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All classical music ensembles and their artistic directors face
the existential challenge of growing and broadening their audience.
For Shifrin, nurturing younger audiences is a fundamental
goal.
“It’s important to bring music to the next generation,
especially when music isn’t prevalent in public schools,” he acknowledges.
“It’s difficult to attract audiences who haven’t been
exposed to classical music at a young age.”
Through CMNW’s Protégé Project, which launched in
2010, the festival also grows the talent pool of rising professional
musicians. According to CMNW’s website, “The Protégé
Project has brought to Portland some of the country’s most
accomplished young classical musicians. The Protégé Project has
rapidly become an integral part of CMNW, attracting listeners
to alternative venues all across Portland with adventurous programming
and groundbreaking artistic collaborations.”
With their Young Artist Fellowships, CMNW also cultivates
the talents of local school-age musicians between the ages of 12
and 22 “who demonstrate an exceptionally high level of playing
ability and musicality.” These Young Artist Fellows “receive
placement in a chamber music ensemble with other young artists,
master classes and/or coachings with CMNW artists and
other esteemed professional musicians, passes to select CMNW
rehearsals and concerts, performance opportunities and opportunities
to interact informally with CMNW artists.”
Shifrin’s ongoing efforts to attract younger chamber music
audiences and mentor younger musicians are one expression of
his own family’s lifelong support for his musical career. He will
continue to communicate his love of music, through the prism
of Lalo Schifrin’s and his parents’ encouragement, to future
generations of CMNW musicians and audiences alike.
Elizabeth Schwartz is co-host of the Yiddish Hour on 90.7 FM KBOO
Community Radio and a freelance writer living in Portland.
Shifrin’s picks for Chamber Music
Northwest’s 2012 Season:
André Watts and Friends
– Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1
BodyVox/Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat
– Friday, July 20; Saturday, July 21; and Sunday, July 22
Heights of Romanticism with pianist Gilbert Kalish
– Monday, July 9, and Tuesday, July 10
Time For Three
– Thursday, July 19
Bassist Edgar Meyer
– Wednesday, July 25, and Thursday, July 26
The Virtuoso Recorder: Michala Petri and Friends
– Saturday, July 28
For a complete list of concerts for Chamber Music
Northwest’s 2012 season, which began June 25 and
continues through July 29, go to www.cmnw.org.
OREGON JEWISH LIFE | JULY 2012 15