Visit our Media page for videos and photos of recent Classical Up Close festivals.
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2020 Board of Directors
Sarah Kwak, Executive Director/President Nancy Ives, Vice-President Vali Phillips, Treasurer Susan Shepperd, Secretary 2020 Committee Members Joe Cantrell Ruby Chan Emily Cole Samuel Park Alicia Waite |
OUR MISSION
To bring classical music to the Portland, Oregon community, where people live, work, and play — in order to celebrate our ties to the community, thank the Oregon Symphony Orchestra's many supporters, and make new friends for the orchestra and for classical music. ABOUT CLASSICAL UP CLOSE Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free! 2020 marks our eighth festival, consisting of six short daytime “Blitz” appearances, six full-length evening concerts, and four special performances designed by our musicians for children and their families. No matter which of our performances you attend, you can expect an informal tone where you are free to do the things you would not normally do at a classical concert: take photos, tweet (#upclosepdx), text, clap between movements, sit onstage with the musicians, and ask them questions during the Question and Answer time. We look forward to getting up close with you! OUR HISTORY In 2013, a group of musicians, all members of the Oregon Symphony, came together hoping to do something special in our off-hours to connect in a different, personal way with the community served by our orchestra. We knew that our audience often sees us only from a distance and that they are curious about the individuals who perform on stage at the Schnitzer every week. We also wanted to both thank our supporters and make new friends for the orchestra and for classical music. We decided that a series of fun, intimate, casual concerts would accomplish our goals. It seemed like a lot to accomplish in our spare time, but we adopted the credo “bringing world-class music to you, where you live, work and play” and forged ahead. That first festival was a resounding success in all the ways we hoped for, and the community response has been gratifying and sustained ever since. OUR SUPPORTERS Music brings people together, and we continue to have marvelous support. In addition to the community partners who donate performance venues, we are excited to have media sponsorship from All Classical Portland, and grants from The Cultural Coalition of Washington County, The Oregon Arts Commission, The Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Cultural Trust, The Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Autzen Foundation, The Herbert A. Templeton Foundation, and The Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust. We are especially grateful to the following benefactors for their significant contributions: Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer, James and Linda Hamilton, Truman Collins, and Walter Weyler. |
Our official media sponsor
We are very excited to announce the continued support of our official media sponsor: All Classical Portland! We can’t imagine a better partner than All Classical Portland to further our goals of celebrating great music and connecting to a wide community of music lovers in a personal and immediate way. Our festival of free concerts is designed to bring music to people where they live, work and play, and of course that is what All Classical Portland does every day, both on the radio and online.
All Classical Portland is Portland, Oregon’s classical radio station. Established in 1983, All Classical Portland’s mission is to advance knowledge of and appreciation for classical music; to build and sustain culturally vibrant local and global communities around this art form; to reflect the spirit of the Pacific Northwest; and to foster integrity, quality, and innovation in all that we do.
All Classical Portland is Portland, Oregon’s classical radio station. Established in 1983, All Classical Portland’s mission is to advance knowledge of and appreciation for classical music; to build and sustain culturally vibrant local and global communities around this art form; to reflect the spirit of the Pacific Northwest; and to foster integrity, quality, and innovation in all that we do.
