The History of Fear No Music
Fear No Music has a rich history that underscores its commitment to the promotion of modern and contemporary classical music. Founded in 1992 in Portland, Oregon, Fear No Music has since become a prominent and influential force in the classical music community.
Key Milestones in our history:
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Fear No Music was established with the vision of creating a platform for the exploration and performance of modern classical music. From its inception, the organization aimed to challenge traditional norms and bring innovative compositions to the forefront.
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In its formative years, Fear No Music quickly gained recognition for its dedication to showcasing the works of contemporary composers. The organization's commitment to diversity and inclusivity in its programming became a hallmark of its identity.
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One of Fear No Music's most significant achievements has been the introduction of the Young Composers Project, which began nurturing and mentoring young composers in the late 1990s. This visionary initiative has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of classical music by fostering emerging talent.
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Over the years, Fear No Music has consistently pushed boundaries, presenting groundbreaking concerts, collaborating with renowned artists, and expanding its outreach to engage with a broader audience. The organization remains at the forefront of the classical music scene, both locally and nationally.
A sampling of images celebrating the 30+ year tenure of Fear No Music
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
“music performed with energy, intelligence and technical polish...music the performers cared about”
— Tacoma News Tribune
"...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
"eclectic, intelligent taste in programming and a catchy way with a title"
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“extraordinary intensity. The performance was fascinating”
— The Oregonian
"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
Founder’s Stories
Fear No Music founders Jeff Payne (piano) and Joel Bluestone (percussion) share meaningful memories about the organization’s history, collected here in 2021-22, during the 30th Anniversary Season…
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Early Giving
Back in the early days of Fear No Music, during its third season, several committed fans made substantial gifts of about $500 each to the organization. These generous acts went beyond the scope of individual giving, creating a momentum that propelled many smaller gifts, and ultimately, helped Fear No Music gain community credibility in the eyes of foundations and granting organizations. When Fear No Music applied for and received its first RACC grant, one of the comments that came in from the committee was that Fear No Music's donor list was incredibly impressive for such a young organization! That grant marked a turning point, securing the season for this grassroots non-profit and allowing the founders to envision long-term possibilities.
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Young Composers Project
When the Oregon Music Teachers Association (OMTA) invited Jeff Payne to judge a composition competition in 1997, he was struck by the fact that all of the entries were pieces written for piano. Jeff asked a young female composition student who had written a beautiful melody whether she had considered having the line played by a flute or violin. She responded simply by saying she didn’t have a flute or violin, and this was the impetus for a big idea. Jeff talked to Joel and the two of them came up with an idea, for professional musicians to play the music of young composers, and mentor them in the process of composition. The founders pitched the idea to OMTA and their board loved the concept so much, that they partnered financially with Fear No Music to get the program off the ground. And thus the Young Composers Project (YCP) was born.
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Mission Integrity
Since the beginning, Fear No Music has been committed to programming music by composers of the Pacific Northwest. In its earlier years, these pieces were spread out throughout the season with at least one piece by a local composer on each program. Over time, that morphed into what has now become an annual celebration dedicated to music of the region: Locally Sourced Sounds. Additionally, the founders leveraged their concert platform to bring about positive social change and to highlight the work of composers who fell outside the traditional cannon. For example, in its early years Fear No Music partnered with the Cascade Aids Project to create a meaningful program, and included an annual concert of works by composers from the Pacific Rim.