On Deck with Young Musicians
Saturdays at 5pm PT
On Deck with Young Musicians is an inspirational weekly interview segment that celebrates and showcases the incredibly talented young musicians who live and perform in the Pacific Northwest: the young people who are shaping the future of classical music. Created and hosted by Christa Wessel, select episodes of On Deck are also hosted by Adam Eccleston, Raúl Gómez-Rojas, and Lisa Lipton.
Tune in Saturdays at 5:00 PM PT, and revisit past interviews using the links below or by following On Deck on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
If you know of a young musician who should be profiled for On Deck, please email Christa Wessel at christa@allclassical.org.
On Deck with Young Musicians is made possible in part by support from the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.
December 28, 2013
On Deck at PYP’s free bass and percussion lessons
The Portland Youth Philharmonic offers free bass and percussion lessons, taught weekly by members of the Oregon Symphony. In this episode of On Deck, we’ll find out more about this wonderful opportunity for young musicians in our community.
December 21, 2013
On Deck with Ruta Kuzmickas
Ruta is 17 and focused on a career as a professional pianist. We’ll hear her performance last Spring with the MetroArts Orchestra (in which she played Rachmaninov), and chat with her about her favorite movies.
December 14, 2013
On Deck at Portland Summer Ensembles
This week we’re On Deck at a summer camp that schools young musicians in chamber music. A day-camp for kids aged 9-18, Portland Summer Ensembles boasts a faculty comprised principally of Oregon Symphony members. Though the camp takes place in July, the application deadline is coming up in January.
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… More
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. … More
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… More
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.
