ECHOES OF BACH
Perhaps no composer’s music resonates across the centuries more than that of Johann Sebastian Bach. Whether in moments of celebration, mourning, or contemplation, his music articulates feelings words cannot. From solos, art songs, and chamber works, to Bach’s Mass this summer we will explore elements of Bach’s artistry that have inspired composers ever since.
Week 1 SOUND The inventive instrumentation in Bach’s evergreen Brandenburg Concertos produces an astonishing freshness of sounds that are undiminished by time. In each concerto he masterfully weaves together different combinations of winds, strings, and harpsichord to express a vivid joy of life.
Week 2 COLORS In intimate works such as his Musical Offering and the Goldberg Variations Bach highlights the unique timbre of each instrument to construct colorful sonic tapestries. Mendelssohn, the greatest champion of Bach’s music in the 19th century, brought those rich colors and textures to his own string chamber music, particularly in his radiant viola quintets featured this week.
Week 3 VOICE The divine quality in all of Bach’s music, including in his vocal writing, will be on full display with Oregon Bach Festival’s performance of the great B Minor Mass Bach’s influence lives on as the voices of composers Franck, David Schiff, and Kian Ravaei will pay homage to their respective spiritual backgrounds.
Week 4 LEGACY Just as Bach revolutionized the future of music, CMNW’s Protégé Program is fostering growth in the music world of the 21st century. Current Protégé artists and alumni perform masterpieces by Messiaen, Mendelssohn, and Olli Mustonen in what promises to be the most thrilling week of the summer.
Week 5 COUNTERPOINT Bach mastered the art of intertwining independent musical lines, creating a perfect balance that composers have sought ever since. Few came closer than Brahms, and we close the summer with his two string sextets that are among the most beloved works in chamber music.
We encourage you to join us this summer for unforge able concerts with the world’s greatest musicians to experience Echoes of Bach and celebrate how his influences resound throughout the chamber music of yesterday and today, in ways that are surprising and profoundly magical.
Gloria Chien & Soovin Kim Artistic Directors
Photo by Tom Emerson
WEEK ONE | SOUND
EXPERIENCE THE 2025 FESTIVAL KICKOFF!
The festival begins with a double-header musical journey that’s timeless and exhilarating. Experience Bach's complete Brandenburg Concertos—a festive picnic in between—with the electrifying Baroque/modern violinist and conductor Shunske Sato leading its stunning solos, intricate harmonies, and dynamic instrumental interplay.
Complete Brandenburg Concertos - Part I
Saturday, June 28 @ 4pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Bursting with grandeur and elegance, the festival begins with Bach’s electrifying Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, followed by the richly moving Concerto No. 6. Caroline Shaw’s Bach-inspired Concerto for Harpsichord & Strings offers a modern twist on the Baroque tradition, before Bach’s festive and dazzling Concerto No. 2 brings the concert to a vibrant conclusion.
• BACH’S orchestral Brandenburg Concerto No. 1
• BACH’S moving Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
• CAROLINE SHAW’S Bach-inspired Concerto for Harpsichord & Strings (2023)
• BACH’S festive Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Complete Brandenburg Concertos - Part II
Saturday, June 28 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
The evening concert dives deeper into Bach’s creative brilliance with his exuberant Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, joy-filled Concerto No. 5, and celebratory Concerto No. 4. Each piece showcases Bach’s mastery of intricate dialogue and vibrant energy between instruments, blending lively string sections, virtuosic solo passages, and a radiant spirit. Gabriella Smith’s Brandenburg Interstices adds a contemporary perspective that blends Baroque influences with imaginative innovation.
• BACH’S exuberant Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
• BACH’S harpsichord-centric Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
• GABRIELLA SMITH’S creatively imaginative Brandenburg Interstices (2012)
• BACH’S celebratory Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
WEEK TWO | COLORS
Brandenburg All-Stars
Monday, June 30 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
An array of the world’s most renowned chamber musicians unite for this one-time concert featuring Bach's Trio Sonata with superstars violinist Shunske Sato, flutist Emi Ferguson, and pianist/harpsichordist Kit Armstrong, followed by the 2025 Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron with Mahler's evocative Rückert-Lieder The evening culminates with an all-star ensemble of CMNW favorites—violinists Soovin Kim and Jessica Lee, violists Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt and Paul Neubauer, and cellist Edward Arron—performing Mendelssohn’s romantic Viola Quintet in A Major.
• BACH’S virtuosic Trio Sonata from The Musical Offering
• MAHLER’S evocative Rückert-Lieder
• FELIX MENDELSSOHN’S dramatic Viola Quintet in A Major
Kit Armstrong: The Goldberg Variations
Tuesday, July 1 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Experience a rare event of profound musical mastery as acclaimed pianist Kit Armstrong—hailed as the Mozart of our era— performs Bach's Goldberg Variations in its entirety…a feat undertaken at CMNW only twice in our 55 years! This monumental work, celebrated for its intellectual depth and intricate beauty, will be performed with unparalleled precision and artistry by one of the world’s most gi ed pianists, bringing the Goldbergs to life in a way that will resonate long a er the final note.
• BACH’S complete Goldberg Variations for solo piano, Nos. 1–30
2025 Young Artist Institute Finale Concert
Saturday, July 5 @ 7pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Come to witness the next generation of virtuoso musicians performing highlights from four string quartets, and four World Premieres of Bach-inspired mini quartets by Fear No Music's young composers!
Your “Give What You Can” ticket purchase supports this life-changing experience for these young musicians!
WEEK THREE | VOICE
CMNW Presents the Oregon Bach Festival: Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Sunday, July 6 @ 4pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Oregon Bach Festival returns to CMNW this summer with Bach’s majestic Mass in B Minor. Universally considered his crowning achievement and taking decades to complete, it remains a testament to Bach’s faith and artistic virtuosity—the summation of a lifetime of work. We are pleased to present Bach’s Mass with world-renowned Maestro Jos van Veldhoven leading the OBF chamber orchestra and chorus in this heavenly performance.
• BACH’S Mass in B Minor—his ultimate masterpiece!
Revelations: Schi , Schubert, Franck & Ravaei
Thursday, July 10 @ 7:30pm • Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton
Saturday, July 12 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Bach-inspired artistry and innovation ensue with Oregonian David Schiff ’s Divertimento from his acclaimed Gimpel the Fool, alongside a World Premiere by one of America’s most unique emerging voices, Iranian American composer Kian Ravaei. Schubert’s enchanting Shepherd on the Rock pairs soprano Hyunah Yu's soaring voice with Artistic Director Emeritus David Shifrin's lyrical clarinet, followed by a glorious conclusion with César Franck’s opulent Piano Quintet featuring pianist
Yekwon Sunwoo and returning Protégé Quartet Opus13.
• DAVID SCHIFF’S Divertimento from Gimpel the Fool
• KIAN RAVAEI’S new duo for flute, violin & electronics
• SCHUBERT’S enchanting The Shepherd on the Rock
• FRANCK’S glorious Piano Quintet
1982 CMNW COMMISSION CMNW WORLD PREMIERE COMMISSION
WEEK FOUR | LEGACY
Timeless Works by Mozart, Bach & Messiaen
Sunday, July 13 @ 4pm • Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland State
Monday, July 14 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
In an exultant evening that blends centuries of brilliance, Bach’s emotional Bete aber auch dabei sets the tone, followed by Mozart’s shimmering D Minor String Quartet, a stunning display of elegance and intensity. The evening culminates with Messiaen’s transcendent Quartet for the End of Time. Composed in a WWII concentration camp, the masterpiece combines divine beauty with otherworldly rhythms and harmonies, offering an ethereal exploration of timelessness and inviting reflection on eternity.
• BACH’S gorgeous aria Bete aber auch dabei
• MOZART’S elegant String Quartet in D Minor
• OLIVIER MESSIAEN’S transcendent Quartet for the End of Time
Powerhouse Strings: Mendelssohn’s Octet & More
Thursday, July 17 @ 7:30pm • Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton
Saturday, July 19 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Eleven of the world's most renowned string artists converge: violinists Carolin Widmann and Benjamin Beilman, bassist Nina Bernat, and the doubly dynamic Viano and Opus13 quartets! The World Premiere of Alistair Coleman’s evocative Ghost Art Canticles for String Quartet & Double Bass is followed by Finnish superstar Olli Mustonen's strikingly modern None o II. Then, hang on to your seats for Mendelssohn's monumental and beloved String Octet interpreted by two acclaimed young string quartets.
• ALISTAIR COLEMAN'S Ghost Art Canticles for String Quartet & Double Bass
• OLLI MUSTONEN’S striking None o II
• FELIX MENDELSSOHN’S exuberant String Octet with Viano Quartet & Opus13
WEEK FIVE | COUNTERPOINT
Protégé Project Celebration!
Sunday, July 20 @ 4pm • Lincoln Performance Hall
Monday, July 21 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Revel in the spirit of mentorship and excellence for the 15th Anniversary of CMNW’s Protégé Project! Luminaries Paul Watkins, Carolin Widmann, and Jonathan Vinocour join Protégé alumni the Viano Quartet, Benjamin Beilman, and Nina Bernat for Rossini’s lively Duet for Cello & Bass, Bo esini's dazzlingly agile Gran Duo Concertante, and George Walker's Lyric for Strings Mendelssohn’s captivating B-flat Major Viola Quintet brings the evening to a soulful conclusion.
• ROSSINI’S expressive Duet for Cello & Bass
• GEORGE WALKER'S Lyric for Strings
• BOTTESINI’S dazzling Gran Duo Concertante for violin, bass & piano
• FELIX MENDELSSOHN’S soulful Viola Quintet in B-flat Major
La icework & Legends
Thursday, July 24 @ 7:30pm • The Reser
Saturday, July 26 @ 8pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Be the first to hear legendary musicians
Leila Josefowicz and Paul Watkins shine in their World Premiere of Sean Shepherd’s Violin & Cello Duo wri en especially for them. Josefowicz and Gloria Chien will pair next for Igor Stravinsky’s Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss, showcasing their exquisite artistry. The evening concludes with an all-star ensemble performing Brahms's profound and emotionally resonant Sextet in B-flat Major.
• SEAN SHEPHERD'S La icework for Violin and Cello, wri en especially for Leila Josefowicz and Paul Watkins
Festival Finale: Mozart, Ngwenyama & Brahms
Sunday, July 27 @ 4pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
The grand finale of our 2025 Summer Festival promises an evening of exceptional beauty. Experience Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s Miasma, a captivating blend of intricate textures, and delight in Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, renowned for its playful brilliance. Our finale culminates with Brahms’s String Sextet No. 2, a breathtaking work of profound depth. These final summer performances offer a perfect mix of classical elegance, virtuosity, and memorable melodies— an extraordinary conclusion to an unforge able festival.
• IGOR STRAVINSKY’S enchanting Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss
• BRAHMS’S beautiful String Sextet in B-flat Major
• NOKUTHULA NGWENYAMA'S powerful Miasma
• MOZART’S playful Piano Quartet in E-flat Major
• BRAHMS’S breathtaking String Sextet in G Major
Soovin Kim, Jordan Bak, Paul Watkins, Braizahn Jones, Jörg Widmann, Carin Miller, Radovan Vlatković
Photo by Tom Emerson
NEW @ NIGHT CONCERT SERIES
Always surprising and thrilling, our New@Night is a fun and energizing series. These casual concerts bring to the stage new and recently wri en music from some of the most innovative composers working today, performed by dynamic musicians. Join us early for a 6pm musical conversation followed by pre-concert mingling. Stay a er for a post-concert reception to talk about the music with the composer and musicians!
New@Night: Global Voices
Wednesday, July 2 @ 7pm • The Old Church
Mesmerizing Singaporean-British mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron brings to life enchanting works by three international composers, each offering a unique cultural perspective: Arvo Pärt (Estonia), Kai-Young Chan (Hong Kong), and a piece by 2023 CMNW Protégé Kian Ravaei (Iran). Plus, lean into instrumental works by Thea Musgrave, Reena Esmail, and two by Kit Armstrong. Conversation with pianist/composer Kit Armstrong at 6pm.
New@Night: Sonic Soundscapes
Wednesday, July 9 @ 7pm • BodyVox Dance Center
Immerse yourself in ground-breaking sonic and visual experiences cra ed by contemporary composers Paul Wiancko, Martin Ødegaard, Kian Ravaei, and Clancy Newman. Conversation with composer Kian Ravaei at 6pm.
New@Night: Chamber Evolution
Wednesday, July 16 @ 7pm • The Old Church
Discover cu ing-edge music by Helena Winkelman and Andrea Tarrodi, plus the world premiere of Ethan Soledad’s CMNW-commissioned Poems from Angel Island. Conversation with composer Ethan Soledad at 6pm.
New@Night: Living Echoes
Wednesday, July 23 @ 7pm
• The Old Church
Dive into fascinating storytelling and a mix of music by György Kurtág, Huw Watkins, Carlos Simon, Bach, Dobrinka Tabakova, Michael Djupstrom, Béla Bartók, and Zlatomir Fung. Conversation with cellist Paul Watkins and cellist/ composer Zlatomir Fung at 6pm.
PROTÉGÉ SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Chamber music is meant to be up-close and personal—our Spotlight Recitals are exactly that! These casual noontime concerts feature CMNW’s rising-star Protégé Artists with repertoire they have chosen to share for their special spotlight performance. Over the course of 60–75 minutes in the intimate 200-seat at Portand State University's Lincoln Recital Hall, you'll experience superb chamber music by some of the world’s most exciting early-career musicians!
Protégé Spotlight:
Ryota Yamazaki Solo Piano
Tuesday, July 8 @ 12pm • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State
Fiercely talented pianist Ryota Yamazaki opens our Protégé Spotlight series with an intimate solo recital of pieces he has selected by Chopin, Mozart, and Bach.
Protégé Alumni Superstars:
Benjamin Beilman, Nina Bernat & Viano Quartet
Tuesday, July 15 @ 12pm • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State
Six supremely talented Protege Project alumni—violinist Benjamin Beilman, bassist Nina Bernat, Viano Quartet— return to their CMNW roots at Lincoln Recital Hall, showcasing their musical growth and maturity since their time as proteges in our program with works by Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, and Eugène Ysaÿe.
Protégé Spotlight:
Isabelle Ai Durrenberger & Ryota Yamazaki
Tuesday, July 22 @ 12pm • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State
Violinist Isabelle Ai Durrenberger and pianist Ryota Yamazaki share stunning works by five women composers, including Amy Beach, Florence Price, Dora Pejačević, Katherine Balch, and Maria Theresia von Paradis.
Ryota Yamazaki
Photo by Anna Cerrato
Isabelle Ai Durrenberger
Photo by Titilayo Ayangade
Viano Quartet
Photo by Kevin Condon
PRELUDE PERFORMANCES
Arrive early for Thursday and Saturday concerts to enjoy a free, pre-concert performance featuring local, young musicians or our Young Artist Institute students. Experience the joy and virtuosity of the next generation!
MON, June 30 @ 6:30pm | Young Artist Institute • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
TUES, July 1 @ 6:30pm | Young Artist Institute • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
THURS, July 10, 17 & 24 @ 6:30pm | Local young musicians • The Reser, Beaverton
SAT, July 12, 19 & 26 @ 7pm | Local young musicians • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
MASTERCLASSES
Mondays @ Noon
Immerse yourself in an instrument, invest yourself in a student, and be a witness to our esteemed festival artists—many of whom are renowned music educators—as they coach the next generation of musicians in our community. Trust us, you’ll learn a lot yourself!
June 23 | Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola* • Mago Hunt Recital Hall, Univ. of Portland
June 30 | Titus Underwood, oboe • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State
July 7 | Tara Helen O'Connor, flute • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State
July 14 | Alistair Coleman, composition • Lincoln Hall, TBD Classroom, Portland State
July 21 | David McCarroll, violin • Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State *with Young Artist Institute students
OPEN REHEARSALS
Wednesdays @ 11am | Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
Go behind the scenes to observe this summer’s world-class musicians working together to put the finishing touches on their upcoming performance. An informal Q&A follows the rehearsal.
June 25, July 9, 16, 23
COMMUNITY CONCERTS
We are delighted to gather community and offer free outdoor concerts for everyone to enjoy! These summer evenings feature our incredible festival musicians and take place on the SoundsTruck NW stage, the Pacific Northwest’s premier mobile venue, to deliver some of our performances to audiences in neighborhoods outside the Portland city limits. We also offer free midday Young Artist Institute (YAI) showcases that shine a light on the world’s next stars.
FRI, June 20 @ 12pm | YAI Showcase • The Old Church
FRI, June 27 @ 12pm | YAI Showcase • Sanctuary Hall, First Congregational UCC
MASTERCLASSES
SUN, June 29 @ 2pm | YAI Showcase • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
THURS, July 3 @ 7pm | YAI Outdoor Concert • Shipstad Field, Univ. of Portland *
SAT, July 5 @ 7pm | YAI Finale Concert • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
FRI, July 11 @ 7pm | Opus13 • Chehalem Cultural Center LaJoie Theatre
TUES, July 15 @ 7pm | Isabelle Ai Durrenberger (violin) & Ryota Yamazaki (piano) • North Clackamas Park *
FRI, July 25 @ 7pm | Columbia River Brass Quintet • Vancouver Arts Hub *
*Outdoor Concert with SoundsTruck NW
MORE THAN CONCERTS...
CMNW is a FESTIVAL of MUSICAL EXPERIENCES!
"I always love going to the Kaul Auditorium for Chamber Music Northwest’s Summer Festival. It’s part of a ritual that I associate with the best music and best weather of the year...I am here, once again, for a celebration of some of the greatest music humans have ever produced."
— Lorin Wilkerson, Oregon ArtsWatch
Bach's Musical Signature
Known as Bach's musical signature, look carefully to see a sequence of notes that spell out his last name: B (B-flat), A, C, and H (B-natural)—in German musical notation, B-flat is wri en as B and B-natural is wri en as H. Although he didn't use this "signature," he did use these notes in this order. 19thcentury fans created the "signature," and composers since then have used the BACH motif in their music as a tribute to him. The signature design for this year’s festival artwork was created by our designer Jeff Hayes, who modernized the look and feel of the original signature’s style.
YOUNG ARTIST INSTITUTE
Launched in 2022, Chamber Music Northwest’s Young Artist Institute (YAI) is an intensive education program for 16 exceptionally talented string players from around the world, ages 14-18. This year's three-week institute take place from June 14 to July 6.
There are seven free, public opportunities to witness the astounding artistry of these future stars of chamber music throughout the community including showcase concerts, pre-concert prelude performances, and an outdoor community concert!
SEE 2025 YAI PERFORM!
FRI 6/20 @ 12pm • The Old Church
FRI 6/27 @ 12pm • First Congregational UCC
SUN 6/29 @ 2pm • Kaul Auditorium, Reed College
MON 6/30 @ 6:30pm • Kaul Auditorium (Concert Prelude)
TUE 7/1 @ 6:30pm • Kaul Auditorium (Concert Prelude)
THU 7/3 @ 7pm • Shipstad Field, University of Portland
SAT 7/5 @ 7pm • Kaul Auditorium (Finale Concert)
AROUND TOWN POP-UP PERFORMANCES
2025 Summer Festival Package Options SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES ON SALE NOW
HOW WILL YOU EXPERIENCE ECHOES OF BACH?
Young Artist Institute Faculty
Soovin Kim (violin), Jessica Lee (violin), Wenting Kang (viola), Peter Stumpf (cello, week 1), Edward Arron (cello, weeks 2 & 3),
Alyssa Tong (YAI Manager)
SUBSCRIBER PACKAGES = Save $ with NO FEES! OUR SUBSCRIBERS ENJOY:
Thursday a ernoons June 19 & 26 from 1-4 pm SINGLE TICKETS
1201 SW 12th Ave, Ste. 420 Portland, OR
ECHOES OF BACH
TICKETS
ON SALE NOW
"...PROGRAMMING VARIED, FULL OF NEW WORK, TOUGH PIECES, RARELY HEARD COMPOSERS' WORK, AND NEW MUSICIANS..." — OREGON ARTSWATCH
