Present inspiring chamber music in Portland OR

2011 Protégé Project

In our 41^st annual summer festival, we celebrated the second year of our exciting Protégé Project, presenting dynamic concerts to many sellout crowds. Designed as a training, performance and outreach program for outstanding young emerging artists, we invited 13 young musicians in their mid-20s to be in residence during the five-week festival. They were mentored and coached by CMNW festival artists, performed with their older colleagues on the CMNW stage, and presented their own “Club Concerts” in alternative venues. The Protégés also coached Portland-area music students at local summer music camps, performed at retirement communities, and presented other free CMNW summer outreach events.

 The 2011 Protégé Project featured existing ensembles such as the Amphion String Quartet and the Yale Percussion Group, and also offered the musicians opportunities to perform in new combinations throughout the festival.  The Protégés performed four Sunday night “club concerts” in alternative venues such as Mississippi Studios and Alberta Rose Theater, a series of intimate and informal events for audiences of around 200. The Protégés also performed many free outreach concerts around Portland, including at retirement communities, a downtown noon concert at the Oregon Historical Society, and family concert outside at Director Park with BodyVox dancers. A highlight of the season was the joint show with BodyVox, combining live music and dance to create a memorable event for a sellout crowd. 

 We are grateful for the support through Global Giving which helped us continue and expand this exciting new program. 

Links:

• Oregonian review of first Protege Club Concert
• Oregonian review of 3rd Protege Club Concert
• Oregonian review of final Protege Club Concert