YOUR
IMPACT IN FOCUS Season Opening Newsletter
ON THE COVER:
Our Silver Anniversary Celebration
Your support today ensures a bright future for our orchestra and live music in Seattle. In September, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the opening of Benaroya Hall and our orchestra’s 120th year at the Silver Anniversary Gala, Concert & Party. The event honored 25 iconic artists, philanthropists and civic leaders who have helped define the trajectory of the Seattle Symphony
and Benaroya Hall. Canlis and Executive Chef Aisha Ibrahim presented an exquisite meal at the Gala dinner and piano superstar Lang Lang was featured in an unforgettable sold-out concert as part of the two-night celebration. Thank you to our entire donor family for helping the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall reach this momentous milestone! Lang Lang’s performance was generously underwritten by The Nakajima Family.
Shop @
Holiday Pops
BENAROYA HALL DECEMBER 9 & 10, 2023
Presented in partnership with:
2023/2024 Seattle Pops Series Sponsor: The John & Ginny Meisenbach Foundation
SEATTLESYMPHONY.ORG/HOLIDAYSHOPS
Connecting with our Community
Your support brings people of all ages together through the power of music. Our 2023/2024 Family Concerts Series kicked off in October with Día de los Muertos, a celebration of Mexican traditions, music and composers as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The concert featured internationally recognized Mexican mariachi musician, composer and educator José Hernández alongside Associate Conductor Sunny Xia and the orchestra. Pre-concert activities included craft-making and instrument exploration along with delicious Mexican treats. The Seattle Symphony was proud to partner with the Consulate of Mexico and their MEXAM NW Festival for this special community celebration. With your gifts to the Seattle Symphony, you are supporting fun-filled, family-friendly programming and inviting everyone in our community to participate. You help the orchestra inspire a love of music in the next generation. Thank you! See more highlights from our Día de los Muertos celebration on YouTube: youtu.be/DZNPBqJQy5c.
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Associate Conductor. Delta Air Lines proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Community Partnerships for Youth and Education.
Upcoming Family Concerts Bring the whole family to Benaroya Hall and create musical memories together. These fun and engaging programs, designed for ages 6–12, will spark the imagination. All performances are on Saturdays at 11am. DECEMBER 2
FEBRUARY 24
A young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him on an adventure to the North Pole.
Travel through the trees and across the seas with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends.
The Snowman
Wild Symphony
seattlesymphony.org/familyconcerts
MAY 4
Spirit Chief Names the Animal People
Journey along with the Great Chief in this tale based on an Okanagan naming ceremony story.
You Support Talented Musicians!
The orchestra signs new four-year contract and welcomes five new musicians. This summer, the Seattle Symphony & Opera Players’ Organization reached a new agreement with the Symphony, completing the first long-term contract since emerging from the pandemic. The four-year agreement includes compensation increases, establishes a modern process for hiring musicians, and defines a collaborative approach for how Music Directors are appointed and renewed. Through your support, the Seattle Symphony is able to ensure stability and invest in the talented musicians you see on stage each week. At the start of this season, five new musicians also joined the Seattle Symphony. We are delighted to introduce you to cellists Katherine Audas and Sunnat Ibragimov, flutist Bridget Pei, bassist Sam Casseday and percussionist Jonathan Wisner.
Katherine Audas cello “There is something really special about a live performance. You can be totally immersed in the present. Every moment is unique and no two concerts are the same. I feel so lucky to be able to experience that with the audience — you are essential to the performance experience. “When I was 2 years old, I was watching the New York Philharmonic on PBS and pointed to a cello and said to my parents, ‘I want to learn to play that.’ They thought I was joking, but when I was big enough to hold a cello at age 4, I started lessons. “I am so excited to be joining the Seattle Symphony. When I heard that I’d won the audition I felt incredibly grateful. My dream had come true.”
Sunnat Ibragimov cello “I am extremely happy and proud to join the Seattle Symphony. When I heard the news that I was selected, I could hardly believe it. My uncle Jahongir Ibragimov was a prominent cellist in Uzbekistan. He taught me for 13 years. I was always inspired by his demonstrations on the cello. I can’t recall when I decided that this was the career for me, but I think when I started playing cello at age 7, it was decided naturally. “Because of music, I travel a lot and get to know people from different parts of the world. Thanks to these encounters, I discover new cultures and traditions, both musically and on a personal level. This is my favorite part about being a professional musician.”
Bridget Pei flute “It is absolutely surreal to be joining the Seattle Symphony. Growing up, I would look up to these flutists. I am still trying to register the reality of calling them colleagues. No words suffice to describe how excited and grateful I am. “I started playing flute in middle school when I was 10, but I didn’t realize I wanted to pursue music professionally until after I started college. I went to UC San Diego for biochemistry, but within a month I decided that I missed music too much. I knew right away that it would hard for me to find something I love as much as music. I made a bold move, dropped out of college and reapplied to music schools for the following year.”
Sam Casseday bass “It is quite a joy to be joining the Seattle Symphony full time. While I’ve been here for five years subbing, it is great to now be with my favorite musicians and people for every concert. And I am really looking forward to finally playing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with this incredible orchestra. “My parents are both musicians and my father was my first teacher, so I’ve always known I wanted to be a professional musician. I love being a part of an ensemble that is bigger than the sum of its parts and performing with my colleagues at the height of our art form.”
Jonathan Wisner percussion “The moment I heard that I had won the audition, I felt an overwhelming mix of excitement, relief and a deep sense of gratitude. “I’m most looking forward to working with my talented colleagues and performing for our wonderful audience in Seattle. I’m especially excited about the Tribute to John Williams concerts. His music is so iconic and he writes for percussion in a way that really gives us our own unique voice and character. “What inspired me to pursue music professionally was the sheer joy and passion I felt when playing. During my teenage years when I was performing in youth orchestra, there was a moment that the music just clicked. My favorite part about being a professional musician is that every day I get to do what I love.”
Thank you for helping the orchestra welcome outstanding artists like Katherine, Sunnat, Bridget, Sam and Jonathan — and for your support of all our musicians!
Go Behind the Scenes at an Open Rehearsal Throughout the concert season, we invite generous supporters like you to get an insider’s view of a working rehearsal and connect more deeply with the music you help create. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, AT 1PM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, AT 7PM
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, AT 10AM
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, AT 10AM
Tribute to John Williams Simon Trpčeski Plays Tchaikovksy
Mahler Symphony No. 3 Antarctic Symphony
Need assistance making your reservation? Contact Donor Relations at 206.215.4832 or friends@seattlesymphony.org. We’re here to help!
seattlesymphony.org/rehearsals
Benaroya Hall Presents Something for Everyone! Through your support, Benaroya Hall is a welcoming space for all in the heart of Seattle. Twenty-five years ago, Benaroya Hall opened as a new home for the Seattle Symphony, but through the generous support of people like you, it has grown to be so much more. Today Benaroya Hall showcases the richness and diversity of the cultural life of our region. We are proud to host countless community events throughout the year, including concerts, lectures, graduations, corporate meetings, receptions, comedy shows, conferences, national auditions, awards shows, celebrations of life, film festivals and weddings. Highlights from this season so far have included hip-hop legend, Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist, actor, author and activist Common, Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno, and Irish sensation Clannad, celebrating their final world tour. Benaroya Hall is also home to the popular National Geographic Live Seattle Speaker Series, co-presented by the Seattle Symphony (but not featuring the orchestra). With so much in store, Benaroya Hall truly has something for everyone and your support makes each shared moment possible. Explore upcoming events at benaroyahall.org. Thank you for helping to create a welcoming space where our community can find belonging and experience the joy of live cultural events.
Common Live at Benaroya Hall
Support Your Symphony with a Year-End Gift! Gifts from caring people like you bring our music to life. Please consider supporting the orchestra with your year-end gift before December 31!
206.215.4832 | SEATTLESYMPHONY.ORG/DONATE