Focused Music Workshop 2

Create authentic chamber works under the guidance of noted composer Liz Myers. Two sessions: July 18th and Aug 22nd. On the campus of PSU.
About this Event

THE URBAN FOREST — PORTLAND, OREGON

If Trees Could Dream?

If Trees Could Dream? is an original audio and composition project currently in development as part of Liz Myers’s “Focused Music Workshop,” hosted this summer at Portland State University.

Throughout the City of Portland stand dozens of designated Heritage Trees — living monuments that have quietly witnessed generations of change. Some rise hundreds of feet into the sky and are more than 300 years old. Among them is the famous Monkey Puzzle Tree, along with several rare non-native species introduced to Portland during the 1905 World’s Fair. Planted throughout residential neighborhoods, parks, and commercial spaces, these trees have become an essential part of Portland’s identity, contributing beauty, history, and a cooling urban canopy.

This workshop invites students to imagine these trees not simply as objects in the landscape, but as living storytellers with memory, emotion, and dreams.

Composer Liz Myers will lead students through a two-part intensive workshop experience beginning July 18th, followed by a return session four weeks later for rehearsals and recording sessions on August 22nd. Each participant will be assigned one Heritage Tree as creative inspiration and will compose an original 3–5 minute work for Piano Trio (piano, violin, and cello). The resulting compositions will explore the question:

“What if trees could dream?”

Students will be encouraged to develop their own musical language and narrative approach while learning how to transform imagery, ecology, memory, and atmosphere into compelling chamber music.

Beyond composing a new work, participants will gain practical experience in:

• Writing idiomatically for strings and piano
• Understanding instrumental range, timbre, and sonority
• Creating expressive musical narratives from visual and environmental inspiration
• Developing collaborative rehearsal skills with professional performers
• Receiving individualized compositional feedback in a supportive workshop environment
• Preparing scores and parts for live performance and recording
• Building professional portfolio materials through recorded performances

Specialized instruction in string writing and performance practice will be provided by Portland cellist and educator Diane Chaplin. Throughout the process, students will receive detailed compositional guidance, feedback, and artistic mentorship from the instructor.

The workshop culminates in a live read-through and recording session performed by musicians from Portland State University. Students will leave the program not only with a completed chamber composition, but also with professionally recorded material suitable for their portfolios.

At its heart, If Trees Could Dream? is an opportunity for emerging composers to deepen their craft while engaging creatively with Portland’s urban ecology, history, and imagination through music.

PSU Students get $25 off admission