Ten Grands on the Green raises money for music education

Michael Allen Harrison’s Ten Grands stands as one of Portland’s unique events, annually filling a concert hall the past 15 years with the majesty, sound and intensity of 10 pianists and their 10 grand pianos in specially arranged music.

For the first time, it’ll be held outdoors — on a golf course. Ten Grands on the Green takes place 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at The Reserve Vineyard and Golf Club, 4805 S.W. 229th Ave., in Aloha. Harrison, star pianist Tom Grant, and vocalist Julianne Johnson highlight the show, and ex-Trail Blazer broadcasting great Bill Schonely serves as emcee. (For info and tickets, see tengrands onthegreen.com).

Yes, right there near the No. 1 tee box and fairway and No. 18 green and clubhouse will be a huge stage with the Yamaha and Bosendorfer grands, four 9-footers and six 7-footers. Harrison, the native Portlander who has established himself as one of the city’s most prominent musicians, has always wanted to stage a second Ten Grands event, outside. And, it’s finally happening.

“I’ve been entertaining the concept for about five years,” he says. “Through the nature of the music and caliber of the musicians, I thought a setting a little more formal than the waterfront, for example, would be appropriate. I golf a lot, and I’ve been thinking, ‘Which (course) would be able to be the best venue for this?’”

Harrison says the sound will be great, even though it’ll be outside. There’ll be extra speakers and state-of-the-art sound system used.

Among the songs: “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” an arrangement for the theme to “Downton Abbey,” an epic 10-piano rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing,” Johnson accompanying 10 pianos for “House of the Rising Sun,” and young pianists Ashley and Cayla doing “Let It Go” with 10 pianos and several string players.

Pro golfer and pianist Vincent Johnson, of Portland, will be a featured guest, performing “Liebestraume” by Franz Liszt, and Sgt. Jim Quakenbush will perform an overture theme from “Star Wars” with 10 pianos.

“The show is going to have classical, jazz, pop, rock, New Age ... it’s going to have all genres,” Harrison says. “It’s going to be a more casual show. We’re also doing an arrangement of ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,’ with four pianists on two pianos (led by Colleen Adent) — think Liberace times four. ... There’s something for everyone.”

Classic Pianos, again, provides the grands for free, as well as moves and tunes them.

The event benefits Harrison’s Snowman Foundation, which has raised close to $3 million for music education and scholarships and instruments for young people in 15 years of putting on Ten Grands events, including in Seattle.

Harrison says he wouldn’t be able to put on the events without great sponsors and the likes of performers Grant and Johnson. He has known each of them for many years; Johnson and Harrison grew up together in Portland, and started performing together professionally in 1988. Johnson used to be on the Ten Grands board.

“Michael just loves music. He loves watching young people embrace it,” says Johnson, a longtime music educator and performer in Portland.

Says Grant, the well-known Portland pianist: “Michael has always been big-hearted when it comes to supporting students and music in schools. He’s a very big-hearted person.”

Participating in Ten Grands can be thrilling, just because of the arrangements and the synchronicity involved — and, again, the sheer volume and intensity.

“It’s a little tricky, because it’s a lot of sound,” Harrison says. “When I write these arrangements, I have to know what kind of talent I have — great classical players, jazz players, young kids who are more of an intermediate level. You want to make sure everybody is comfortable with their part.

“The biggest thing is not to overplay; if everybody’s pounding (on keys), you can’t hear anything. You have to really listen closely, you can’t overplay. You still want to play with passion.”

Maybe the most intense song is going to be “House of the Rising Sun,” which Johnson and 10 pianists performed at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in the most recent indoor Ten Grands concert. “It brought the house down,” Harrison says. “It’s just an incredible sound. When we play it right, the sound just surrounds you.”

Johnson says singing at Ten Grands is similar to singing in front on an orchestra.

“There’s a swell of power,” she says, “and you can soar over the top of it.”

Grant says playing with nine other pianists, simultaneously, can be confusing.

But, “it’s exhilarating when it clicks,” he says.