A few more musical opportunities for Seattle’s classical music fans this summer. For those amateur musicians looking for something fun to do, the biggest event of the summer is likely to be the Midsummer Musical Retreat. Now in its 30th year of operation, MMR brings together both musicians and vocalists for a week of intensive music making. Orchestra, band, chamber ensembles, choral singing, madrigal, jazz improv, MMR covers it all. …more…
Arts America Blog
Hot Town, Summer in the City – Part 1
May 17, 2012 by
With most of Seattle’s classical scene done with or about to close out their seasons, things are about to get even busier as we move into our summer activities. It is even harder to choose what to hear and what to do when concerts and workshops operate cheek-by-jowl and overlap. In fact, it is almost (but never quite) too much of a good thing.
Two annual activities are back again, though …more…
Coming Attractions
April 30, 2012 by
Springtime in Seattle generally brings showers. They are very like the winter showers we’ve had, and the summer showers to come, but they are warmer than the winter version, and accompanied by budding trees and flowers. Spring is a welcome arrival. Sadly, it also means the end of the season for many of our music organizations. Seattle has a wealth of festivals, camps and workshops through the summer, but for …more…
The Stars of Tomorrow… Today
April 26, 2012 by
While it remains to be seen who the future stars will be, there is no doubt that there are some remarkably talented young musicians in the Classical vein emerging around the world. The competition for the limited slots available on the world stage is fierce, in part because we seem to have gotten better and better at finding, training, and nurturing talented young people.
On one hand, this is sad because …more…
Honoring a Groundbreaker
March 27, 2012 by
In conjunction with their April concert, the Thalia Symphony Orchestra is hosting an appreciation of Frances Walton and her enormous contributions to the Seattle musical community. Frances is, almost literally, a force of nature. Talented, enthusiastic, supportive and with an abundance of energy that seems inexhaustible, she has over the years left her mark as a performer, groundbreaker, educator, founder and musical mentor in the Pacific Northwest.
Frances Walton was born …more…
The Underdog
March 13, 2012 by
In the hands of a rock musician it can shake a sports stadium, so it is ironic that in its original form the guitar is one of the quietest of the standard instruments in western music. It has been said that the Classical guitar doesn’t so much sound quiet as distant – that may be true, but in reality it is easily overpowered by most orchestral instruments. ...more...
Cellos and the Great Northwest
February 27, 2012 by
I moved to the Pacific Northwest nearly twenty years ago, and one thing that I still find surprising is how many people here play the cello. Before I came here I always felt in demand because there always seemed to be a shortage of cellists; but here there are so many we almost get in each other’s way. Perhaps it is something in the water, or something in the air. …more…
Coming Attractions
February 23, 2012 by
We have seen the sun on occasion, and I am told this is not in fact a sign of the end of the world, but instead means that we might have spring again this year. Still, February and March in Seattle tend to be damp and clammy and thus perfect for indoor entertainment. ...more...
Arts and the Groupon
January 26, 2012 by
So, this is not an advertisement, although it is likely to sound like one. Rather it is a report about my community orchestra and our experience with Groupon. If I were to choose a word to describe it, it would be “phenomenal”.
If you are not familiar with the Groupon experience, it works this way: Groupon is now established in many cities across the country. Businesses can contract with them to …more…
Seattle Symphony and Beethoven’s 9th
December 22, 2011 by
The Seattle Symphony will once again be ringing in the New Year with a performance of Beethoven’s 9th. The great Choral Symphony has endured as one of the monuments of Western culture since its premier in 1824, and is so familiar that it is difficult to imagine the experience of hearing it new. However, to the listeners in Vienna that day it must have come like a thunderbolt.
The concert marked …more…
Singin’ Out in Seattle
December 13, 2011 by
With the holidays fast approaching, it is time (if you haven’t already done it) to plan on taking in some seasonal music. As always, there are lots of events coming up in Seattle, but if choral music is your passion this is your time of year.
Check out the Tudor Choir – they are one of the finest small vocal ensembles in the world, and they are presenting a program titled …more…
The Trouble with the Familiar
November 30, 2011 by
As we move into the thick of the Holiday Season, I’m prompted to comment about one of my pet peeves – for the next month, musical groups throughout the Seattle area will be playing concerts that feature what may be the most familiar music possible. This time of year we stick closer to the familiar than ever, and though this is comforting, personally I find it a tad tedious. Science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon was credited with coining “Sturgeon’s Law” which declares that “90% of everything is crap”. This is probably true, but we are also not very good about how we filter out the 10% that isn’t. Given a choice, we tend to opt for what we already know, and tend to think that because we know it so well, it represents “the best”. ...more...
Octava Chamber Orchestra presents a World Premiere
November 10, 2011 by
Here’s another upcoming concert that should be well worth a listen. The Octava Chamber Orchestra will be performing on Sunday, November 13th at 6:00pm at Maple Park Church, located at 17620 60th Ave W. in Lynnwood, about fifteen miles north of Seattle. Octava is an interesting group – a chamber orchestra comprised of professionals, teachers and some of the area’s best amateur musicians.
Originally formed by Music Director Johan Louwersheimer and …more…
Local Color – The Kids are All Right!
November 8, 2011 by
This month, don’t miss a performance by another northwest musical gem, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. This group is part of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, or SYSO, which was founded in 1942 and today is the largest youth symphony organization in the United States, operating four orchestras for young musicians, as well as three summer music programs and outreach programs to the public schools. SYSO currently has an enrollment of …more…
Musical Events in November
November 1, 2011 by
Halloween has come and gone, leaving its remnants of un-dead pumpkins. The fall rains are coming and Thanksgiving is looming. It’s November in Seattle and if you’re a lover of “classical” music, there is no shortage of things to tempt your ears this month.
Community Orchestras
Friday Nov. 4th at 7:30PM, LUCO – the Lake Union Civic Orchestra – performs Mahler’s 5th Symphony at Meaney Hall on the University of Washington campus. LUCO is …more…
