Linda Knighten

My Story

Born and raised in California, Linda’s musical journey began in her 20s, traveling with her family quartet in a tour bus for over four years. In 1978, she relocated to Alaska where she lived for over thirty years. Responding to an ad for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Cabaret Singing Class, Linda was impressed by the concert, watching people perform their favorite songs. For many, it was their first performance. 

Linda was smitten! She attended the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival (FSAF) for the next 25 years and became the coordinator for the festival. She worked with the founder, Jo Ryman Scott, helping to recruit and manage classes and programming.  

In 2010, Linda and her husband, Al, moved to Newport, Oregon. She stopped singing for the next ten years and missed the FSAF terribly. During pandemic, she saw a message on social media from a former classmate from FSAF, June Kamerling, inviting everyone to watch her livestream concert. She watched the show and was wowed by how much June had improved since she last heard her. June connected her with her own performance coach, Stephanie Lynne Smith of Miss Smith Presents. Stephanie helped Linda find herself in music once again. 

Linda shared her dream of bringing a festival, very much like Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, to Newport, Oregon and in July of 2022, the “Newport Song Festival” took place and has evolved to include all performing arts, not just singing. She hopes to create a lasting event that will help others find the joy that comes from performing and gathering together to celebrate music.