At tonight’s Grammy Awards, new music ensemble eighth blackbird won the Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance - that means (I’d assume) that Wilsonville resident, Willamette faculty, and member of fEARnoMUSIC (as well as frequent OSO substitute), flutist Molly Barth will soon have her very own Grammy sitting on her mantel at home!  Congrats to her and the rest of the ensemble on a well-deserved win!

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In his introduction of Eartha Kitt last night, Thomas Lauderdale mentioned that she was long blackballed for having spoken out against the Vietnam War during a command performance at the White House.

This made me think about the relationship between artists and those in positions of power.  You hear a lot about celebrities aligning with various political factions, but not so much about artists, and especially classical musicians. [Read more →]

My, oh, my! Eartha Kitt swept into Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall like a proverbial force of nature last night - I don’t think that the place will be the same ever again! [Read more →]