A Community Flourishing in Music

By Ashley Swanson on July 22, 2010

Chamber Music Northwest’s Summer Festival is not just about hosting outdoor concerts, or playing in cozy lounges. It has also spread its Protégé Project to more humble, homegrown settings at local youth music camps in the Portland community.

Coaching an ensemble class at the Community Music Center was a welcome surprise for protégé Becky Anderson, a talented violist and Portland native, and a chance to give back to the place that helped shape her musical career. Only 19, Becky is already a seasoned performer who’s traveled around the world, preforming in many different festivals and symphonies.

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One CMC student excitedly approached after the session to compliment Becky on her recent performance. “You were really great!”. His violin case hung across his back as his proud father looked on.  ..

A music teacher for one of the ensembles thanked Becky for coaching and said, “the kids really listen to you, even if its stuff I’ve been telling them over and over again. With you, it looks like it’s sinking in. The light bulbs were going off. It was wonderful to see.”

“I know that sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else,” Becky replied with a smile.

The whole festival has promoted a learning atmosphere, as the festival musicians pass on their experience to the Protégés, the Protégés then have the opportunity to pass along the same inspiration to even younger students.

For me, the experience with Chamber Music NW has come full circle, as the last student ensemble played the same Haydn piece that the Jasper String Quartet preformed on the streets of Portland. The difference in skill was apparent, but the level of joy and passion the same. As Becky pointed out the different accents in the piece in the small hall where she had once practiced the violin, I understood why so many loved chamber music. It grabs a hold of you and leads you on a journey that’s intensely satisfying, but never that far from home.

If you want to see Becky Anderson and the rest of the Protégés performing, the Protégé Showcase is tonight, July 22nd at Reed College’s Kaul Auditorium. Or you can catch the end of Chamber Music NW’s Summer Festival, which includes the Protégé musicians, on July 23rd and 24th in the Dynamic Contrasts concert and on the 25th in the 40th Festival Finale.

Please visit these websites for more information about Chamber Music Northwest or Community Music Center and stop by the Protégé blog for more behind the scenes thoughts from the musicians.