Aug. 26, 2014
CWU Musicians Help Raise Money for Meals, Music Education
Concertgoers donated money to support hungry children and to fund music education at two benefit performances in Seattle over the weekend that featured musicians from Central Washington University.
More than $1,000 was raised at the first ever Seattle Sings for Hunger concert in which CWU’s director of orchestras Nikolas Caoile conducted a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, “The Choral.”
The concert was in partnership with the Northwest Mahler Festival and Northwest Harvest. The money will pay for more than 4,000 meals for hungry children in the Seattle area through the Kid Friendly Meals Program.
CWU voice professor Melissa Schiel performed as the alto soloist and CWU alumna Eleanor Stallcop-Horrox was the soprano soloist. Many CWU alumni were part of the orchestra and choir. The event was Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, and organizers plan to make it a yearly concert.
CWU musicians also performed at Get Back, a sold-out tribute concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles in Seattle. CWU's professor of music education Bret Smith conducted the Synergia Northwest Orchestra which featured CWU music professors Curtis Peacock, tuba; John Michel, cello; Carrie Rehkopf, violin; Tim Betts, viola; Gayla Blaisdell, voice and opera; and Tor Blaisdell, voice. Several CWU students and alumni also performed in the orchestra Saturday at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall.
Funds raised at the concert will support Northwest Choirs, Seattle Music Partners, Washington Music Educators Association, Music Matters through Music Aid Northwest, the Vera Project, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Music Works Northwest.
Photo: Musicians from CWU helped raise money at Seattle Sings for Hunger on Saturday, August 23, 2014. Back row: CWU alumni Ryan Harris, Josh Gianola, Aaron Julyan, and Bruce Walker; CWU professor of voice Melissa Schiel; graduate student Sam Booth; and alumnus Dannel Fischer. Front row: CWU alumnus and grad student James Pham; alumna Sara Carroll; CWU director of orchestras Nikolas Caoile; and alumna Kelsey Jobst. (Haley Holmes Photography)
August 26, 2014