One of the most recognizable voices in American classical music is coming to Portland\u2019s airwaves. But Fred Child<\/a>, the genial longtime host of the nation\u2019s most popular classical music radio program, Performance Today<\/a>, isn\u2019t just bringing his enthusiastic, informed voice to Portland\u2019s All Classical Radio<\/a>. He\u2019s just been named<\/a> the new president and chief executive officer of Oregon\u2019s most significant classical radio station, which has become a cultural hub for the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n He\u2019s also coming home. Child is a Portland native who studied classical piano and jazz, and served for a decade as a host at Oregon Public Broadcasting before becoming Music Director and Director of Cultural Programming at the New York public media giant WNYC, where he also hosted a performance and interview program. Along with his quarter-century of hosting American Public Media\u2019s nationally syndicated Performance Today, Child has also been the Emmy-winning announcer for PBS\u2019s Live From Lincoln Center, hosted National Public Radio\u2019s Creators @ Carnegie program, and anchored many major live concert broadcasts. He bade farewell<\/a> to Performance Today at the end of October.<\/p>\n \u201cFred has been a leader in connecting music-makers with music-lovers, and advancing access to the arts with a passion and approach that is absolutely infectious,\u201d wrote All Classical Radio Board Chair Elaine Durst in the station\u2019s press announcement. \u201cHe brings an ambitious strategic vision for our arts network, guided by a deep understanding of and appreciation for public media. We are proud to welcome him to All Classical Radio.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the most prominent figures in American classical music media is taking leadership of one of the country\u2019s most significant music broadcast outlets. Under the innovative leadership of departing CEO Suzanne Nance<\/a>, the station became a national leader in classical music media and an arts producer. (Read some of our previous coverage here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a> and here<\/a>.) Now, Child\u2019s \u201cappointment marks the next chapter in All Classical Radio\u2019s ongoing evolution as a global media network amplifying classical music, arts, and culture,\u201d reads the station\u2019s press release. He starts January 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a joy to return to my hometown of Portland and an honor to join this beloved institution,\u201d says Child in the station\u2019s press release. \u201cAll Classical Radio delivers essential culture as a free global resource, and does so with a team of uniquely talented personalities. Their creativity inspires me to envision what we can do together through our shared experience of great music, outstanding performances, and engaging storytelling.\u201d Stay tuned, as they still say in radio land, for more ArtsWatch coverage of Child\u2019s return.<\/p>\n Another major Oregon classical music institution has just picked its new leader. The Oregon Symphony<\/a> Orchestra chose<\/a> Paul Snyder as its new President and CEO. As ArtsWatch reported<\/a> last summer, Snyder (who\u2019s served on the boards of OSO, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Symphony, and Portland Opera) had occupied the role on an interim basis since the departure of Isaac Thompson.<\/p>\n The Oregon Bach Festival appointed Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra conductor Ken-David Masur<\/a> as artistic partner<\/a> in charge of OBF\u2019s modern choral-orchestral initiatives, joining Jos van Veldhoven, who oversees historically informed performance practice. \u201cIn his new role, Masur will collaborate closely with festival staff to shape programs that celebrate Bach\u2019s rich legacy, while also exploring contemporary works inspired by Bach\u2019s enduring influence,\u201d according to the festival\u2019s press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sponsor<\/p>\n If his surname sounds familiar to classical music fans, yes, the Leipzig-born (the city where Bach is buried) conductor is the progeny of famed conductor Kurt Masur. Masur fils<\/em> has conducted major orchestras around the world, and several performances at OBF.\u00a0<\/p>\n Siletz Bay Music Festival<\/a> picked arts administrator Daniel Pack as its executive director. An accomplished cellist, Pack previously directed the NEXT Ensemble and served as technical director of Utah\u2019s Ogden Shakespeare Festival. The Lincoln City-based annual summer festival celebrates its 15th season August 13-23, 2026, with a special event planned for May 29 and 30.<\/p>\n ChatterPDX has announced a new residency program for composers that will result in nine new commissions over the next three years, starting with inaugural composer Kimberly Osberg. Read all about it<\/a> in Music Editor Matthew Andrews\u2019s latest MusicWatch, and more about ChatterPDX in Alice Hardesty\u2019s ArtsWatch story<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n ChatterPDX will also host performances by the quartet of young musicians who won the inaugural Young Artists Professional Development Competition, held at Portland State University last month. Read Bob Hicks\u2019s ArtsWatch story<\/a> about that.<\/p>\n Both of Oregon\u2019s major youth orchestras have found new homes. Metropolitan Youth Symphony<\/a> is the new owner of Portland\u2019s former St. Paul Lutheran Church building at 3880 S.E. Brooklyn St. at S.E. C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez Blvd. And Portland Youth Philharmonic purchased<\/a> the historic Central Lutheran Church, designed by Oregon architectural eminence Pietro Belluschi himself. (Read more<\/a> about its significance from architectural historian Fred Leeson.) After extensive renovation, the building, located in Northeast Portland\u2019s historic Irvington neighborhood, will provide abundant space for rehearsals, classes, workshops, performances, and community programs for the nation\u2019s oldest youth orchestra.<\/p>\n Jesuit High School sophomore Bhavika Pasuparthi has been named<\/a> a National YoungArts Winner with Distinction in the Voice category. Beginning her Indian Carnatic classical vocal studies at age 5, she\u2019s also studied Western classical voice with renowned Portland diva Angela Niederloh and performs with the Pacific Youth Choir, Jesuit Chamber Choir, and Portland Opera\u2019s Rising Stars program. <\/p>\n \u201cYoungArts award winners, all ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12, are selected through a highly competitive application reviewed by panels of esteemed artists in a rigorous adjudication process,\u201d reads the press release. \u201cAll YoungArts winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and an extraordinary commitment to developing their craft. Winners were selected from a record number of nearly 13,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sponsor<\/p>\n Pasuparthi will participate in National YoungArts Week, held January 4\u201311, 2026 in Miami, where she\u2019ll share her work with peers, attend interdisciplinary classes and workshops, and receive mentorship from leading artists. As ArtsWatch reported<\/a>, Oregon\u2019s Elaina Stuppler scored<\/a> one of the prestigious awards last year.<\/p>\n Portland pianist and educator (University of Portland and Portland State University) Julia Hwakyu Lee has been nominated for Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame, which recognizes the work of North America\u2019s most committed and passionate piano educators.<\/p>\n And as the holidays arrive, kudos to the esteemed Portland vocal ensemble Cappella Romana<\/a>, which has announced it will now offer completely free admission to its concerts to all SNAP cardholders, the food assistance program recently attacked by the current national administration. \u201cWe\u2019ve always believed that this music has the power to heal, to uplift, to remind us of our shared humanity,\u201d said Cappella Executive Director Mark Powell in a press release. \u201cRight now, people are hurting. When someone is choosing between feeding their children and feeding their soul, we will not be another door that\u2019s closed to them.\u201d The group\u2019s next Portland concert, Christmas with Cappella<\/a>,<\/em> is at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at St. Mary\u2019s Cathedral.<\/p>\n Farewell to one of the great Oregon songwriters, Todd Snider, who died<\/a> last month in Nashville and left the world a little grayer.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orartswatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screen-Shot-2025-12-10-at-8.58.10-AM-1.jpg?resize=476%2C586&ssl=1\")
New leadership for Oregon Symphony<\/h2>\n
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Oregon Bach Festival\u2019s new artistic partner<\/h2>\n
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![\"Northwest](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orartswatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-Voices-of-Winter_OAW-ad-RZD.png?fit=970%2C250&ssl=1&cb=1765487939\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nSiletz Bay Music Festival\u2019s new executive director<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orartswatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Photo.DanPack.jpg?resize=819%2C1024&ssl=1\")
ChatterPDX\u2019s new composer residency program<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orartswatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/KimberlyatCapeBlancoPhotobyMauricioHerrera.webp?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Homes for the Holidays \u2013 and Beyond<\/h2>\n
Kudos<\/h2>\n
Bhavika Pasuparthi\u2019s national honor<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orartswatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screen-Shot-2025-12-10-at-10.02.30-AM.jpg?resize=786%2C896&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nJulia Hwakyu Lee\u2019s hall of fame nod <\/h3>\n
Cappella Romana\u2019s free tickets for SNAP cardholders<\/h3>\n
\u2026 and a farewell to Todd Snider<\/h3>\n