All Classical Radio Names Kirsten Volness as its Composer in Residence and Dana Sparling as its Young Artist in Residence

Kristen Kim and Kaden Prichard to Serve as 
2025 All Classical Radio Young Artist Ambassadors

Kirsten Volness (photo by Rachel Hadiashar)
Download high-resolution photos and logos here: http://bit.ly/42Q6Yhb

PORTLAND, Sept. 25, 2025 – All Classical Radio has named Kirsten Volness as a Composer in Residence, and flute, piccolo, and saxophone player Dana Sparling as Young Artist in Residence. Additionally, Kristen Kim and Kaden Prichard will serve as the Media Network’s 2025-2026 Young Artist Ambassadors. One of the first radio stations in the nation to offer artist residencies, ACR has provided opportunities to numerous young and professional musicians for career advancement, creative development, and audience exposure since the program’s launch in 2019.

Through their residencies, Volness and Sparling will enjoy access to All Classical Radio’s world-class facilities, opportunities for professional and creative development, and the chance to expand their portfolios and skills. As Composer in Residence, Volness is assisting with the development of All Classical Radio’s third album created through its award-winning Recording Inclusivity Initiative (RII), which expands America’s playlist by producing new high-quality recordings of classical music by underrepresented composers. Volness’s original work little tiny stone, full of blue fire will appear on All Classical Radio’s next RII album, set to be released in 2026.

As Young Artist in Residence, Sparling will appear on Thursdays @ Three, ACR’s flagship live-broadcast performance radio show, next year, and she will be invited to perform at various events and concerts. Sparling, and Young Artist Ambassadors Kim and Prichard, will be supported through mentorship and coaching, and will design their own unique approaches to being ambassadors for the arts as a representative of All Classical Radio. All Artists in Residence and the Young Artists Ambassadors receive a financial award toward their projects, performances, and continued studies.

“All Classical Radio is uniquely able to further the success and development of local creatives and youth,” says Greg Arntson, Interim President and CEO of All Classical Radio. “Through the Artist in Residence program, we share our space and resources so that visionary performers and composers can create great art and connect with our global community of music lovers and supporters. It is an honor to be part of their creative and professional journey,” he adds.

Last year, All Classical Radio named Elaina Stuppler, a teenage composer, trombonist, and vocalist as its Young Artist in Residence. Other past Young Artists in Residence are violinist and composer Amir Avsker (2023), double bassist Maggie Carter (2022), pianist Natalie Tan (2020), and cellist Taylor Yoon (2019). Previous Composers in Residence include Jasmine Barnes (2021), Lauren McCall (2021), and Keyla Orozco (2021). Previous professional Artists in Residence include violinist Emily Cole (2024), clarinetist James Shields (2024), pianist María García (2022), flutist Adam Eccleston (2020, 2021), and pianist Hunter Noack (2019).

For more information about the Artist in Residence and Young Artist in Residence program, please contact Kristina Becker.

About Kirsten Volness
Smart, transcendent, and immersive, Kirsten Volness’s emotive soundscapes integrate electronics and modern composition techniques with jazz and pop influences. “Irresistible” (San Francisco Chronicle) and “nothing short of gorgeous” (New York Arts), each of her compositions reveals “an exquisite sound world” (New Classic LA) inspired by nature, myth, spirituality, and environmental and sociopolitical issues. Volness has received commissions from New Music USA, ASCAP/SEAMUS, BMI Foundation, Metropolis Ensemble, The American Opera Project, and MacColl Johnson and RISCA Fellowships. She is Co-Founder, Co-Director, and pianist for performance collective Verdant Vibes; Co-Director of unhoused advocacy group Tenderloin Opera Company; and multi-instrumentalist for Hotel Elefant. Kirsten holds composition degrees from the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota, and has taught at Portland State University, Lewis & Clark, Reed College, University of Rhode Island, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Young Composers Project, Boston Conservatory's Summer Composition Institute, and Interlochen Arts Camp. kirstenvolness.com

About Dana Sparling
A junior at Camas High School, Dana Sparling began studying flute and clarinet in middle school. Today, Dana is a flutist, piccolo player, and saxophonist with a love for both the classical and jazz traditions. She plays with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra as a flutist and piccoloist, and for Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble as an alto saxophone player. In school, Dana performs with everything from the choir to the zero-period jazz band. She volunteers with the 45th Parallel Universe, busks at Farmers’ markets, and participates in honor bands such as the Western International Band Clinic (where she served as principal) and All-State/All-NW.

About Kaden Prichard
Kaden Prichard is from Oak Grove, Oregon, and is a junior at Interlochen Academy of the Arts. Prichard has been an active member playing in Metropolitan Youth Symphony ensembles since 2018 and has played in their full Symphony Orchestra since 2022. Kaden also played with Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He studied privately with Dunja Marcum for seven years and started studying with James Shields in 2024. Kaden has participated in Oregon state honor bands through middle and high school, and, most recently, played in the symphony orchestras for both Oregon All-State and NAfME All Northwest in 2025. Kaden was a concerto winner for Young Musicians and Artists at Willamette University, and a MYS concerto winner performing at the Newmark Theatre, as well as a concerto winner for Willamette Falls Symphony. Kaden was awarded a Fennel Scholarship to attend Interlochen Arts Camp, where he was a member of the World Youth Wind Symphony and participated in the advanced clarinet intensive classes. Kaden won a scholarship from the Monday Musical Club of Portland in April 2025 and took first place at the OSAA state solo competition in May.

About Kristen Kim
Kristen Kim is a 16-year-old cellist from Portland, who is in her junior year at Westview High School. She began playing cello at age 6 and currently studies with cellist Hyun-Jin Kim. At 12, she made her solo debut with the Oregon Mozart Players after winning first place in their 2022 Young Soloist Competition. She has since performed as a soloist with ensembles including the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Sinfonietta, Eugene Symphony, and with members of the Oregon Symphony through the Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition. She performed at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Protégé International String Competition. Kristen has earned numerous awards, including first place in the MTNA Oregon State Junior Strings Competition and the 2025 National Federation of Music Clubs Mary Cox Award. She also won the Monday Musical Club of Portland’s Phillips Award for best instrumental performance.

She attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, serving as principal and assistant principal cellist, respectively. Kristen is co-principal cellist of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, principal of the 2025 OMEA All-State Orchestra, and executive director of Project Prelude, which supports young musicians through outreach and mentorship.

About All Classical Radio’s Artist in Residence Program

The Artist in Residence program embodies All Classical Radio’s commitment to expanding equity and inclusivity in the arts, expanding access to resources, opportunities, and exposure to regional creatives of varied backgrounds. Launched in 2019, the program supports both young and professional artists, and in recent years expanded to include Young Artist Ambassadors and Composers in Residence. The Regional Arts & Culture Council is a generous returning supporter of All Classical’s Artists in Residence.

About All Classical Radio
All Classical Radio is consistently ranked in the top 3 classical radio stations in the USA. The network is recognized for its bold collaborations and outreach and for broadcasting 98% locally produced programming, including innovative music playlists, interviews, live broadcasts, and arts and culture specials. Home to the groundbreaking Recording Inclusivity Initiative, NEA-funded Artist Anthology, and award-winning International Children’s Arts Network, All Classical Radio is one of the first classical stations in the nation to name artists and composers in residence and to develop robust youth journalism mentorships.

Broadcasting from the heart of the Pacific Northwest, All Classical Radio is an independent and community-funded radio station, providing unparalleled access to classical music, outstanding performances, information about the arts, and more since 1983. Serving nearly 250,000 local households in Oregon and SW Washington, All Classical Radio reaches listeners online in 100 countries around the globe. Listen at 89.9 FM in Portland/Vancouver or anywhere in the world at allclassical.org.

###

Media contact:

Allison Van Etten
Vice President
allison@8vamusicconsultancy.com 
8VA Music Consultancy
NYC • Los Angeles • Berlin
www.8vamusicconsultancy.com