Driven by Vision, Powered by Music

Comprised of some of Oregon’s most talented performers, Fear No Music is a flexible chamber ensemble dedicated to championing living composers and bringing new music to life—locally and globally—through its uniquely relevant Annual Concert Series.

Through its Young Composers Project, the group mentors and inspires the next generation of composers, offering students hands-on opportunities to create and perform original work.

As a public advocate for peace, healing, and social justice, Fear No Music uses music as a platform for activism, reflection, and meaningful dialogue.

Fear No Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

A group of musicians on a staircase holding various instruments including violins, cellos, a clarinet, and a saxophone, smiling and interacting with each other.

Fear No Music Ensemble: Pioneering the Future of Chamber Music

The Fear No Music Ensemble is a collective of professional musicians dedicated to performing the chamber music of our time. With a passion for innovation and a commitment to fostering a love for live ensemble music, we push the boundaries of what classical music can be.

Since 1992, our Annual Concert Series has spotlighted important national and international developments in contemporary classical and post-classical music, while celebrating the diverse voices of Portland’s local music community and the Pacific Northwest. We’re proud to give composers from all backgrounds—national and local—an opportunity to be heard and recognized.

To date, we’ve premiered over 75 works, spotlighting composers of diverse origins, backgrounds, and genders. Our concerts go beyond traditional chamber music by collaborating with a wide range of artists, including video artists, taiko drummers, and performers of instruments such as the zheng, didgeridu, shakuhachi, theremin, and electronics.

Each performance is an opportunity to explore how chamber music can evolve and engage modern audiences. Our bold programming, high-concept collaborations, and thoughtful examinations of key social issues make our concert series one of the most exciting in the country.


A group of people on stage, including musicians with instruments such as a flute, cello, and percussion instruments, standing in front of a wooden backdrop. The individuals appear to be part of a musical performance or event, with some people in the audience taking photos.

FearNoMusic Young Composers Project (YCP)

The Young Composers Project (YCP) offers groundbreaking mentorship in music composition for youth grades 5-12, providing a unique opportunity for aspiring composers to explore their passion and potential career in music. Through hands-on guidance from professional musicians and composers, YCP participants have the chance to develop and refine their original works in a series of workshops and public performances.

Since its inception, YCP students have earned numerous state, regional, and national accolades for their compositions. Many former participants now have thriving careers as orchestral, theater, film, and television composers, gaining recognition both nationally and internationally.

The YCP is not only a platform for young artists to hone their craft but also a space for them to find their voice, express their creativity, and shape the future of music.

Music as Activism

Group of children playing string instruments at a concert, including violins and cello, in a church setting with stained glass windows and a large organ backdrop.

At Fear No Music, we believe in the power of music to inspire change, foster healing, and bridge divides. Our Annual Concert Series serves as a platform for activism, social justice, and global peace, thoughtfully responding to pressing social and political issues of our time.

Through bold, high-quality programming, we connect Portland audiences to a broader international movement of restorative justice, using music to explore themes of national identity, equity, and shared humanity. Each performance creates space for reflection, dialogue, and action—illuminating the common threads that unite us across differences.

Fear No Music amplifies the voices and stories of oppressed communities, elevates awareness of environmental concerns, and honors significant cultural narratives. By addressing the emotional weight of today’s realities through sound, our work expands our audience’s capacity to listen deeply, feel profoundly, and imagine new possibilities for healing and positive transformation.

“The musicians that comprise Fear No Music are all individually committed to social justice, and the recent years of national unrest have amplified that passion. As an organization, we find ourselves compelled to leverage our talent and public identity to shine a light on the stories of those who are misunderstood or suffering hardship. Additionally, in presenting music that takes a stance, we aim to demonstrate without a doubt the relevance, power and importance of music at a time when it too is facing adversity by way of cuts in education and funding.”

- Kenji Bunch, Artistic Director

Composers C. J. Bey and Nicholas Emerson joined Kenji Bunch to discuss the World Premiere performance of Level Up!, a collaborative composition for Hip Hop artist, guitar, and string ensemble, co-written/produced by them both as a call to us all to do better. This work premiered June 20th, 2022 as part of Fear No Music's 30th Anniversary Season.

Hear From Our Community

  • “People have a tendency to think that the outpouring of hate we're experiencing today is new. But the sad truth is that Oregon's history of hate goes back to its founding over 150 years ago... When we gather together to remember and to mourn these kinds of tragedies, we build community and resilience. Art as a vehicle for that kind of gathering is particularly powerful for opening the hearts, inspiring the soul and creating hope. Portland United Against Hate is honored to partner with Fear No Music in recognition of the vital contribution this event is making in creating the world we both envision.”

    — Rabbi Debra Kolodny, Program Director, Portland United Against Hate

  • “Fear No Music’s husband-and-wife leadership team — Artistic Director Kenji Bunch and Executive Director Monica Ohuchi — have spent the past five years making FNM the best kind of Portland hybrid: a classical ensemble with unimpeachable performance credentials, a love for local and contemporary composers, and a mature sense of social justice and responsibility.”

    — Oregon ArtsWatch

  • “Fear No Music has been delivering brilliant musical experiences to Portland for over 25 years, and tonight this classically trained collective offers a program of fresh compositions responding to last year's senate confirmation hearings that elevated the dishonorable Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court… Come give witness to the power of creative transmutation as some of this town's finest musicians turn national heartache into unadulterated hope.”

    — Portland Mercury

Thank You to Our Supporters

Fear No Music’s 33rd Season is proudly made possible through the generous support of our funding partners:

  • Anne Naito-Campbell

  • Autzen Foundation

  • Bella’s Italian Bakery & Market

  • Oregon Arts Commission

  • Oregon Community Foundation

  • Oregon Cultural Trust

  • Reed College

  • Regional Arts & Culture Council

  • Ronni Lacroute

  • The Templeton Foundation

We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission and for helping us champion new music, mentorship, and community through the arts.

Collection of various logos for organizations and foundations, including Autzen Foundation, Portland Taiko, Bella's Italian Market, Cultural Trust, Poetry Out Loud, Portland United Against Hate, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Community Foundation, RACC, John Templeton Foundation, Reed Music, and others focused on community support, arts, cultural projects, and youth programs.