Like many fiddlers, Katie was inspired at a young age by her Grandfather. At six years old she told her parents she wanted to “play music you can clap your hands and stomp your feet to.” Hailing from Ft. Worth “Cowtown” Texas, Katie grew up playing in a world of strong fiddle traditions and music…
Jazz
2023 Jazz Port Townsend Transcription Project
Dear 2022 Centrum Jazz Participants: Good news! Registration for Centrum’s 2023 Jazz Port Townsend is open! I wanted to remind you that I announced last year that you would have the chance to earn a scholarship by doing some transcriptions. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s true! Anyone who completes five transcriptions from…
Blues
Faculty Spotlight: Jontavious Willis, Artistic Director of Acoustic Blues
Blues musician and multi-instrumentalist, Jontavious Willis, joined Centrum as the Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Workshop back in 2020. Mr. Willis grew up singing Gospel music at a Baptist church with his grandfather. Since an early age, he demonstrated a talent and passion for the music and the ability to sharpen his skills rapidly. …
Residencies
Centrum 2022 Artist in Residence releases debut recording ‘For Someone’
Seattle poet and songwriter K. Van Petten released their debut cassette tape of hybrid music and poetry last week ‘For Someone’ via Hello America Stereo Cassette. Van Petten created ‘For Someone’ in Port Townsend where they sampled sounds, wrote music, and recorded spoken poetry in residence with Centrum at Fort Worden. Since 1980, the Centrum…
Young Artists
Youth Program Spotlight: Voices from the Field Arts Academy
Voices from the Field Arts Academy June 20-June 24, 2023 Voices from the Field Arts Academy provides outstanding arts experiences for middle school in Washington State’s migrant education programs. OSPI believes that their experiences in meaningful arts classes will both inspire them to find their own strengths and creativity and be an avenue through which increased literacy…
News
Applications Open for our June Chamber Music Workshop
Founded in 2015, the Centrum Chamber Music Workshop fosters the highest level of training and coaching for pre-professional chamber musicians in community with leading faculty chamber artists. The workshop serves outstanding emerging, pre-formed ensembles. Two string quartets from the country’s leading programs will be invited to a week of rigorous coaching with the world-renowned American…