Parkrose High alumnus Michael Allen Harrison returns to Schnitzer Saturday, April 16.
Michael Allen Harrison’s 21st Ten Grands concert, featuring 10 pianists, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Proceeds will benefit Play It Forward, the Portland-area nonprofit founded by Harrison and his wife, Marietta. PIF provides no-cost lessons as well as free pianos, guitars, and ukuleles to elementary-age children with a particular focus on students whose communities have been historically marginalized by racism and poverty.
Organized by Harrison, the show features Tom Grant, Robert O’Hearn, Dr. Andrea Johnson, Colleen Adent, Mac and Haley Potts, Mark Salman, William Chapman Nyaho, and John Nilsen, along with guest vocalist Julianne Johnson.
This year, Play It Forward will host a “VIP Pre-Party in the Street” to be held outside the Schnitzer at 3:30 p.m. The party includes artist meet-and-greets, wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a benefit auction along with special-access dress circle seating for the show.
Due to restrictions caused by the pandemic, the concert was put on hold the past two years but has returned now that Portland is opening back up, says Harrison, an acclaimed pianist and composer who has hosted Ten Grands for two decades.
“Our city is awakening, and we are coming together to share live music in the heart of Portland once more,” said Harrison, an alumnus of Parkrose High School who first created Ten Grands with co-collaborator Greg Tamblyn. “Our performers have eagerly awaited this moment to take part in this special benefit performance. We can’t wait to share what we’ve put together.”
The show features arrangements of classical, jazz, New Age, and contemporary pop performed by some of the region’s top talent, combining the efforts of musicians who have played across the globe for audiences.
Tickets for Ten Grands ($28-95) and the VIP Pre-Party in the Street and Show ($155) are available now. For more information, call 1-800-273-1530 or visit tengrands.com. Covid restrictions, including proof of vaccination requirements, are still evolving as the city reopens, and will vary from performance to performance after March 12. For more information on COVID policies at Schnitzer, visit portland5.com/covid-19-update.
This story was written by Rob Cullivan.
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