How It All Began
The History of Fear No Music
Founded in 1992 in Portland, Oregon, Fear No Music has grown into a powerful force in the world of modern and contemporary classical music. For over three decades, we’ve remained steadfast in our mission: to push artistic boundaries, elevate underrepresented voices, and connect our community through bold, meaningful performance.
Key Milestones in Our Journey
1992 – Fear No Music is born, with a vision to explore and champion innovative classical compositions that challenge the norm.
Early Years – The ensemble gains recognition for its fearless programming and commitment to performing music by living composers.
Late 1990s – We launch the groundbreaking Young Composers Project (YCP), mentoring young talent and shaping the future of classical music through education and performance.
2000s–Present – Fear No Music expands its reach through adventurous programming, cross-genre collaborations, and a deepening focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
Today – We continue to stand at the intersection of music, activism, and education, curating compelling concerts and cultivating the next generation of composers.
Fear No Music’s legacy is rooted in innovation, community, and the unwavering belief that music can inspire change.
Fear No Music circa 2001: Mika Sunago, piano; Joel Bluestone, percussion; Erin Furbee, violin; Julie Coleman, violin; Joel Belgique, viola; Nancy Ives, cello
1993: Tom Dziekonski, Joel Bluestone, Pamela Butler Ryker, Jeff Payne, Virginia Dziekonski, David Atkins
Andrew Ehrlich and Joel Bluestone performing with Portland Taiko
Nancy Ives, cello; Julie Coleman, violin; Erin Furbee, violin; Joel Belgique, viola; Mika Sunago, piano; Joel Bluestone, piano - circa 2001
Andrew Ehrlich, violin; Jeff Payne, piano; Phil Hansen, cello; Joel Bluestone, percussion - circa 1999
Circa 2005: Erin Furbee, vln; Ines Voglar, vln, Joel Belgique, vla, Adam Esbensen, cello, Joel Bluestone, perc
Andrew Ehrlich, violin; Jeff Payne, piano; Phil Hansen, cello; Joel Bluestone, percussion - circa 1999
Pedalpalooza 2011, Music for 111 Bicycles by Mauricio Kagel on the top of Mt Tabor, followed by a concert
FNM personnel, 1993-97. Left to right: Joel Bluestone, Mara Finkelchstein, David Atkins, Pamela Butler Ryker, Jeff Payne, Andrew Ehrlich. Photo by David Tobin
Circa 2005: Erin Furbee, vln; Ines Voglar, vln, Joel Belgique, vla, Adam Esbensen, cello, Joel Bluestone, perc
Pedalpalooza 2011, Music for 111 Bicycles by Mauricio Kagel on the top of Mt Tabor, followed by a concert
Joel Bluestone and Andrew Ehrlich preparing for Lou Harrison’s Violin Concerto (composer in attendance) circa 1996
FNM, 2017; photo by Jason Quigley
Early Press Quotes
"...it would be hard to top a concert by a group that lives to its name - Fear No Music...one of the most unusual programs of the year..."
— The Oregonian
"...they provide a refuge from conventional rules and a chance to listen with a fresh and youthful ear."
— Willamette Week
“Their whole concert showed a playfulness and unpretentiousness, coupled with a passionate commitment to the music, of whatever style, on their program.”
— Seattle Weekly
“music performed with energy, intelligence and technical polish...music the performers cared about”
— Tacoma News Tribune
“they shaped phrases with a feel for the music's language that more famous players at our perennial summer chamber festival have sometimes overlooked entirely"
— Willamette Week
“a fascinating program...well-played, with energy.”
— Seattle Weekly
“eclectic, intelligent taste in programming and a catchy way with a title"
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“extraordinary intensity. The performance was fascinating”
— The Oregonian
Founders’ Reflections
In celebration of Fear No Music’s 30th Anniversary Season (2021–22), co-founders Jeff Payne (piano) and Joel Bluestone (percussion) shared meaningful memories and reflections from the early days of the organization. Their stories offer a powerful glimpse into the passion, purpose, and perseverance that shaped Fear No Music’s legacy.
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Early Giving
A Pivotal Moment in Our Early Journey
In Fear No Music’s third season, a small group of devoted fans each contributed generous gifts of around $500—acts of support that far exceeded typical individual donations at the time. These early investments created a ripple effect, inspiring many smaller contributions and building vital momentum.This wave of community support caught the attention of granting organizations. When Fear No Music applied for its first grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), one committee member remarked that our donor list was “incredibly impressive for such a young organization.” That first RACC grant proved to be a major turning point—securing the season and opening the door to long-term sustainability. It also marked the moment when this grassroots effort truly began to take root in Portland’s cultural landscape.
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Young Composers Project
The Spark That Started YCP
In 1997, Jeff Payne was invited by the Oregon Music Teachers Association (OMTA) to judge a student composition competition. As he reviewed the entries, Jeff noticed that every piece had been written for solo piano. Curious, he asked one young composer—a talented student who had written a striking melody—if she had considered hearing her line played by a violin or a flute. Her reply was simple and powerful: “I don’t have a flute or violin.”That moment lit a spark.
Jeff shared the idea with co-founder Joel Bluestone: What if professional musicians could perform young composers’ music and mentor them through the creative process? The concept was pitched to OMTA’s board, who embraced it wholeheartedly. With their financial support and Fear No Music’s artistic leadership, the Young Composers Project was born.
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Mission Integrity
Rooted in the Region, Reaching Beyond
Since its inception, Fear No Music has championed the voices of Pacific Northwest composers. In the early years, this commitment took shape through season programming that featured at least one work by a local composer on each concert. Over time, this dedication evolved into Locally Sourced Sounds—an annual celebration spotlighting the vibrant and diverse music being created in our own region.
The founders used the concert platform to advocate for positive social change and amplify voices traditionally excluded from the classical canon. In its early seasons, Fear No Music partnered with the Cascade AIDS Project to present powerful and resonant programming, and also curated an annual concert series highlighting composers from across the Pacific Rim.
These initiatives laid the foundation for Fear No Music’s ongoing efforts to present relevant, inclusive, and socially conscious programming.