onto the musical scene at a young age. At 19 years old, he graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City in half the typical amount of time, having already launched a professional career as a composer and pianist. Despite his relatively short life (he died in his early 40s from pneumonia), Castro Herrera left behind a sturdy oeuvre of works and traveled extensively to teach, from the US to the European continent.
As a composer, Castro Herrera was influenced by European composers of the Romantic era, particularly by German composers. Fun fact: Castro Herrera is credited with writing the first cello concerto and piano concerto by a Mexican composer.
Juan Bautista Plaza (1898-1965)
Image courtesy of the Sphinx Organization
Juan Bautista Plaza was a Venezuelan composer, educator, and musicologist who played a significant role in forming the national musical identity of his home country. In his early 20s, he earned a scholarship to study sacred composition in Rome, which would make a lasting impact on his musical output going forward. Plaza’s works include (mostly sacred) choral music, as well as music for orchestra and other instrumental ensembles.
Upon returning to Venezuela, Plaza became choirmaster of Caracas Cathedral and a music professor at the Escuela Nacional de Música. Eventually, he was appointed Director of Culture in the Ministry of Education where he was better able to facilitate increased access to the arts across the country and promote music education.
Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994)
Photo courtesy of Encyclopædia Britannica
Brazilian composer and songwriter Antônio Carlos Jobim is best known for his soft and sophisticated style which ultimately manifested in the formation of bossa nova. As a young, developing musician, Jobim was influenced by the music of fellow Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos. Despite showing substantial promise at the piano as a teenager, Jobim initially chose to pursue a career in architecture. It didn’t take long for him to become disenchanted with his choice, ultimately returning to music. He started off working in clubs performing both his own compositions and arrangements of existing songs. Jobim made his way into the recording industry and began a series of important musical collaborations. Hits such as “Desafinado” and “The Girl from Ipanema” made Jobim a household name around the world.
Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos (b. 1961)
Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sonia Morales-Matos is a composer, performer, and educator currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The recipient of many impressive accolades, Morales-Matos has already been identified as one of the most promising contemporary composers from Latin America. Having received degrees in both jazz studies and composition, her music spans multiple genres and styles, including Latin-tropical, jazz, pop, sacred, choral, and classical.
Growing up, Morales-Matos and her five siblings all played instruments—she continues to collaborate with several of her siblings on new musical works. Fun fact: Her brother, Jesús Morales, is the cellist for the Dalí Quartet, a performing ensemble that has commissioned works by Morales-Matos.
J. P. Jofre (b. 1983)
Photo courtesy of the composer’s website
Grammy-nominated Argentinian composer and bandoneonist Juan Pablo (J. P.) Jofre grew up immersed in music. His exposure to a wide variety of musical styles, from heavy metal to opera, helped shape his own unique musical language. However, no composer influenced the young musician more than Astor Piazzolla, whose music swayed Jofre to learn the bandoneon. As a recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, Jofre has collaborated with well-known musicians from various musical styles, including classical, jazz, and Latin. His music for the concert hall is breaking down barriers by introducing unusual ensembles and pairings, such as his two (!) double concerti for violin and bandoneon.
To keep learning about Hispanic and Latino composers, check out these posts from the arts blog:
All Classical Radio’s “Music Heals” campaign is a community effort to celebrate the power of healing through music. The station invited musicians, conductors, music and art therapy professionals, and more to share their Healing Notes: reflections on their experiences with healing music. Keep reading to learn about our special guests and listen to interviews on demand.
You can help keep the healing going.
Listener support makes everything we do at All Classical Radio possible, from daily handcrafted playlists to special guest appearances that share a behind-the-scenes look into the music you love. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today to ensure continued access to All Classical Radio’s community-funded service. We hope you will share your story of healing when you get in touch.
Naomi LaViolette
Naomi LaViolette is a versatile composer, pianist, and singer-songwriter whose music is not only influenced by her classical education but also by her study of jazz, folk songs, soul, pop, and gospel. As a singer, Naomi attributes songwriting in her early 20s as a way to process strong emotions and experiences. With four albums of original music under her belt and many more singles, Naomi writes songs filled “with the stories, emotions, celebrations, and struggles of what it means to be human.”
Under the artist name Lucente Skye, Naomi writes works for solo piano that assist in mindfulness and meditation. With song names such as “Hope,” “Discovering Peace,” and “Now,” Naomi is helping listeners incorporate more calm and peace in their daily lives.
Listen to Naomi’s conversation on air with Christa Wessel (9/6/24):
David Danzmayr
David Danzmayr is widely considered one of his generation’s most dynamic and exciting conductors. Having served as Music Director of the Oregon Symphony since 2021, David is no stranger to All Classical’s local listeners. As Music Director, David has made a name for himself as a force of positivity and adventurousness. His programming is diverse and collaborative, with a particular focus on access to education and building community around the arts. Mixing European and American standards with a steady stream of new works and pieces by historically overlooked composers, David is influencing the future of concert programming from the heart of Portland.
In addition to his work with the Oregon Symphony, David leads the versatile ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Columbus and holds the title of Honorary Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.
Listen to David’s conversation on air with Brandi Parisi (9/9/24):
Elaina Stuppler
Elaina Stuppler is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist who, despite her young age, already has an extraordinary list of commissions, premieres, and accolades under her belt. Currently serving as All Classical’s Young Artist in Residence and Co-Principal Trombonist for Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), Elaina is making a name for herself regionally and around the world. Elaina’s passion for music is inspired by her desire to share her love of the art form with the wider community and form opportunities for connection. When asked about her process for composing, Elaina noted, “What I enjoy most about composing is that it is a creative sanctuary that allows me to channel my emotions through music.”
Listen to Elaina’s conversation on air with Christa Wessel (9/10/24):
Dr. Larry Sherman
Dr. Larry Sherman is a Professor of Neuroscience at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and serves on multiple national and international scientific panels. Dr. Sherman’s research on brain development and neurodegenerative diseases has been printed in over 100 publications. As a public speaker, one of his most sought-after topics of discussion is the neuroscience of music, which was expanded upon even further in his book (co-authored with Dennis Plies), Every Brain Needs Music: The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music. As music and art programs continue to get cut from educational institutions, Dr. Sherman is using his research to verify the importance of music and other creative endeavors to human brain development, brain aging, and overall human well-being.
Listen toDr. Sherman’s conversation on air with Suzanne Nance (9/11/24):
Ethan Sperry
Ethan Sperry is a renowned choral conductor responsible for bringing Portland State’s Chamber Choir to international renown. As Director of Choral Activities at PSU and Artistic Director and Conductor of the distinguished Oregon Repertory Singers, Ethan’s leadership promotes the power of artistic collaboration to make a positive impact on the community. He believes in music’s ability to capture essential human experiences and bring them to life for listeners. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Ethan has transformed the way local audiences feel about choral music—his performances are often noted as exhilarating and meaningful.
In addition to having recorded several award-winning albums, Ethan is a prolific arranger of World Music for Choir and a frequent collaborator with film composer AR Rahman.
Listen to Ethan’s conversation on air with Brandi Parisi (9/11/24):
Anna Schaum
Anna Schaum is a violist, mental health specialist, and founder/ proprietor of The Center for Sound Relationships, an organization that creates generative community through events that foster sound personal, professional, and societal relationships. Through her work, she uses music to help groups come together into community. Anna specializes in personal growth and views the human condition “as a giant opportunity to keep expanding awareness and exercising creativity to meet challenges.”
Listen to Anna’s interview, produced by Lisa Lipton and Christa Wessel (9/12/24):
Kenji Bunch
Kenji Bunch is a composer, violist, and educator whose music transcends cultural or generational barriers and inspires empathetic connections with his listeners. As one of the most frequently performed composers of the Pacific Northwest, Kenji writes music to entertain, inspire, and facilitate healing. In collaboration with George Takei, Kenji created Lost Freedom: A Memory, interweaving music with Takei’s narration of his WWII-era childhood incarceration. Through this experience, Kenji learned “the potential of using music as a healing force.” Kenji co-directs Portland-based chamber music ensemble Fear No Music with his wife, pianist Monica Ohuchi, with the mission to make classical music more accessible.
In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Kenji teaches at PSU, Reed College, and for Portland Youth Philharmonic.
Listen to Kenji’s conversation on air with Christa Wessel (9/12/24):
Todd Lawrence
Todd Lawrence has been working in non-profit organizations for over 25 years, including as Volunteer Program Administrator for Housecall Providers, an institution providing primary care medical services and hospice to our community’s homebound and chronically ill members. Todd also serves as a board member of the Portland-area Swan Songs, an organization providing private live music concerts for individuals with a terminal illness or nearing the end of life. In addition to his hospice career, Todd has spent his life in music as a songwriter and recording artist under the pseudonym Milo Binder.
Listen to Todd’s conversation on air with Christa Wessel (9/13/24):
Maggie Johnson
Maggie Johnson is an Oregon Licensed and Board Certified Music Therapist and currently serves as Program Director for Earthtones Northwest. She is also the lead music therapist for the Oregon Symphony’s Music Now program, bringing symphony musicians to dementia care communities for fun and interactive performances. Maggie’s clinical focus is on relational-based music therapy for groups and individuals experiencing isolation or marginalization due to health and/ or societal barriers. Through her work, Maggie promotes the power of music to help people experience the full range of human emotions and connect with a sense of peace, wonder, and excitement.
In addition to her work with Earthtones and the OSO, Maggie facilitates drop-in music therapy classes for babies, toddlers, and young children and their families called Birdie Beats.
Listen to Maggie’s conversation on air with Brandi Parisi (9/13/24):
María García
Puerto Rican native María García is a distinguished pianist, teacher, and coach, as well as All Classical Radio’s 2022-2023 Artist in Residence. In addition to her work as a sought-after collaborator and music teacher, María performs with regional ensembles such as the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Third Angle Ensemble, and 45th Parallel Universe, and was a founding member of the Award-winning 20 Digitus Piano Duo. As an educator, she not only instills a love of music in her students but facilitates emotional intelligence and human compassion: “Teaching music is about personal connection and opening a key to another world for students. I hope to pass on how to connect to your emotions, to your culture, and learn about the world and its beauty.”
Listen to María’s conversation on air with Brandi Parisi (9/16/24):
Nancy Ives
Nancy Ives is an exceptionally accomplished composer and cellist, known locally and beyond as an Oregonian legend. She has served as Principal Cellist of the Oregon Symphony for over 20 years. As a composer (and relative of Charles Ives), Nancy creates music deeply inspired by the natural world while also being accessible and relatable without sacrificing depth and complexity. Her collaborative multimedia work Celilo Falls: We Were There evokes the oldest continuously inhabited native community in North America that was ultimately flooded by The Dalles Dam construction in 1957.
In addition to her work as a performer and composer, Nancy is an Instructor of Chamber Music at Lewis & Clark College. She co-founded Classical Up Close, providing greater community access to music by bringing intimate performances to the places where people live, work, and play.
Listen to Nancy’s conversation on air with Christa Wessel (9/16/24):
A lot can happen in five years – and built on the foundation of our listeners and community members, All Classical Radio has seen groundbreaking growth and achievements since 2019. From launching the International Children’s Arts Network, to creating the award-winning Recording Inclusivity Initiative, and celebrating the station’s 40th anniversary, there are many highlights to reflect on as we move into our fifth decade of community-minded, community-funded radio. We’re proud and grateful to share this most recent impact report with you, celebrating some of the highest high notes of the past five years of orchestrating happiness over the airwaves.
This report is more than just a symphony of statistics, it’s a full score of all that we have accomplished together – made possible by your support. Thank you for keeping the music playing.
Congratulations to Rebecca Richardson, All Classical Radio’s Music Researcher & Digital Producer. She has been named a 2024 “Rising Star” by Current. The trade publication launched the honor to celebrate younger employees who are making a difference in public media. Rebecca was recognized for her work with All Classical Radio and the station’s children’s network, ICAN.
“Rebecca Richardson makes a difference for All Classical’s audience every day,” says Suzanne Nance, President and CEO of All Classical Radio, who nominated Rebecca for the honor along with her enthusiastic colleagues Riley Moore and Kristina Becker.
“Rebecca’s leadership and hard work have furthered All Classical Radio’s transformation into a comprehensive media arts network. Rebecca continues to build an incredible research database, spanning eras from Medieval to Modernism, and every composer she can find in between, which has deepened the information available to our on-air hosts and in-turn our audiences. She helped lead the creation of All Classical Radio’s Artist Anthology: 40 Creatives of the Pacific Northwest, a groundbreaking multimedia initiative to uplift artists. In addition, her blog posts and articles about classical music on All Classical’s website spark curiosity and enthusiasm for the artform. She’s dedicated, generous, and creative, and we are so lucky to have her on our team,” Nance adds.
Music has been a fundamental part of Rebecca Richardson’s life since her earliest memories. From a childhood spent in choirs, piano lessons, and musical theater productions to earning an Master of Music degree in voice performance, she has been guided by the call of classical music. A SoCal native currently settled in SE Portland, she spent nearly a decade writing and performing on the East Coast. She got her first taste of music research while working as a Music History T.A. in grad school, and ever since, has been obsessed with humanizing the names behind the music we all love so much.
When she’s not stooped over her desk, gleefully going down rabbit holes, you can find her on long, scenic walks with her husband and daughter, savoring a glass of Pacific Northwest wine, or immersed in a sturdy historical biography.
Current is a nonprofit news organization covering public media in the U.S for professionals in the industry. Leaders and staff at NPR, PBS, CPB, public radio and TV stations, independent producers, board members, and national policymakers rely on Current for information, inspiration and insights into this mission-driven field.
Current was founded in 1980 by the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, the historic forerunner of both PBS and NPR. For several decades, Current was managed financially by WNET, a leading national producer and PBS station that serves the New York City region.
John Pitman, All Classical’s Program Director, recently caught up with Hollywood actor and classical musician John Malkovich. Hear their hilarious chat about Malkovich’s The Music Critic, released last year from a recording made in 2020.
Malkovich shares what went into this funny and fascinating recording, based on the live show, where the actor reads actual (and unbelievably negative) contemporary reviews of Dvořák, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and other 20th century composers.
John (Pitman) had a blast talking with one of his favorite actors about the process, and their shared love of classical music. He hopes you enjoy it just as much!
In May 2024, pianist Christopher O’Riley was in Portland for a concert with his good friend, cellist Matt Haimovitz. All Classical Radio’s Program Director, John Pitman, invited Christopher for an interview in the Roger O. Doyle Performance Studio, the day before their concert.
Christopher shared his knowledge, talent, and insight about Bach and the upcoming album, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. He performed two of the preludes and fugues in the studio, and – through interjected examples during their conversation – revealed hidden dialogues within Bach’s work. It was a very illuminating conversation, with powerful music by, arguably, one of music’s greatest composers.
Hear John Pitman’s conversation with Christopher O’Riley, as well as some highlights from his upcoming album:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month is observed each year in commemoration of the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Nationally, Pride Month is observed in June. Locally, the city of Portland celebrates its queer community in July.
In honor of Pride Month, All Classical is shining a spotlight on musicians from the LGBTQI+ community who bring so much beauty and joy to listeners around the world. Join us in celebrating the musical contributions of five extraordinary contemporary LGBTQI+ artists who we love to play on air all year round.
Photo by Andrew Bogard; courtesy of Higdon’s website
JENNIFER HIGDON
Jennifer Higdon, a Pulitzer Prize and three-time GRAMMY award-winning composer and flutist, has proven herself a major figure in contemporary classical music time and time again. Higdon’s exquisite music encompasses a wide range of genres, from large-scale pieces for orchestra and stage to intimate songs for voice and piano. Among her many accolades, Higdon’s first opera, Cold Mountain, won the International Opera Award for Best World Premiere in 2016 (the first American opera to do so), and her GRAMMY award-winning recording of Percussion Concerto was inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2019.
Interestingly, Higdon had a relatively late start to music. At age 15, she taught herself to play flute, and she began formal studies in composition at 21. Nonetheless, Higdon’s path to a career in music has led her to become one of the most influential musical voices of our time. Her music is both distinct and accessible and has been praised as being “imbued with integrity and freshness.”
Together with her wife, Cheryl Lawson, the couple established their own publishing company, Lawdon Publishing (a fun combination of the couple’s last names), through which Higdon publishes all of her musical works. Fun fact – revered conductor Marin Alsop officiated the couple’s marriage in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Chee’s website
CONNOR CHEE
Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee is best known for combining his Western classical training with his Native American heritage. Making his Carnegie Hall debut at just 12 years old after winning the World Piano Competition, Chee is no stranger to the music world. Exposed to traditional Navajo music from a young age, Chee’s classical piano training proved to be a perfect companion for fulfilling the musician’s artistic spirit while also serving as a vehicle to preserve the beloved music of his ancestry.
Chee primarily writes for the piano and incorporates traditional Navajo chants and songs, in addition to piano transcriptions of Navajo music. In fact, writing down music that had previously been exclusively communicated orally was what drew Chee to composition in the first place. Currently based in Phoenix, Chee continues to perform throughout the United States. Several of his studio albums have earned accolades, including Best Instrumental Recording at the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards for The Navajo Piano.
Photo by Jason Quigley
CAROLINE SHAW
Violinist, vocalist, and composer Caroline Shaw is well known to All Classical audiences, as well as countless listeners around the world. The youngest recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music (she was 30 at the time), as well as the winner of several GRAMMY awards, Shaw has led an impressively prolific career—one that will undoubtedly continue to add meaningful works to the world’s musical vernacular. Her artistic collaborations include classical heavyweights such as Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming, and Davóne Tines, as well as Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía, French music video director Woodkid, and the American rapper Nas, not to mention a long list of films, video games, podcasts, ballets, and more.
Shaw’s music doesn’t adhere to strict genre guidelines but rather crosses over in unexpected ways, both in musical style and artistic collaboration. If you looked up the word “visionary” in the dictionary, Caroline Shaw’s name would come up. According to her official bio, through her music, Shaw is “trying to imagine a world of sound that has never been heard before but has always existed.”
In addition to Shaw’s extraordinary work as a composer, together with her partner Danni Lee, the couple created the band Ringdown, which they describe as “the love child of Johannes Brahms and Brandi Carlile—if they were born in the same century and if Brahms was a queer woman.”
New York-based composer Nico Muhly is at the forefront of American classical music. Best known for his acclaimed operas, including Two Boys and Marnie (both commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera), Muhly is an incredibly sought-after musical voice. In addition to The Met, Muhly has received commissions from Carnegie Hall, LA Phil, Tallis Scholars, and St. John’s College, Cambridge, among others. Muhly’s musical influences range from American minimalism to the Anglican choral tradition. In addition to writing works for the stage and concert hall, Muhly frequently collaborates with choreographer Benjamin Millepied. Adding to his extensive list of projects, Muhly has also scored several films and TV shows, including the Academy Award-winning The Reader, and the BBC mini-series Howards End.
Muhly is not afraid to address queer subject matter in his music, as seen in the opera, Two Boys, inspired by a true case involving a toxic teenage relationship and its tragic repercussions, and the oratorio Sentences, based on the life of Alan Turing. Rather, he leans into his commitment to spotlighting voices that have been historically underrepresented in classical music.
Photo by Frankie Tresser
JIMMIE HERROD
Powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Jimmie Herrod exploded onto the musical scene as a finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” and the world has been smitten ever since. Herrod has been a featured soloist with acclaimed orchestras nationwide, including Oregon, San Francisco, and Houston. Perhaps most notably, Herrod was a soloist for the globally televised PBS “Joni Mitchell Songbook” concert at The Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, where he shared the stage with Renée Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Raul Midón, and Aoife O’Donovan.
As a musician, Herrod’s musical style traverses many genres, including jazz, pop, and funk. A longtime resident of Portland, Herrod regularly tours with Pink Martini as a featured vocalist in addition to headlining his own shows. Praised for “a voice like a beacon of hope,” Herrod has a gift for piercing the hearts of his listeners and is changing today’s musical soundscape for the better.
In April, the Danish String Quartet performed the world premiere of a new work written for them by English composer Thomas Adès at Carnegie Hall.
For this edition of John Pitman’s Reviews, John has invited All Classical Radio host Warren Black to speak with the Quartet about the premiere and get a preview of their upcoming new album, Keel Road. The album features arrangements of folk music and more.
Hear Violinist Frederik Øland and violist Asbjørn Nørgaard tell Warren Black about some of the music on their new album, coming soon in the summer of 2024.
