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'It's a way to communicate different emotions'

This weekend’s set of Northwest BachFest performances offers insight into a variety of emotions and relationships through a diversely distinguished repertoire and a unique group of guest musicians. As Artistic Director Zuill Bailey puts it, the four guests will create an “unofficial” Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra residency at Barrister Winery. Making the trip to Spokane are […]

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'It's a way to communicate different emotions'

This weekend’s set of Northwest BachFest performances offers insight into a variety of emotions and relationships through a diversely distinguished repertoire and a unique group of guest musicians.

As Artistic Director Zuill Bailey puts it, the four guests will create an “unofficial” Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra residency at Barrister Winery.

Making the trip to Spokane are violinist Evin Blomberg, the symphony’s principal viola Christian Colberg, principal cellist Ilya Finkelshteyn, and flute player Amy Taylor.

Bailey very intentionally invites guest performers that are not only excellent at their craft, but already have established relationships and simply love to make music together as well. With this specific group, he may not have been able to hit the nail on the head any further considering Blomberg and Finkelshteyn as well as Colberg and Taylor are married couples.

“Bringing people who play together all the time, people who love each other, love to work together, love to spend time together, and then bringing them together with the family of Spokane,” Bailey said on the intentionality of their invitations.

Bailey has also known the group for a number of years, specifically Colberg and Finkelshteyn who he met during his time at the Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University as well as the Juilliard School in the early 1990s.

“It’s so nice to reconnect with old, old friends and to share very unique music,” Bailey said.

Unique would be an accurate description of the eclectic Saturday and Sunday repertoires ranging from string trios to flute quartets.

The flute among a full orchestra is rather common, but the same cannot be said for a smaller string ensemble such as a quartet. Nonetheless, Bailey and many others consider the flute to be one of the most “perfect instruments” because of how closely related it is to the most natural instrument, the lung-powered human voice.

One of Bailey’s goals of bringing outstanding talents and their somewhat less common instruments (especially in comparison to the violin) with them to Spokane is to hopefully inspire others in the region to explore outside the musical status quo.

“It’s a different concept of sound, everything about it adds colors that juxtapose other aspects like the string playing wood instruments,” Bailey said. “It is that instrument that kind of soars above the others.”

Meanwhile, the string trio pieces to be performed also have their own interesting differences in comparison to the more standard string quartet. A quartet of two violins, the viola and cello essentially act as a smaller version of the grand setting that is a full string orchestra. On the other hand, the trio of a singular violin as well as the viola and cello focus less on blending together and more on the extremely distinct roles of each instrument.

Both variables, the highly noticeable addition of the flute and the subtracted sound of a trio, require sheer virtuosity from their performers. These rather unique groupings also conjure a range of emotions that many audience members may have never experienced in a live performance setting considering how distinct the flute quartet and string trio are.

And that’s exactly Bailey’s goal.

“The juxtaposition of all of it is my point,” Bailey said. “Showing these instruments in different lanes, facets, is important to me because I want people to come to the concerts to realize that it’s not just a sound, it’s a language, it’s a way to communicate different emotions.”

Tickets for the Barrister Winery shows are available at nwbachfest.org.

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High School Sports

Mayor highlights public safety, affordable housing, & literacy initiatives in $2B budget proposal

NEWS Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2 billion budget proposal on Monday to the Jacksonville City Council, highlighting efforts to streamline permit processes for small businesses, address affordable housing and homelessness, meet public safety needs, continue to improve literacy and education, and tackle blight. 0

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Mayor highlights public safety, affordable housing, & literacy initiatives in $2B budget proposal

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Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2 billion budget proposal on Monday to the Jacksonville City Council, highlighting efforts to streamline permit processes for small businesses, address affordable housing and homelessness, meet public safety needs, continue to improve literacy and education, and tackle blight.

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High School Sports

Junior highlights for four

Embedded above are the junior highlights for 2026 four-star Michigan wide receiver commitment Travis Johnson. The Wolverines landed Johnson as a huge part of their June/early July recruiting run as the Virginia native over North Carolina, Penn State and South Carolina among others. The four-star was a longtime top target for receivers coach Ron Bellamy. […]

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Junior highlights for four

Embedded above are the junior highlights for 2026 four-star Michigan wide receiver commitment Travis Johnson.

The Wolverines landed Johnson as a huge part of their June/early July recruiting run as the Virginia native over North Carolina, Penn State and South Carolina among others. The four-star was a longtime top target for receivers coach Ron Bellamy.

Johnson is currently ranked 144th overall in the 2026 247Sports Composite rankings.

247Sports Scouting Report: Well-rounded wide receiver with the size, speed and focus to emerge as a trusted option at the Power Four level. Height and bounce suggest that he’s destined to play on the outside, but is sudden and quick enough to win from an interior alignment with his slick route running. Attacks cushion with good surge off the line and can reach a top gear before changing course with full-tilt cuts. Might not be a true power forward at the catch point, but can play above shoulder pads with his timing and body control. Will shed a tackle or two with the ball in his hands and has surprising agility in tight quarters for someone of his stature. Missed time as a junior due to injury, but still finished the season with over 1,000 receiving yards before turning heads at the OT7 Finals summer before senior year. Rather narrow in the shoulders for a pass catcher that’s verified at over 6-foot-3, but projects as a potential impact player on Saturdays that will work for his quarterbacks. Mature game could have him in the lineup sooner rather than later.

For a full list of Michigan’s 2026 offer list, click HERE

For a full list of Michigan’s 2026 target list, click HERE

For a full list of Michigan’s 2027 scholarship offers, click HERE

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High School Sports

Here is the 2025 football schedule for the Cascades East

JACKSON — The 2025 football season kicks off next month, with teams looking to work their way to the postseason, and possibly Ford Field. The first steps on that journey will come on August 28 with Week 1 games. In the Cascades Conference’s East Division, Leslie looks to defend its title while a slew of […]

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Here is the 2025 football schedule for the Cascades East

JACKSON — The 2025 football season kicks off next month, with teams looking to work their way to the postseason, and possibly Ford Field.

The first steps on that journey will come on August 28 with Week 1 games.

In the Cascades Conference’s East Division, Leslie looks to defend its title while a slew of talented teams look to knock the ‘Hawks off.

The first three weeks of the season see nonconference and crossover games, with a Week 1 rivalry game between Napoleon and Columbia Central, a Week 2 matchup between the last two conference title game winners as Addison visits Leslie, and what should be a high-flying Week 3 matchup between Michigan Center and Hanover-Horton.

Once division play kicks off Week 4, some highlights include Michigan Center at Leslie Week 5, Napoleon at Grass Lake in Week 6, and Manchester at East Jackson Week 7.

Here is the full schedule.

WEEK 1

August 28

Grass Lake at Adrian Madison

Napoleon at Columbia Central

Stockbridge at Leslie

Manchester at Marlette

Onsted at Michigan Center

East Jackson at Quincy

WEEK 2

September 5

Homer at East Jackson

Jonesville at Grass Lake

Addison at Leslie

Vandercook Lake at Manchester

Columbia Central at Michigan Center

Hanover-Horton at Napoleon

WEEK 3

September 12

Manchester at Addison

Grass Lake at Columbia Central

Michigan Center at Hanover-Horton

Leslie at Homer

Napoleon at Jonesville

East Jackson at Vandercook Lake

WEEK 4

September 19

Leslie at Grass Lake

Michigan Center at Manchester

East Jackson at Napoleon

WEEK 5

September 26

Grass Lake at East Jackson

Michigan Center at Leslie

Manchester at Napoleon

WEEK 6

October 3

Napoleon at Grass Lake

Leslie at Manchester

East Jackson at Michigan Center

WEEK 7

October 10

Manchester at East Jackson

Leslie at Napoleon

Michigan Center at Grass Lake

WEEK 8

October 17

East Jackson at Leslie

Grass Lake at Manchester

Napoleon at Michigan Center

WEEK 9

Crossovers, TBD

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High School Sports

Junior highlights for Michigan commitment Dorian Barney

Embedded above are the junior highlights for 2026 four-star Michigan commitment Dorian Barney.  The Wolverines landed Barney over Penn State, Ole Miss and Texas A&M among others. Defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan ran point on the recruitment and recruited Barney heavily after the Georgia native decommitted from Alabama early in the process. The four-star is […]

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Junior highlights for Michigan commitment Dorian Barney

Embedded above are the junior highlights for 2026 four-star Michigan commitment Dorian Barney. 

The Wolverines landed Barney over Penn State, Ole Miss and Texas A&M among others. Defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan ran point on the recruitment and recruited Barney heavily after the Georgia native decommitted from Alabama early in the process.

The four-star is currently ranked 148th overall in the 2026 247Sports Composite rankings.

For a full list of Michigan’s 2026 offer list, click HERE

For a full list of Michigan’s 2026 target list, click HERE

For a full list of Michigan’s 2027 scholarship offers, click HERE

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High School Sports

Alhambra's Cameron Millar to Royals, Bay Area selections in 2025 MLB draft

Alhambra pitcher Cameron Millar highlights a diverse group of Bay Area baseball players selected in the 2025 MLB draft, including high school, junior college and Division I picks. Originally Published: July 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM PDT 3

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Alhambra's Cameron Millar to Royals, Bay Area selections in 2025 MLB draft

Alhambra pitcher Cameron Millar highlights a diverse group of Bay Area baseball players selected in the 2025 MLB draft, including high school, junior college and Division I picks.

Originally Published:

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High School Sports

Alhambra's Cameron Millar to Royals, Bay Area selections in 2025 MLB draft

Alhambra pitcher Cameron Millar highlights a diverse group of Bay Area baseball players selected in the 2025 MLB draft, including high school, junior college and Division I picks. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To log in, click here. Originally Published: July 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM PDT 2

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Alhambra's Cameron Millar to Royals, Bay Area selections in 2025 MLB draft

Alhambra pitcher Cameron Millar highlights a diverse group of Bay Area baseball players selected in the 2025 MLB draft, including high school, junior college and Division I picks.

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