James Bash

James Bash enjoys writing for The Oregonian, The Columbian, Classical Voice North America, Opera, and many other publications. He has also written articles for the Oregon Arts Commission and the Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd edition. He received a fellowship to the 2008 NEA Journalism Institute for Classical Music and Opera, and is a member of the Music Critics Association of North America.

Where the lightning hits the road: Talking with Damien Geter and Jessica Murphy Moo about their opera “Loving v. Virginia”

April 28, 2025James Bash

The opera, based on the love story behind the landmark civil rights case, premiered in Virginia last week.

New season, new day: Oregon Symphony’s president talks about what’s coming up

March 23, 2025James Bash

Isaac Thompson discusses a concert switch from Mondays to Thursdays and revitalizing downtown in a 2025-26 season that starts with violin superstar Joshua Bell and ends with a percussive bang.

Cappella Romana’s mix of Orthodox and Gospel music creates a resounding cantata

March 11, 2025James Bash

The choir's "Canon for Racial Recognition" entered fascinating musical and cultural territory with its deft blend of sounds from different yet complementary traditions.

‘Hamilton’ roars back into Portland

March 11, 2025James Bash

The latest Broadway tour of Lin-Manuel's historical hit musical, back in town through March 23, thrillingly tells its early American tale in contemporary style.

Play On: Every Brain Needs (Love) Music

February 20, 2025James Bash

Brain and heart: On Valentine's Day, Portland Chamber Music and neuroscientist Larry Sherman explored the many moods of love – and music's role in keeping it in tune.

“Forever thine, forever mine, forever us” – Northwest Sinfonietta and violinist Denise Dillenbeck premiere Nancy Ives’ Beethoven-inspired violin concerto

January 29, 2025James Bash

The Tacoma orchestra, part of the commissioning consortium for Ives’ Immortal Beloved Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, delivered intensity in quest for Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved.”

Camerata PYP and pianist Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner plant an outstanding ‘Sound Garden’

January 16, 2025James Bash

The concert pianist and Portland Youth Philharmonic's elite string ensemble triumph in a concert ranging from Liszt and Saint-Saëns to Jessie Montgomery and Bruce Stark.

A spicy kick: New Year’s with Portland Chamber Orchestra

January 10, 2025James Bash

PCO’s holiday concert put music and drinks in a delightful shaker, mixing music from the Baroque to the 21st century.

Strong musical culture: New recordings by violinist Tomás Cotik and Portland Youth Philharmonic

January 2, 2025James Bash

Recent albums feature the music of Astor Piazzolla, Lera Auerbach, and Polina Nazaykinskaya.

It’s All in the Family at PYP’s Concert-at-Christmas

January 2, 2025James Bash

The youth orchestra’s 63rd annual holiday show sent everyone home with a smile.

The Buetti effect – Nicole Buetti creates children’s videos that are as entertaining as they are educational

December 6, 2024James Bash

The Portland composer, bassoonist, puppeteer, and voiceover artist’s award-winning ‘Meet the Planets’ series is an ingenious blend of music and science.

Incisive intensity: Dover Quartet at The Old Church

November 27, 2024James Bash

The former Chamber Music Northwest protégé ensemble delivered a wide-ranging program of music by Tate, Mendelssohn, and Dvořák.

Metropolitan Youth Symphony explores love and loss in its 50th-season opener

November 14, 2024James Bash

The young composer Elishiya Crain-Keddie's "Innamorata" sparkles in a program including Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and contemporary American composer Missy Mazzoli.

Portland Youth Philharmonic 101: Entering its second century in vivid style

November 13, 2024James Bash

An outstanding performance by PYP alumna Hamani Froom of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto highlights a 101st season-opening program that also includes works by Silvestre Revueltas and William Grant Still.

Roderick Williams puts audience in heaven with recital of Schubert lieder

November 6, 2024James Bash

The English singer performed “Schwanengesang” and other selections with pianist Myra Huang for Chamber Music Northwest.

Caitlin Lynch doesn’t give up, she gives back – with Project Chamber Music Willamette Valley

October 24, 2024James Bash

The violist and Portland Youth Philharmonic alum returns to Oregon to work with high school and college students.

More than song and dance – superb concert helps to raise funds for music students

October 24, 2024James Bash

Violist Caitlin Lynch, back in town for Project Chamber Music: Willamette Valley, performed a concert of Mozart and Brahms.

Beautiful and invincible: Fear No Music puts Oregon composers front and center in outstanding concert

October 2, 2024James Bash

FNM’s all-Oregonian season started with a bang last weekend at Reed College’s acoustically-friendly Eliot Chapel Hall.

An intoxicating timelessness: Pianist Artina McCain with Orchestra Nova Northwest

September 19, 2024James Bash

The renamed orchestra accented diverse American music in their inaugural concert.

A ray of hopefulness: Closing Siletz Bay Music Festival with Nancy Ives, Daniel Freiberg, and Paquito D’Rivera

September 10, 2024James Bash

Jazzy clarinet concerto and a tribute to Celilo Falls closed out this year’s festival on the Oregon Coast.

OrpheusPDX’s Pathways Program gives young professionals an onramp into opera

September 4, 2024James Bash

Young stagescraft specialists get intensive on-the-job training through the mentorship program, which helps fill a need for a skilled workforce and guarantee a future for performing arts.

Music in the mountains at the Sun Valley Music Festival

August 27, 2024James Bash

Critic at large samples the music festival where concerts are first class and free!

Siletz Bay Music Festival, with Interim Artistic Director Mei-Ting Sun at the helm, brings classical music to the coast – with a nod to its late founder

August 14, 2024James Bash

SBMF director Yaacov “Yaki” Bergman mentored and collaborated with Sun for decades, making the pianist an ideal successor in the festival’s twelfth season.

Young Musicians & Artists concludes another successful year with gusto

August 7, 2024James Bash

The two-week residential summer camps offer a unique opportunity for young creatives to advance their artistic interests while connecting with other talented youth.

A poetic powerhouse: Nina Bernat at Chamber Music Northwest

July 16, 2024James Bash

CMNW protégé artist doubles down on the double bass with gusto.

Chamber Music Northwest’s Young Artist Institute offers a personal, but intense, experience for young musicians 

July 13, 2024James Bash

The intensive education program for talented string players from around the world includes performances throughout the community, including free showcases, pop-ups around town, and a new mobile concert stage.

In the reeds: Oboist Frank Rosenwein and David Shifrin perform Marc Neikrug and Leonard Bernstein for Chamber Music Northwest

July 9, 2024James Bash

CMNW keeps things fresh as its Beethoven-themed 2024 Summer Festival opens.

Malkovich & Igudesman: Laugh to the music

June 6, 2024James Bash

The actor-comedian and his musical sidekick join the Oregon Symphony Orchestra for a wry and funny look at the slings and arrows of outrageous classical music critics.

Talking with Carin Miller, maestra of the bassoon

June 4, 2024James Bash

The Oregon Symphony Orchestra's principal bassoonist and founder of Bassoons Without Borders is ready for her solo spotlight.

Suspended puzzlement: The Fourth is with Cascadia Composers

May 27, 2024James Bash

Fourthful concert showed the eclectic breadth of the local composer organization.