About Melinda Bargreen

“Melinda Bargreen is a Seattle music authority. She has been writing about classical music for the Seattle Times and other publications for four decades. Bargreen is also a composer, book author and professor. Her newest book, “Classical Seattle” is set to be released this fall. “ -- WQXR, August 13, 2015: http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/newspapers-cut-critics-dark-time-dawn-new-age/

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Here’s what I’m doing:

Freelancing -- Concert reviews, book reviews, articles for magazines and other publications, including The Seattle Times, the "EarRelevant" website, and The American Record Guide.

Nonfiction writing -- Profiles of performers and composers. Two books: “Classical Seattle,” a series of profiles of the most significant people in Seattle’s classical-music scene over the past five decades, was published by the University of Washington Press (2015). And “Fifty Years of Seattle Opera,” the company’s 50th anniversary history, was published by Marquand Books (2014).

Editing and consulting -- I professionally edit manuscripts, publications and books, and am available to consult on the creation of media releases, press materials, statements, fundraising letters and other PR-related documents (after all these years of receiving them at The Seattle Times, I know what works!).

Music composition -- Commissions and performances of new choral works, including commissions from the Arizona Repertory Singers and Seattle's Choral Arts Northwest.  You can hear some of my choral music on the next page of this website (“My Music”), and visit www.sbmp.com -- the Santa Barbara Music Publishing website.

     A new piano solo, "For Craig" (composed for pianist Craig Sale), is available via the ArrangeMe website.

College/university teaching, workshops, residencies -- I have a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Washington in English; a Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from the University of California at Irvine; and teaching experience at both UCI and Shoreline Community College. I also served as Artist in Residence at Gordon College (Mass.), and it was highly rewarding to work with their exceptional music students and their distinguished faculty.

Here’s how to contact me, and a bit about my background:

Melinda Bargreen

Email: mbargreen@gmail.com

(Further details at Classical Composers Database)

http://www.classical-composers.org/

Education: B.A. and M.A. in English, University of Washington

Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature, University of California, Irvine

Experience: Music critic, The Seattle Times, 1977-2008; freelance music critic, 2008-present. Wrote reviews, interviews, profiles, previews and analysis of Seattle’s arts scene, including comprehensive stories on the building of two major halls, the operatic phenomenon of Seattle Opera’s “Ring,” arts education, Seattle’s arts funding and philanthropy, and innumerable colorful characters (from Lauren Bacall to Mark Morris). Also wrote twice-monthly book reviews on biographies, memoirs, autobiographies, novels and short-story collections.

Arts/features writer, The Herald (Everett), 1974-1977. Wrote concert, theater, book and opera reviews, as well as interviews and features.

Instructor, Shoreline Community College, 1972-73. Taught part-time (English courses).

Teaching assistant, University of California, Irvine, 1969-72. Taught courses in writing, remedial English, and literature (primarily Shakespeare), with complete responsibility for curriculum design, text selection (in most cases), grading and all other aspects of teaching.

Awards and honors: Several first, second and third place awards over the past 31 years from the Society of Professional Journalists; Kennedy Center Award for writing about arts education.

During college years: Mortar Board, University of Washington

Phi Beta Kappa, University of Washington (junior year)

University of Washington Honors Program participant

Publications: “Classical Seattle,” published by the University of Washington Press (October, 2015). “50 Years of Seattle Opera,” book published by Marquand Press (August, 2014). Several articles on music and related subjects for The Christian Science Monitor, The American Record Guide, Symphony Magazine (the national magazine of the League of American Orchestras, formerly the American Symphony Orchestra League), Clavier Magazine, Seattle Opera (program books), Opera Canada, Performing Arts in Canada, Horizon Air Magazine, KING-FM Classical Radio.

Radio: Former contributor to National Public Radio’s “Performance Today” series, and to Seattle NPR affiliate KUOW-FM’s arts coverage.

Music performance: Performed in Seattle-area professional concerts on piano and harpsichord, and as a choral singer and soloist, prior to becoming music critic.

Compositions:  Published composer of several choral works for mixed chorus and women’s chorus (see YouTube, as well as Santa Barbara Music Publishing, www.sbmp.com). For details, please see the “My Music” page on this site.

Languages spoken: German (fairly fluent), French (dismally ungrammatical), Anglo-Saxon (reading only).

Personal: Born in Washington State. Married; two grown children.

Favorite places: Besides home in the Pacific Northwest ...

there’s always Norway ....