Pre-Performance Lecture

Drag Storytime – June 14

Join Portland Ovations and local Drag Queens for an hour of stories and art! Glamorous expert storytellers use the art of drag to read books and lead craft projects at local bookstores, libraries, and community centers around Portland. This fun, fabulous literary experience fosters learning and play, encouraging children and their caregivers to celebrate all … Read more

Author Talk: “The Jazzmen”

Author Larry Tye journeys through the lives of jazz legends Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie in his book The Jazzmen. Pianist Scott Martin brings the work of these extraordinary musicians to life. Autographed copies of The Jazzmen will be available for purchase. ABOUT LARRY TYE Larry Tye is a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book — a joint biography of Duke Ellington, … Read more

Artist Conversation with Nathalie Joachim

Join Indigo Arts Alliance and Portland Ovations in this special opportunity to learn about the creative process of Grammy-nominated Haitian American performer and composer Nathalie Joachim. The Princeton University professor and MoMA Scholar-in-Residence will share insight into how her creative practice fuels action that honors shared histories, collective humanity, and imaginative potential futures.  This event is … Read more

Drag Storytime – April 25

Join Portland Ovations and local Drag Queens for an hour of stories and art! Glamorous expert storytellers use the art of drag to read books and lead craft projects at local bookstores, libraries, and community centers around Portland. This fun, fabulous literary experience fosters learning and play, encouraging children and their caregivers to celebrate all … Read more

Introduction to Music Around the World

Ronnie Malley hosts an interactive lecture demonstration about different musical cultures, featuring a tour of instruments, songs, and languages from around the world. This workshop is appropriate for music lovers of all ages. ABOUT RONNIE MALLEY Ronnie Malley is a multi-instrumentalist musician on oud, guitar, keyboards, and percussion, a theatrical performer, producer, and educator. He … Read more

Artist Conversation with Omar Offendum and Ronnie Malley

Join Omar Offendum and Ronnie Malley for a conversation exploring the history—both personal and musical—behind their collaboration. Musician and musicologist Bau Graves will host the discussion. Part of the Seeking Resonance series in partnership with Indigo Arts Alliance. ABOUT BAU GRAVES James “Bau” Graves is an American musician, musicologist, and arts activist. He is the former executive director of the Old … Read more

A New Kind of Difficulty: Approaching Debussy’s piano “Études”

Under the surface of the virtuoso technique required by Debussy’s Études, they also demand a kind of virtuosity in interpretation to get to the heart of Debussy’s insistence on the intrinsic relationship between beauty and mystery. This talk will be a process of discovery and an experiment in interpretive listening as we unpack Debussy’s last major work for … Read more

Piano Masterclass with Conrad Tao

Join visiting pianist Conrad Tao for a masterclass. This event is free and open to the public, RSVP required. ABOUT CONRAD TAO Conrad Tao has, “the chops to play anything and the ideas to make it compelling,” says New York Classical Review. Dubbed an artist of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision” by The New York Times, pianist and composer Conrad … Read more

Dance Workshop with CONTRA-TIEMPO

Los Angeles-based Activist Dance Theater company, CONTRA-TIEMPO will get you moving and grooving with their “Sabor Session” (from the Spanish word for “flavor”) where dancers will guide participants in Afro-Latin social dance forms that are rooted in radical joy and exercises that promote community engagement. Additionally, CONTRA-TIEMPO will share an excerpt of their work. Appropriate … Read more

Drag Storytime – February 2

Join Portland Ovations and local Drag Queens for an hour of stories and art! Glamorous expert storytellers use the art of drag to read books and lead craft projects at local bookstores, libraries, and community centers around Portland. This fun, fabulous literary experience fosters learning and play, encouraging children and their caregivers to celebrate all … Read more