Neighborhood Free Concert Series Gets Boost with All Classical Portland Grant

Portland, OR. For three consecutive years, All Classical Portland has awarded its Rising Tide Grant to help community-focused arts organizations by providing the benefits of media sponsorship. This year’s recipient is the Classical Up Close 2018 Festival. Organized and performed by musicians of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra (pictured in 2016), this festival of free chamber music performances takes place from April 21st to May 6th with events throughout the Portland Metro area, including:

• Six full-length evening performances in neighborhood locales including St. Mary’s Cathedral, Oak Hills Church, and Rose City Park Presbyterian Church.
• Two “Classical Up Close for Kids!” concerts held on April 8th at the Beaverton City Library and May 6th at the Tigard Public Library
• Multiple “BLITZ” performances: brief, half-hour performances in unlikely locations intended to meet people where they live, work and play, such as: Powell’s Books, Papaccino’s Coffee House and Cereal Bar, and the Hollywood Senior Center.

Highlights of the festival include an appearance by special guest artist China Forbes (Pink Martini) singing arias by Bizet, Puccini and Delibes, and a recently discovered string quartet by the early-20th century African American composer Florence Price. 

“All Classical Portland is thrilled to partner with Classical Up Close Festival whose mission is reflective of our own.” said Suzanne Nance, President and CEO of All Classical Portland.  “We are proud to heighten awareness and spread the joy of classical music to children and adults alike through these free, community-based events.”

Nancy Ives, Oregon Symphony Principal Cellist and Classical Up Close board member, said about the upcoming festival: “We’re ecstatic about the continued support and enthusiasm from the community for our festival! Our offerings of free and convenient performances of classical music are accomplishing our goals of connecting more deeply with long-time concert-goers while also providing access to others who have been unable to experience live chamber music before. Our partnership with All Classical Portland is a natural fit and boosts our efforts. This is what cultural community is all about!”

To view an interactive map of the festival events, visit:https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/acf7e6b4a5577f380ebd9e1ce57d4346

For the complete event schedule, visit:http://www.classicalupclose.org/events.html

About Classical Up Close: Classical Up Close is an annual festival of free chamber music events in venues all around the Portland Metro area, created by a group of Oregon Symphony musicians in 2013 with the goals of celebrating their ties to the community, thanking the Symphony’s many supporters, and making new friends for the orchestra and for classical music. For more information, visit classicalupclose.org.

About All Classical Portland: All Classical Portland is Portland, Oregon’s classical radio station. Established in 1983, our 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. For more information, visit allclassical.org.

About The Rising Tide Grant Project: The Rising Tide Grant Projectinvigorates the performing arts community by providing on-air sponsorship to a selected organization for an entire performance season. This initiative alleviates the financial barriers preventing small performing arts organizations from purchasing radio promotions on All Classical Portland and provides myriad opportunities for cross-promotion, and awareness.