Young Composer Project Director, Conductor and pianist Jeffrey Payne founded the Fear No Music ensemble with percussionist Joel Bluestone in 1992. As a member of the ensemble he has appeared with the group across the United States including performances in New York City, California, Colorado as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest. During his tenure as Artistic Director for the group he was responsible for presentation of twenty World Premiere or American Premiere performances of works by Pacific Northwest composers. In 1997 he founded the Young Composers Workshop, as part of the mission of Fear No Music, and continues as its Director, overseeing the development of aspiring young creative minds around the region.

Heralded by the Boston Globe as "a pianist of chameleon abilities" pianist Jeffrey Payne has performed on WGBH National Public Radio in Boston, KING radio in Seattle, KBPS and KOPB radio in Portland, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach, at the Seattle Spring Festival, at Eugene's Music Today Festival, the Ernest Bloch Festival, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Yellow Barn and Sandpoint Chamber Music Festivals. He has also performed as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Yaquina Chamber Symphony, the Willamette Falls Symphony and as accompanist for the Portland Opera Chorus, the Oregon Repertory Singers, the Spectrum Singers, and Concord Choir.

Praised for his wide ranging repertoire, he has received accolades for performances ranging from Beethoven to Cage and Ligeti. Also in demand as a lecturer, he has presented workshops and pre-concert talks for the PSU Piano Recital Series, the Columbia Symphony, and the Oregon Music Teacheršs Association.

Jeffrey Payne was graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music by Boston University where he studied with Bela Nagy and Luis Batlle. He also attended the College of Idaho where he was a student of Fern Davidson. He holds a Master of Music in Piano from the New England Conservatory where he studied with Stephen Drury. He has taught at Willamette University, Portland State University and Reed College. He can be heard on CD performing wth FEAR NO MUSIC 20th Century Ensemble and the Oregon Repertory Singers. Mr. Payne holds a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School where he was a member of the Law Review, received awards for his brief writing and oral advocacy, and was a member of the Appellate Moot Court Team.