Clips & Articles: News & Events
Jazz singer’s opus
The composer, songwriter, vocalist and poet will perform her new work with aerial artists and jazz band in September.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch August 2026
Portland vocalist/composer Shelly Rudolph's "Orfea Rising" will unfold at September's Montavilla Jazz Festival. See Angela's Oregon ArtsWatch story. Photo by Norm Eder @normederphoto. Read More
Lei Liang’s music pairs with pinot
Originally Published in Classical Voice North America August 2026
J. Christopher's wine cellar concert paired first rate Oregon wines with a Beethoven string quartet and Lei Liang's music of soundscapes. See Angela's August concert review in Classical Voice North America. Read More
Wine and chamber music
WVCMF pairs vineyards and commemorative local wines with contemporary and classical composers for their "Inventing America" season.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch August 2026
Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival string players combine old and new music with top Oregon wines. See Angela's Oregon ArtsWatch story. Photo by Alex Matthews Read More
Classical saxophonist
Banks and eight other musicians will perform his new work "to be free," inspired by Nina Simone and the U.S. semiquincentennial, in two Chamber Music Northwest concerts July 12 and 13.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch July 2026
Steven Banks -- performer, composer, teacher -- talks about his life and love affair with the classical saxophone. See Angela's story. Photo by Julia Varga. Read More
Young muscians star in Portland
YAI, a part of CMNW's summer festival for the last five seasons, gathered 16 string players from all over the world for a series of concerts, masterclasses, and collaborations with local young composers.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch July 2026
Chamber Music Northwest's Young Artist Institute's mega-talented students give a hint of classical music's future. See Angela's story. Photo by Jon Anthony Thomson. Read More
Montréal’s jazz fest
Featuring Joshua Redman, Hiromi, Stacey Kent, and Béla Fleck's new BEATrio.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch July 2026
Check out a handful of musical postcards from the 10-day Canadian festival reviewing Hiromi, Joshua Redman, Béla Fleck's new trio, and Stacey Kent. See Angela's take. Photo by Jan van Santen. Read More
Emerging dancers
push/FOLD's sixth annual festival of contemporary movement includes companies from Oregon and beyond, and features both Portland and world premieres.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch May 2026
push/FOLD's annual festival showcases new premieres. See Angela's review of the late-spring show. Photo: Jingzi Zhao Read More
“Hold Fast”: A poetry and music collaboration
The orator and composer reunite to present their "Hold Fast to Dreams: The Poetry of Langston Hughes" in late May as a springtime prelude to the August festival.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch May 2026
Darius Wallace and Jasnam Daya Singh reunite for a spoken-word program accompanied by jazzy music honoring Langston Hughes' poetry as the first offering of the Siletz Bay Music Festival on the Oregon Coast. See Angela's story. Photo by Norm Eder Read More
Critics’ Bash, Allen take lead on MCANA board
Oregon ArtsWatch writer Bash is the North American critics' group's new president and fellow ArtsWatch writer Allen is re-elected as secretary on the executive board.
Originally Published in Oregon ArtsWatch June 2025
James Bash and Angela Allen have taken leadership roles in the Music Critics Association of North America. Read more. Read More
