Calendar

Four crises have faced America in the recent past: the Covid-19 pandemic, the sweeping economic downturn because of it, the strengthening Black Lives Matter movement, and the shaky foundations of democracy under the Trump administration. All those crises came to a head in the murder of George Floyd. He was infected with Covid-19 at the time of his death. He had been laid off from the restaurant he worked at. He was a victim of racism in a time when the President all but tried to erase the work done by the president before him, Barack Obama.

In Race Against Time, Keith Boykin breaks down the history of systemic racism in our country, something that has transcended political parties and leaders. Boykin contends that America can no longer avoid its long overdue reckoning of its racist past. Ignoring the pleas of Black and brown people, he argues, can no longer be tolerated and, if it continues, the union cannot be saved.

Keith Boykin is a CNN political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. He is the co-founder and first board president of the National Black Justice Coalition.

With influences from salsa, R&B, Chicano Rock, Mexican musica ranchera, and international pop, Quetzal brings musical stories of culture, politics, and humanity to the Main Stage this fall.

From lush ballads to barn-burning Jarocho Rock songs with unstoppable zapateado (foot stomping), the Grammy award-winning group has graced stages around the world for nearly three decades.

Quetzal was founded in the 1990s by guitarist Quetzal Flores and an ensemble of talented musicians, bolstered by the powerhouse vocals and songwriting of Dr. Martha Gonzales. Quetzal emerged out of a particularly contentious time during the 1990s, spurred by events like the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, the 1994 Proposition 187 campaign (to deny medical and public services to undocumented immigrants and public education to undocumented children), and the Zapatista insurrection in Mexico. The group of Artivists began to use music as a creative expression of voice for marginalized people, resistance to conditions of oppression, and as a proactive response to the problems impacting communities in East L.A.

Colorful, culturally-diverse violin compositions

Philharmonia Northwest invites us to their dazzling season opener “Prismatic Colors,” a celebration of musical colors from various cultural backgrounds and eras. Soloist Amber Archibald performs the Carl Stamitz’s vibrant Viola Concerto in D Major Op.1, along with Edward Elgar’s melodic Serenade for Strings, Gabriela Lena Frank’s Peruvian-inspired Five Scenes, and Béla Bartók’s rousing Romanian Folk Dances

Amber Archibald is a violinist who has played around in the Puget Sound area since 2008, including performances with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, and several chamber music opportunities. She has taught at Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University and now lives in Texas, where her career continues with solo engagements, chamber music, and a robust teaching career.

Philharmonia Northwest contributes to the vitality of the classical music community in the Pacific Northwest through professional-level concerts that highlight the diverse past and present repertoire for chamber orchestra. It is dedicated to promoting local composers and performers, and its outreach programs educate and inspire musicians and audiences of all ages.