Artslandia at the Performance: Portland Playhouse Nov/Dec 2014

TAG, YOU’RE IT. And in our version of the timeless chasing game, this is great news. We start by complimenting a member of the Portland performing arts community who, in turn, must write kind things about another community member. On and on it shall go throughout the 2014–15 performance season, to ensure that plenty of positivity is generated. And there’s only one rule: if you’ve been tagged, we can't tell you who's responsible. You’ll ﬁnd out for the ﬁrst time right here in print. BARRY JOHNSON GREG EWER VIOLINIST, OREGON SYMPHONY AND 45TH PARALLEL Greg is a sparkling musician himself, and a canny concert programmer. And no one is a more energetic supporter of music and musicians than he is. He’s also the driving force behind the protean 45th Parallel, demonstrating how vitally important the symphony is to the city’s more alt-classical scene. And the recordings of Jean-Marie LeClair’s Complete Sonatas for Two Violins he created and released with Adam LaMotte last year are nothing short of splendid. GREG EWER RON BLESSINGER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THIRD ANGLE NEW MUSIC I admire what Ron is able to accomplish as both a performing musician and as an administrator. It’s not easy to have one foot in each world, so to speak, but Ron does it with aplomb. He’s equally at home preparing one of John Zorn’s ﬁendishly difficult string quartets, writing a grant application or waxing poetic about the kind of vision that makes an arts organization thrive. And to top that off, in his ample spare time, he’s on the executive committee of the Oregon Symphony board of directors. Honestly, I don’t know how he does it all at such a high level. Oh wait! Could it be the karaoke? It’s gotta be the karaoke! RON BLESSINGER SERGIO CARRENO PERCUSSIONIST, OREGON SYMPHONY Sergio Carreno is my symphony colleague. He’s an incredible musician, nicest guy around, has an appetite bigger than a racehorse, and is someone with whom I don’t mind spending three hours in the car in the middle of a snowstorm. SERGIO CARRENO SCOTT SHOWALTER PRESIDENT, OREGON SYMPHONY Scott came to us from the L.A. Philharmonic in July, and is now running the show. He really came in guns blazing, creating new momentum and energy about what it is to spearhead a cultural organization in Oregon. He’s certainly energized the donor base, the board, and the musicians, and he’s invigorating the whole concept of what it is to have a symphony orchestra in the city. He’s really a champion of Portland, and of the state of Oregon, and he’s pushing for more inclusion of southwest Washington, reminding us that Vancouver is a big part of the region we serve. He’s even strengthened the Symphony’s connection to other cultural partners, like the Portland Art Museum and the Japanese Gardens. I just think people need to know about him, because even though he’s a newbie, he’s doing a fantastic job. Portland’s Favorite ‘Sassical Pop’ Lady Quartet The Julians Defying Genres Since 2010 UPCOMING CONCERT DATES PSU Concert Series Thursday March 5, 2015 Noon Portland State University Lincoln Hall 75 OSU “MUSIC A LA CARTE” CONCERT SERIES Friday May 1, 2015 Noon Oregon State University Memorial Union Main "They are CLASSICAL. They are FOLK. They are INDIE. They are JAZZ. They are POP. They are most certainly SPECTACULAR." ~ artslandia Concerts Private Parties Special Events thejuliansmusic.com ARTSLANDIA AT THE PERFORMANCE MARCH | APRIL 51

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