Master Chorus Eastside’s concert celebrates American music
June 19, 2012
Master Chorus Eastside’s popular Celebrate America concert returns once again to Issaquah’s Pickering Barn in two performances to commemorate the Fourth of July.
American music of all styles, including early Americana, folk tunes, spirituals and others stand side by side with Linda Gingrich’s signature commentary to create an unforgettable Independence Celebration on June 24. Read more
Sammamish Symphony Mardi Gras performance features guest pianist
February 21, 2012
Kimberly Russ
For R. Joseph Scott, Mardi Gras means lively, sprightly music.
And that is exactly what Scott has planned for a Mardi Gras concert of the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra slated for Feb. 26 at the Eastlake Performing Arts Center.
The concert will feature guest pianist Kimberly Russ, of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
Russ will perform Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15.”
“The third movement is very lively and dance-like,” Scott said, meaning that to him, the music is perfectly in keeping with the Mardi Gras theme.
County invites public to Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
January 10, 2012
King County leaders and employees plan to pause for the 25th year to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The public is invited to join county employees at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the noon Jan. 12 celebration. (The federal holiday to honor King is observed Jan. 16.)
Speakers at the celebration will include County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council Chairman Larry Gossett and former King County Councilman Bruce Laing, a leader in the effort to rename the county for King.
The celebration includes musical performances by Abráce, a Seattle-based group meant to foster intercultural understanding through music, and the reunited MLK Employee Singers. The group of county employees has performed at previous celebrations.
The event’s theme is “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” and county employees reflected on the statement. Participants plan to share some of the reflections at the event.
The event also features the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Essay Award ceremony, a contest sponsored by the King County Civil Rights Commission.
Leaders invite public to Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
January 5, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 5, 2012
King County leaders and employees plan to pause for the 25th year to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The public is invited to join county employees at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the noon Jan. 12 celebration. (The federal holiday to honor King is observed Jan. 16.)
Speakers at the celebration include County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council Chairman Larry Gossett and former King County Councilmember Bruce Laing, a leader in the effort to rename the county for King.
The celebration includes musical performances by Abráce, a Seattle-based group meant to foster intercultural understanding through music, and the reunited MLK Employee Singers. The group of county employees has performed at previous celebrations.
Russian melodies launch Sammamish Symphony Orchestra season
October 18, 2011
R. Joseph Scott conducts the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra during rehearsal Oct. 13 at the Eastlake High School band room. By Christopher Huber
To some classical music connoisseurs, Rimsky-Korskoff’s “Capriccio Espagnole” will provide 15 minutes of harmonic bliss when the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra performs it this month.
“It’s 15 minutes of pure joy,” said Joseph Scott, the symphony’s longtime conductor and music director.
The orchestral piece features constant interplay between Concertmaster Dennis Helppie, of Sammamish, on violin, and the harpist and brass section. But it won’t be the only piece to look forward to at the symphony’s 2011 opening concert in Sammamish.
On Oct. 23, the symphony is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate its 20th year on the plateau. The group, which draws performers from 25 cities in King County, will perform “Russian Fireworks” at 2 p.m. at the Eastlake Performing Arts Center. The program will include a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, “Capriccio Espagnole, Op. 34” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture, Op. 49.”
“An organization needs to celebrate milestones,” Scott said. “It’s good to show off the orchestra and what we’re good at. It’s still not as much a household name as we would like it to be.”
Youthful maestros to perform in Seattle International Piano Competition
October 18, 2011
Henry Gao, 10, practices at the keyboards in Issaquah’s Chopin Academy of Music. By Tom Corrigan
One is talkative, the other a little more quiet, but both are well spoken. They are roughly the same age and have the same ethnic background. They are friends, one getting a big smile on his face at the mention of the other’s name.
More importantly here, they attend the same piano school, the Chopin Academy of Music in Issaquah. They have the same teacher in Ivona Kaminska. They are also two of only eight finalists for their age group in the Seattle International Piano Competition to take place Oct. 22-23 at Benaroya Hall.
“I think I’m very lucky … It feels really exciting,” said Henry Gao, who just turned 10.
At 8, his friend Arthur Yan is following in the footsteps of older brother Robert, 11, who won a gold medal at the same competition in 2009.
Arthur and Henry will be competing in the 9 and under age category, as Henry was 9 when his audition tape won him a spot in the event.
Henry started playing at age 5. Mom Di Ding said her son didn’t take to the piano immediately.
“After several months, he progressed very fast,” she said.
Singers invited to audition for Master Chorus Eastside
August 16, 2011
Master Chorus Eastside is holding auditions in all sections in preparation for the 2011-12 season, including a collaborative performance of Verdi’s “Requiem” in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.
The season includes holiday concerts in Sammamish and Kirkland in December, a concert celebration of all things Celtic in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day in March, and the Verdi “Requiem” in April, in conjunction with several other local choruses and orchestra. The chorus will conclude its season in June with two performances of its popular All-American Independence Celebration in Issaquah’s historic Pickering Barn.
All interested singers must have choral experience and basic music reading ability. Get an audition appointment by calling 392-8446. Learn more about the chorus at www.masterchoruseastside.org.
Master Chorus Eastside summer concert celebrates America
June 21, 2011
Master Chorus Eastside kicks off the Fourth of July with its 13th annual All-American Independence Celebration in Issaquah’s historic Pickering Barn on June 26.
The chorus will perform American music of all styles, including early Americana pieces, frontier music, gospel and sing-a-longs. Master Chorus Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Linda Gingrich and several chorus members will complement the musical arrangements with “tall tales,” Gingrich said.
She uses her signature commentary as a vehicle to help the audience connect with the concert.
“Commentary usually includes some historical information or information about how the composer may have come to write the piece,” she said. “I try to build the commentary into the form of a story to help the audience understand what they’re listening to.”
The theme of this year’s Independence Celebration, American Legends, provides a repertoire of songs and stories representing John Henry, Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Chief Joseph and Davy Crockett.
Patriot Players earn nominations for musical murder mystery
May 24, 2011
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” — a stage production based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished murder mystery — garnered Liberty High School performers a bevy of nominations in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s annual awards to honor high school musical theater.
The ladies of the opium den circle gather ’round the Princess Puffer, played by Senior Kelsey Canaga, during the Patriot Players’ musical ‘Drood’ at Liberty High School. By Mary Eck
The lush depiction of Victorian London garnered nods for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Program Design and Outstanding Performance by a Chorus. Performers Tucker Goodman, a junior, and Paige Fabre, a senior, also received acting nominations in the statewide competition.
The high school’s company, the Patriot Players, earned nominations in most major categories.
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” also earned the Patriot Players honorable mentions in the Outstanding Overall Musical Production and Outstanding Direction categories.
Liberty drama program director Katherine Klekas said the challenging musical required strong performers.
“We knew we had people to play some of these really pivotal roles,” she said. “There were plenty of people for several of the roles, but you also don’t pick a show like that if you don’t know that you’ve got people who can handle it.”
The performers rose to the challenge and, before each performance, slipped into period costumes and English accents to charm audience members.
Liberty High School drama program earns award nominations
May 18, 2011
Liberty High School performers prepare for a scene from 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood.' By Mary Eck
NEW — 8 a.m. May 18, 2011
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” — a stage production based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished murder mystery — garnered Liberty High School performers a half dozen nominations in the annual 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater.
The high school’s company, called the Patriot Players, earned nods for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Program Design and Outstanding Performance by a Chorus. Tucker Goodman and Paige Fabre also received acting nominations in the statewide competition.
