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.

Deep resonance: Introducing the Vancouver Arts and Music Festival

Time for Three, Anne Akiko Meyers, and Orli Shaham headline the newly-minted festival in downtown Vancouver.

An amber light, burning: ‘The Anchoress’ at CMNW

Quest for the divine receives evocative hybrid treatment in David Ludwig and Katie Ford’s “contemporary monodrama.”

A fitting end: Emerson Quartet finales raise the roof twice with bittersweet gusto

The long-running and beloved string quartet made two Portland stops on their farewell tour, performing with Gloria Chien and David Shifrin for CMNW.

A playful exchange: SoundsTruck NW brings game-changing venue to the Portland Japanese Garden

The mobile venue hosted a performance of music by Andy Akiho alongside French and Japanese composers.

The determination to move forward: CMNW makes serious and hopeful music with a poetic vibe

Oregon poet S. Renee Mitchell opened a concert of Schubert and Bolcom songs performed by Susanna Phillips alongside instrumental works by Schumann and Brahms.

With or without words – the topic of love permeates Chamber Music Northwest concert

One of the first concerts of this year’s summer festival tore down the house with music by Schubert and Fauré.

Braiding music and poetry with Chamber Music Northwest

This year’s five-week festival, commencing this weekend, highlights the relationship between two art forms.

‘A snowball the size of Mt. Hood’: SoundsTruck NW brings the music to you

Yoko and Jon Greeney talk about the development of their new mobile music venue, hitting the road this summer with shows featuring Charlie Brown III and Lo Steele, Andy Akiho, and more.

Chaos and precision: Cascadia Composers goes beyond the beyond with Ligeti celebration

The Oregon composer organization blended works by its members with works by the mercurial Hungarian.

Catching up with: Arwen Myers

Talking Early and Modern music with the versatile prima soprano.

‘What happened to me’: ‘Nu Nah-Hup’ at Hampton Opera Center

The story of Sacajawea glowed in a new, Indigenous-centered Opera Theater Oregon production.

A sampling with plenty of verve: Oregon Symphony’s “Mosaic”

Conductor Deanna Tham, curator Gabriel Kahane, and a mixed-up mashup of modern and classical orchestral music at The Reser.

Scampering thunderbolts: ‘The Magic Flute’ at Portland State University

PSU Opera produces an "enchanting" version of the beloved Mozart fantasy, with vibrant singing and some kids who almost steal the scene.

Free-range musicians go wild: Up close with Classical Up Close

The Oregon Symphony series celebrates its 10th anniversary with a string of concerts throughout April and May.

The soul dissipating: Mahler’s connective tissue

Oregon Symphony musical director David Danzmayr discusses the relationships and inner meanings of Mahler’s Fourth and Fifth Symphonies.

An inner compass: Music and refugees from the past to the present

Upcoming multimedia concert with flutist Amelia Lukas probes the meaning of home on multiple levels.

Fear No Music starts with hurricane and ends on a quiet vista

FNM’s recent “Legacies” concert featured music by Young Composers Project grad Ian Guthrie alongside Negrón, Ko, Kernis, Balch, and Beethoven.

Opening our ears: Gabriela Montero with Oregon Symphony, Maggie Carter with Portland Youth Philharmonic

OSO and vocal partners performed “Carmina Burana” on a snow-truncated concert; later, pianist Montero’s “Babel” bridged the music of Wagner and Mendelssohn. Bassist Carter performed with PYP, alongside a commissioned work by Jeff Scott and the Third Symphony of mid-century English composer Ruth Gipps.

Stepping up with Deanna Tham

Associate conductor Tham makes a stunning concert hall debut with the Oregon Symphony.

Still young at heart: Fear No Music’s Locally Sourced Sounds VIII

FNM’s recent concert at The Old Church celebrated 25 years of the Young Composers Project.

From Lake O. to CSO: Four bad reeds makes one good

A conversation with Chicago Symphony principal bassoonist Keith Buncke.

If it’s Baroque: Portland Baroque Orchestra’s Festival of Candidates

It's a bout of bouts as PBO’s quest for its next artistic leader goes to the bell.

The continuum of creativity continues: Fear No Music’s “Legacies”

FNM’s upcoming concert celebrates artistic cooperation and compositional traditions through time and space.

Unforgotten: Three concerts with the Oregon Symphony

The OSO performed Nielsen, Strauss, Stravinsky, and Beethoven alongside new and recent works by Donnacha Dennehy, Gabriella Smith, Lera Auerbach, and Creative Chair Gabriel Kahane.

A beacon that flashes across the universe: Viola concertos by Nicole Buetti and Johan Hugosson

Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra and Brett Deubner perform not one but two world premieres.

Cole and Shields: Mrs. Violin and Mr. Clarinet

The married couple talk about making music together and their upcoming concerts with Third Angle at the OMSI Planetarium.

Cascadia Composers’ splendid birthday bash

Fresh octogenarians David Bernstein and Greg Steinke celebrate with "Last Tango in Portland," a concert of lively music and world premieres.

Oregon Symphony and Renée Fleming kick off the season in style

Fleming and baritone Rod Gilfrey help open a promising symphony season with a musical tale of Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz.

More than a switch-hitting violinist: A conversation with Adam LaMotte

LaMotte and the conductorless Amadeus Chamber Orchestra will perform with CMNW in September.

Making a clearing with Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival

The festival’s seventh season paired new and recent local wines with music by contemporary and classical composers for a truly unique experience.