As we prepare for a summer of sun, music, and fun, you will be hearing some new friends on our airwaves. All Classical Portland is proud to welcome two new on-air hosts: Coty Raven Morris and Leb Borgerson!
Coty has been a frequent guest on Noteworthy and a featured author on ICAN Radio. You’ll hear more of Coty on various special summer programs that we have planned for you, alongside article highlights on our well-loved Arts Blog.
You can hear Leb overnight on Saturdays from 3:00 – 7:00 AM PT, as well as guest hosting throughout the summer.
Get to know our fabulous new hosts below.
ABOUT
GRAMMY-nominated music educator Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumna of Texas State University- San Marcos and Michigan State University, where she received a Master’s in Choral Conducting.
At Portland State University, Coty is Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice. She is also the Founder of Being Human Together, a community rooted in music education striving to normalize difficult topics through conversation and connection. Prior to this, she was the Director of Choirs at Crosby High School in the Houston area and has served as the Outreach Choir Director at the MSU Community Music School and Music Director at Grand Ledge United Methodist Church.
Coty was recently named a Quarter-finalist for the 2023 Music Educators Grammy! She was also nominated for the coveted Portland State University George C Hoffman Faculty Award.
Leb Borgerson is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Eastern Washington. After moving to Portland in 2000, he performed with several popular local bands, recorded numerous records, and toured the Western United States. Leb is the bass player for the well-loved Portland cumbia act Orquestra Pacifico Tropical. As a freelance producer, Leb has written, recorded, and produced over 150 original compositions for multiple production companies.
While studying music composition and guitar performance at Washington State University, he was a DJ on the college radio station KZUU. Outside of work, Leb continues to write and perform music and enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, as well as cooking and traveling.
All Classical Portland recently updated our streaming encoders to a new service, allowing us to provide better connectivity to our listeners. Unfortunately, not all services have immediately made the transition.
If you were using a direct URL to connect to our stream, please note that the urls have changed. If you use an internet radio device and are able to manually update your streams please use the below options.
If you are not able to update your stream, please email help@allclassical.org. In your message, let us know the manufacturer and model of your device, and if you know how the stream is distributed (vTune, SkyTune, Roon, etc.).
Thank you for listening to All Classical Portland! We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.
Host Christa Wessel spoke with Pink Martini bandleader and Portland pianist Thomas Lauderdale about his new collaboration album with legendary Portland surf rockers Satan’s Pilgrims. Over 25 years in the making, the new album, Thomas Lauderdale Meets The Pilgrims, features new takes on beloved standards such as Night and Day, Malagueña, and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
Infusing classical music and Thomas’s sparkling piano work with the Pilgrims’ signature surf rock sound, it’s the perfect summer party record you can enjoy all year round!
Hear Christa and Thomas‘s exciting conversation below:
Christa Wessel interviews Thomas Lauderdale
Thomas Lauderdale Meets The Pilgrims is available now on CD and vinyl at pinkmartini.com!
Experience the album live at the Crystal Ballroom on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Tickets and more information at crystalballroompdx.com.
ABOUT
Thomas Lauderdale was raised on a plant nursery in rural Indiana. He began piano lessons at age six with Patricia Garrison. When his family moved to Portland in 1982, he began studying with Sylvia Killman, who to this day continues to serve as his coach and mentor. He has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Oregon Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Chamber Music Northwest and Oregon Ballet Theatre (where he collaborated with choreographer James Canfield and visual artists Storm Tharp and Malia Jensen on a ballet based on Felix Salten’s Bambi, written in 1923).
Lauderdale currently serves on the boards of the Oregon Symphony, Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Oregon Historical Society, Confluence Project with Maya Lin and the Derek Rieth Foundation. He lives in downtown Portland, Oregon.
Satan’s Pilgrims formed in 1992 during a series of house parties hosted by the members of the band, and were playing shows in their hometown of Portland, Oregon by 1993. Twisting their name from the 60’s AIP film “Satan’s Sadists” and donning their now familiar matching outfits complete with vampire capes, they became a band.
The Pilgrims are one of the most influential surf instrumental bands around and while much of their sound has a definite Southern California influence, what sets them apart is the legacy of their Pacific Northwest rock ‘n’ roll ancestors and other influences, creating their own sub-genre of surf instrumental that many fans call “Pilgrim Rock”.
While you’ve been listening to us, we’ve heard you.
We’ve grown. We’ve adapted. And we’re here for you — in more ways than ever.
All Classical is committed to being a source of positive change in our community of listeners — at home in Oregon and Washington, and around the world.
Our Heritage
All Classical’s mission broadens the appeal and reach of classical music and the arts, increasing social and economic benefits to our community.
Join us in celebrating our 40th Anniversary and the way we:
Consistently rank in the top three classical music public radio stations across the USA.
Produce 98% of our content locally.
Pioneer youth programs and arts journalism mentorships.
Established a ground-breaking Artist in Residence program, culminating in a Carnegie Hall debut and an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning.
Launched icanradio.org, a new International Children’s Arts Network, the first station of its kind, in 2019, to bridge the arts education gap with great content for young listeners and their families.
Created the award-winning Recording Inclusivity Initiative that’s increased the number of classical musicians and composers from underrepresented communities that are heard on the radio – a program that we are helping over 40 radio stations establish in communities across the country.
Our Challenge
To better position All Classical and the arts as a force for positive change, it’s time to move to new headquarters, which will enable us to:
Increase the range of activities we can offer, thanks to audio and video studios.
Create and manage a unique performance and events space.
Build a new state-of-the-art recording studio to document the artists of our time and make the studio available to local performers and composers.
Bring All Classical to the heart of downtown Portland, where we’ll serve as a beacon for arts-based urban regeneration.
Move from being a great classical radio station, to a truly integrated arts and cultural network.
Align with our newly created brand identity, envisioned to depict the vibrancy of All Classical and strengthen our digital presence.
Our ambition is to share the dynamism, joy, and passion for classical music with all audiences — regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Create with Us!
All Classical for all people
These ambitious community and culturally empowering plans will be possible with your support.
All Classical must raise $10 million to help equip our new home and expand the services we offer.
Already over 250,000 people in the Pacific Northwest enjoy the services of All Classical every week, and millions stream across the United States and in over 100 countries.
Research underscores the social and economic benefits of our mission and service. Please help extend the love of classical music and its benefits across our region and beyond by making a powerful financial investment in All Classical.
“All Classical is the soundtrack of my life. It is a safe harbor when the storms of life have jangled my nerves and a source of inspiration when the emotional tank is drained.”
– Listener in Portland, OR
“All Classical has been my station in times of stress, work, and joy. You have been with me since inception, and you’ll be part of my life till the end. Thank you for your music, and kind and positive vibes. Now more than ever you’re a beacon of hope!”
– Listener in Portland, OR
“I value this station because in all ways possible it shows up, stands out, and adds value, to every moment of its existence, including mine, and all who listen.”
Sunday Brunch host Suzanne Nance loves to explore Oregon’s foodie culture, and what better way than to go straight to the chefs of some of our most beloved restaurants and vineyards. Just in time for Mother’s Day, we are delighted to share the recipe for Crispy Chicken & Waffles by Chef Norma Buchholz from Brooks Winery. It’s a delicious treat to make for mom or another special someone in your life on Mother’s Day – or any day. Bon appétit!
Download the full recipe here, and be sure to tune in to Sunday Brunch every Sunday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT. There’s always room at the brunch table!
Crispy Chicken & Waffles by Chef Norma Buchholz
Waffles:
2 cups flour
1 ¾ cups milk
½ cup melted butter
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, separated (egg whites beaten until stiff peaks form)
Place the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder in a large bowl, and mix well.
Add vanilla, butter, milk, and egg yolks. Mix well.
Using a spatula, gently fold in the egg whites until well incorporated.
Turn your waffle iron on to medium heat and place 1 cup of waffle batter in the iron, close and cook 1-2 minutes.
Gently remove and let cool before plating.
Chicken:
1 qt buttermilk
3 tbsp kosher salt
2 lbs chicken tenderloin
2 cups flour
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs
In a large bowl, mix together buttermilk and 2 tablespoons salt.
Add chicken and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
When ready to fry: Fill a Dutch oven fitted with a candy thermometer with vegetable oil 2″ to 3″ deep, then heat until oil reaches 300º.
Prepare one sheet pan lined with paper towels and a wire rack.
YIELDS: 4 Servings | PREP TIME: 30 mins | COOK TIME: 20 mins | TOTAL TIME: 50 mins Learn more at www.brookswine.com
This new location in the heart of Portland, OR will allow All Classical to continue providing the beautiful music and high-quality programming you’ve come to rely on, while expanding opportunities for us to create new and engaging programming experiences, handcrafted just for you. Construction is underway, and the station anticipates its new headquarters will open in July 2024.
All Classical Radio is currently raising funds to build this one-of-a-kind arts and media center, which will include gathering spaces, production and recording studios, and an intimate performance space designed to accommodate rehearsals, spoken word, theater in the round, musical performances, and more.
If you would like to make a donation to support the relocation capital campaign, please click the button below, fill out this form, or contact Director of Development Allison Fuller at allison@allclassical.org or 503-802-9412.
Learn more in this special message from Suzanne Nance, President and CEO:
It is your incredible support that makes everything possible. Our commitment to our listeners and the arts community of the Pacific Northwest remains at the heart of what we do. For 40 years, All Classical Radio has provided barrier-free access to beautiful music and the arts. We are excited to welcome you into our new space very soon, and work together to renew downtown Portland through creativity, compassion, and community.
To learn more about this pivotal, strategic move, or to learn how you can contribute to our vital capital campaign, fill out this form, or contact Director of Development Allison Fuller at allison@allclassical.org or 503-802-9412.
All Classical On the Move Portland’s ambitious, forward-looking classical music radio station is expanding its scope, creating space for live performances, and relocating to downtown Portland. Brett Campbell, Oregon ArtsWatch – May 3, 2023
Portland Radio Institution Intends to Move to Dishier Downtown Digs We spoke with All Classical CEO Suzanne Nance about benefits of the move, like a new recording studio and additional space to foster classical-loving community. Robert Ham, Portland Mercury – May 4, 2023
All Classical Radio Relocation FAQs
Where is All Classical Radio moving? When is All Classical Radio moving?
We are very proud to announce that All Classical will be moving to KOIN Tower in Portland’s central entertainment and arts district. Our new space is currently under construction and we expect to move into the new station in mid-2024. These new, state-of-the-art studios promise to improve the quality of our beloved radio programs, increase access to music and art in our community, and uplift local musicians and artists in our new live performance space and recording studio.
Why is All Classical Radio moving?
All Classical Radio has grown in listenership, locally produced programming, staff, and technical needs since our first broadcast nearly 40 years ago. All Classical is a nationally recognized public radio station with a local reach of over 250,000 listeners each week, and an international stream accessed by more than a million people around the world. To support this exciting growth, and to realize our plans for a long and stable future for accessible classical music, we must relocate to a larger office space with updated production studios.
In addition, this move allows All Classical Radio to invest greater support in our local musicians and artists. With this move, we have a remarkable opportunity to build a much-needed performing arts theatre and recording studio in downtown Portland. This new space will reflect our ambition to share the dynamism, joy, and passion for classical music with all audiences — regionally, nationally, and internationally.
How will this move affect your radio broadcasts? Will you be off air?
Our new radio station is currently under construction and we expect to move in mid-2024. All Classical has a team of dedicated and knowledgeable radio engineers who are planning for uninterrupted, continuous service throughout this transition. Our new, state-of-the-art studios promise to improve the quality of our beloved radio programs, increase access to music and art in our community, and provide greater broadcasting capacity throughout our region and on our online stream.
How much will the relocation cost? How can I donate to the capital campaign?
All Classical is currently in a capital campaign to fundraise for this relocation and must raise $11.5 million to equip the new radio station for state-of-the-art audio production, live performances, recording, and radio broadcasting. We have several individual donors already signed on to support the new space, and are committed to raising the funds needed to make this vital move possible.
If you would like to discuss a gift to the capital campaign, please contact Suzanne Nance, President & CEO, or Allison Fuller, Director of Development & Marketing. Their contact information can be found below.
What is happening with the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN)?
All Classical Radio and the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN) are very proud to be moving to KOIN Tower in Portland’s central entertainment and arts district. Our new space is currently under construction and we expect to move into the new station in mid-2024.
ICAN will continue to be a dedicated safe space for children to celebrate the joy of being a child, explore other cultures, and enhance their learning inside and outside the classroom. In addition, this new space will grow ICAN’s capacity to create original programs, increase access to music and art in our community, and share content created by children and for children.
Can I visit the new/old space?
All Classical Radio is currently open for visitors on a case by case basis. Please call prior to your visit by calling 503-943-5828 or emailing support@allclassical.org, to ensure that someone is available to show you around our current station.
At this time, our new station in KOIN Tower is under construction and not ready to accept visitors. We expect to move into the new station in mid-2024, and will announce on our website when visitors are welcome to stop by and tour the new studios.
Will the new station be ADA accessible?
All Classical Radio’s new, state-of-the-art studios will be completely ADA compliant, including automatic door openers, wide pathways throughout the building, elevator access to our third floor offices, accessible restroom stalls, flexible seating in the performance theatre, and more. The space is currently under construction and we expect to move into the new station in mid-2024.
Will there be volunteer opportunities to help with the move?
We would love to have your help relocating to our new station! Our new space is currently under construction and we expect to move into the new station in mid-2024. To learn more about current volunteer opportunities or sign up to assist with future volunteer needs, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Dale Tolliver, at dale@allclassical.org.
What will happen to the Tili-Cam after the move?
The Tili-Cam is staying put and will continue to share gorgeous views of the Rose City from the banks of the Willamette River.
Will there be a performance space in the new station?
Yes! The plans for the new station include a 100-person capacity performance venue (45% larger than our current performance studio) with a state-of-the-art recording studio. This space will enable us to document and amplify the creatives of our time; expand our second radio station – the International Children’s Arts Network – and host live performances such as concerts, poetry readings, theatre in the round, community arts discussions, composer symposiums, and more.
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and all year round, All Classical Portland is programming music by Asian American and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (AANHPI) composers and musicians on our playlist. We love sharing music richly and meaningfully woven with a diverse array of influences.
Keep reading to learn about five phenomenal artists we’re featuring on air, and be sure to tune in to All Classical Portland on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 7:00 PM PT for a special edition of The Concert Hall with John Pitman featuring music by composers of Asian ancestry, from India to the Philippines, to China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Tan Dun (b. 1957)
Image by Nana Watanabe courtesy of Bard College
Composer and conductor Tan Dun spent his early life working as a rice planter and performer of Peking opera during China’s Cultural Revolution. He encountered Western classical music for the first time while studying at Beijing’s Central Conservatory and soon became a leading composer of contemporary music in China. Since moving to the U.S. in 1986, Tan Dun has significantly impacted the musical scene nationally and abroad. His oeuvre of opera, chamber works, and orchestral compositions have broken down barriers between classical music and multimedia performance while beautifully incorporating Eastern and Western traditions. His score for Ang Lee’s film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won the composer both a Grammy and an Oscar. In 2018, Tan Dun was appointed dean of the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
Marika Takeuchi (b. 1987)
Image courtesy of the composer’s website
A native of Japan, Marika Takeuchi has been actively working on projects in the States as a composer, pianist, orchestrator, arranger, and educator for the past decade. Since moving to the U.S. in 2009 to study at Berklee College of Music, Takeuchi has produced an impressive number of albums and commissions. Much of her music has been scooped up for use in commercials, short films, and advertisements around the world. Fun fact – Takeuchi has a special connection to broadcasting. One of her earliest career experiences was composing for NHK Radio.
Zhou Long (b. 1953)
Image courtesy of UMKC
Zhou Long is a Chinese American composer whose music combines Chinese folk songs and modernist classical influences. His unique blend of East and West has made him a pioneer in translating traditional Chinese idiomatic sounds and techniques to Western ears. In addition to numerous prestigious accolades, Dr. Zhou was awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Price in Music for his first opera, Madame White Snake. He also received the 2012-2013 Elise Stoeger Prize from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The composer currently serves as Bonfils Distinguished Professor of Composition at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Dr. Zhou’s wife, Chen Yi, is a composer and violinist whose music also graces our airwaves.
Reena Esmail (b. 1983)
Image courtesy of the composer’s website
Indian American composer Reena Esmail blends the worlds of Indian and Western classical soundscapes in her music. She has written diverse orchestra, chamber, and choral works for several acclaimed ensembles, including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Kronos Quartet. Her works address humanity in art and create a sense of belonging and inclusivity among its listeners. In addition to writing emotionally rich compositions, Esmail is the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 2020-2025 Swan Family Artist in Residence. She also serves as Artistic Director of Shastra, a non-profit organization that promotes cross-cultural music connecting the music traditions of India and the West.
Wei-Chieh Lin (b. 1982)
Image courtesy of the composer’s SoundCloud
Born in Taiwan, Wei-Chieh Lin is an American composer who received formal musical training at The Julliard School under Milton Babbitt. His music has been performed around the world in such establishments as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Centre Pompidou, and the National Concert Halls in Taiwan. Wei-Chieh frequently draws on his Taiwanese heritage through folksongs, traditional melodies, and other media, in addition to popular genres and jazz. The composer’s award-winning catalog ranges from works for solo instruments to works for orchestra and chamber ensembles.
To continue learning, check out Emma Riggle’s past post for the Arts Blog, “The Songs of Lili’uokalani, Queen of Hawaii.” This post explores the musical life of the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
All Classical Portland’s Program Director John Pitman recently spoke with British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, whose new recording touches on the relationships of Johannes Brahms and Robert and Clara Schumann.
Grosvenor chose works that link together Brahms as a young man meeting Robert and his wife, pianist and composer, Clara Wieck Schumann, and Brahms later in life, writing music that expresses his lifelong friendship with, Clara. Mr. Grosvenor shares the delightful backstory to the main work on his recording: Robert Schumann’s Kreisleriana, inspired by the music-loving hero in a story by German Romantic author and composer E.T.A. Hoffmann. Excellently and sensitively played, the music of three masters of classical music come to life in Grosvenor’s playing.
In April 2023, host Suzanne Nance celebrated National Poetry Month on Sunday Brunch with music and poetry by Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford and pianist Hunter Noack (All Classical’s 2019 Artist in Residence).
Join us every Sunday at 10:00 AM PT for Sunday Brunch. Listen at 89.9 FM in Portland or from anywhere in the world through our free mobile app or via our live player on our website.
LISTEN TO THE IMPROV SESSIONS
Kim Stafford’s poem “In a Landscape” is exquisitely paired with Hunter Noack’s choice of “Good Night” from On an Overgrown Path by Leoš Janáček.Kim Stafford’s poem “This Place Has Awaited You” is exquisitely paired with Hunter Noack’s choice of “Entritt/Entrance” from Waldszenen (Forest Scenes) by Robert Schumann. Kim Stafford’s poem “After Fire, Rain” Hunter Noack, piano, performing “The Raindrop” Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15 by Frédéric Chopin.Kim Stafford’s “Why the Beach” paired with Hunter Noack playing John Cage’s In a LandscapeKim Stafford’s poem “Birding for the Blind” with Hunter Noack’s musical response: Bird as Prophet by Robert Schumann from Waldszenen (Forest Scenes)Kim Stafford’s poem “Out Oak Island Road” with Hunter Noack playing Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata in b minor, K. 87
ABOUT
Hunter Noack by Arthur Hitchcock
Hunter Noack
Hunter Noack is a classical pianist, naturalist, and founder of the award-winning, groundbreaking wilderness concert series, IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™.
Hunter grew up exploring, hunting, fishing, and kayaking the rivers of Oregon, forming a strong connection to nature. He started piano at age 4 and by the fifth grade he was up at 4am to light a fire and practice piano before taking the bus to school. After intensive training at Interlochen Arts Academy, San Francisco Conservatory, University of Southern California (B.M.), and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London (M.A.), Hunter returned to Oregon and founded IN A LANDSCAPE.
Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini praised the series as, “The most exciting classical music project in America. Hunter is making classical piano music relevant again.”
in 2019, Hunter was was All Classical Radio’s inaugural Artist in Residence, and in June 2022, Heinz Records released Noack’s debut CD, “In a Landscape,” which in its first week went to the top of Billboard’s classical music charts to make number one in Traditional Classical Music.
Kim Stafford
Kim Stafford, founding director of the Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis & Clark College, teaches and travels to raise the human spirit. He is the author of a dozen books of poetry and prose, including The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer’s Craft and 100 Tricks Every Boy Can Do: How My Brother Disappeared. His most recent book is the poetry collection Singer Come from Afar (Red Hen, 2021). He has taught writing in dozens of schools and community centers, and in Scotland, Italy, Mexico, and Bhutan. In 2018 he was named Oregon’s 9th Poet Laureate by Governor Kate Brown for a two-year term.
Kim Stafford by Ken Dixon
Sunday Brunch
All Classical Radio President & CEO, Suzanne Nance
We’ll save a seat for you at the brunch table!
Join host Suzanne Nance every Sunday at 10:00 AM PT at 89.9 FM in Portland or worldwide via our live player on our website.
Pianist Mao Fujita was born in Japan and now lives in Europe, where he is studying with Kirill Gerstein. Mao was invited to the renowned Verbier Festival in Switzerland a couple of years ago, on the strength of having a number of Mozart’s piano sonatas in his fingers. The Festival asked Mao if he could get the rest of them – 18 in all – ready for a live performance. Mao did so, and the result of that was a signing to Sony, and this new recording of the complete Mozart sonatas.
Mao takes an approach that would have been absolutely expected by Mozart and others of his time: not to play the sonatas “note for note”, but rather to bring something different each time the phrase came back. This fresh approach is just one of the attractions of Mao’s new recording, the other is the sense of familiarity and intimacy he has with the music, as though he’s known this music his whole life. And in some ways, he has…
Hear All Classical Portland’s Program Director John Pitman‘s conversation with Mao, and enjoy some musical excerpts:
