Artfully Edmonds: Cascade Symphony Orchestra celebrates successes with gala during busy arts season

A jeweled event will ring in Cascade Symphony Orchestra's "Emerald Jubilee".
This Sunday, Oct. 9, in classic elegance, the Cascade Symphony Orchestra will ring in its “Emerald Jubilee”. Late purchase tickets are available at this link — don’t miss this occasion!

Upcoming Galas 

Edmonds’ Cascade Symphony Orchestra – with its 55 years of sophistication – is enjoying exhilarating successes. What better way to congratulate this perennial-sell-out organization, which represents the community so elegantly, than by attending their 2016 gala.

This Sunday
Oct. 9
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Emerald Jubilee Gala is what the orchestra has titled its dinner and auction, which will be held in the Pastoral Center of Holy Rosary Church (630 7th Ave. N.)

Just three blocks east of Edmonds Center for the Arts, the gala venue offers a commanding territorial view that includes Puget Sound and the Olympics.

The official program states that the gala will feature “fun, music, and delicious food and wine” – but let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Fun: Hidden among the silent auction items is a bottle of “French Bordeaux wine worth $150, 2nd growth, 100pts, ready to consume!” auction organizers revealed this past week.

Other auction items include:

– A Rick Steves 7-Day City Tour

– Theater tickets (5th Avenue, Driftwood Players and more)

– Special artwork and jewelry

– Music lessons

– Tickets to a 2017 season Mariners game

– – –

The gala’s official website lists many intriguing and sought-after items contributed by generous Edmonds-area donors.

Theme baskets curated by various sections of the orchestra will be available for boisterous bidding.

These creative baskets include:

– Enough chocolate to satisfy any chocoholic;

– A cozy night in — complete with a special homemade afghan

– Gourmet French-themed delights

– Everything you need for a perfect martini

– Washington wines chosen for a connoisseur’s taste

– Coffee, coffee. . . and more coffee!

– A “Bringing baby home” set for parents (and grandparents!)

Additional auction items include artwork, gift certificates to great local restaurants — plus a fun wine experience.  There are several great group-dining events; so make sure to be planning your strategy to bid and win.

– – –

Music: How does one entertain musicians, you might ask. Well, the Sempre Sisters (one of whom was a Cascade Symphony Rising Star) are the gala’s special guests and will perform for gala attendees. Go here for a YouTube preview of their performances.

Popular local pianist and educator David Little will be nodding “Hello’s” to friends and fans that have followed his lively performances around town at such venues as Art Walk Edmonds and local restaurants.

– – –

Food: Begin your sparkling evening with select wines underwritten by Chateau Ste. Michelle. Plus, Diamond Knot Brewery has donated the beer for the celebration.

Dinner, catered by Edmonds’ Shooby Doo Catering, includes a salad comprised of artisan greens, sliced pears, candied walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese – all tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette.

The entrée includes a choice of braised short ribs; or salmon filo stuffed with fresh green spinach; or butternut squash ravioli — each of the three selections is set off with mouth-watering embellishments that make for a plated fare that is both fresh and colorful.

Dessert features a pairing of apple strudel and chocolate marquis duo.

– – – –

Cascade Symphony musical director and conductor Michael Miropolsky's new book, "
Cascade Symphony musical director and conductor Michael Miropolsky’s new book, “Theme and Variations”

 

A Memoir
Theme and Variations: My Life’s Journey, by Michael Miropolsky

Copies of Michael Miropolsky’s recently published memoir will be available for purchase at the Gala. In his memoir, Theme and Variations: My Life’s Journey, CSO’s music director shares the story of his eventful 60 years’ journey through life.

Artfully Edmonds reviewed this intriguing memoir last month and posts the following for My Edmonds News readers:

“Theme and Variations: My Life’s Journey is a well-told tale that reveals a series of good fortunes bordering on simple miracles, as musician and maestro Michael Miropolsky writes of his harsh beginnings in the northern mountains of Russia and unwinds a spellbinding story that brings readers to his doorstop as one of Seattle’s most sought after musicians.

 Impeccably told, Miropolsky charms his readers in this humor-laced memoir written in a conversational style which has come to endear the maestro to his orchestras, his colleagues, his students, fans and followers. 

A sweeping illumination of Russian life from his earlier life (1955 and even before) Theme and Variations is a literary journey that brings together the experiences of a young boy whose only way out of abject poverty and rationing is through a demanding music school curriculum at the prestigious Gnessin State Musical College. Ultimately recognized for his musicianship by benefactors who recognize Miropolsky’s commitment to his music he is propelled onto the world stage at an early age.

In the vein of Mozart in the Jungle, and even Dr. Zhivago, this memoir leaves no life-of-a-musican nuance to the reader’s imagination. Questions are answered as to: How competitive are orchestra members, what is the genealogy of teacher-to-stage success – what happens to those who fail – and what happens to those who succeed the heady world of classical music?

Theme and Variations: My Life’s Journey is also available for order at Edmonds Bookshop (111 5th Ave. S.)

Artfully Edmonds will be attending the gala. It’s guaranteed to be lively, boisterous, applaud-when-you-want-to, Edmonds Kind Of Fun!

Get your gala tickets right now at this popular ticket link. See you this Sunday!

– – –

oct-22-jazzfest

Edmonds has so many spectacular venues to offer its arts-gala patrons.

The gala following Cascade Symphony Orchestra moves from a classical music signature to a jazzy New Orleans theme, which most definitely catches the attention of Artfully Edmonds.

Saturday, Oct. 22
5-9 p.m.
Edmonds Yacht Club
326 Admiral Way

FanJAZZtic Masquerade
By the “DeMiero Jazz Fest”

Edmonds Yacht Club is the venue for the upcoming FanJAZZtic Masquerade, which wears well the flashy influence of New Orleans – home of jazz.

Billed as A Festive Star-Filled Night with live entertainment and dancing to The Jazz Pearls, the evening will put the spotlight on Alexa’s catering; and feature both silent and live auctions – and everyone’s favorite party element: costume prizes.

You know it’s going to be a splashy yacht club event when “costume or evening attire and masks” are encouraged.

See you there! Tickets and additional information are available at the Jazz Fest website (www.demierojazzfest.org) or by calling 206-473-9416.

– – –

Gala attendees included Phoenix founder Eric Lewis, foreground left in tan jacket.
Gala attendees of 2014 included one of Phoenix Theatre’s founders Eric Lewis, foreground left in tan jacket.

Wednesday, Nov. 2
7-9 p.m.
Dessert and Laughter!
The Phoenix Theatre Gala 2016

The Phoenix is honoring volunteerism at its 2016 gala, which promises to be “a fun filled evening of comedy, entertainment and auctions!” (Believe them.)

Artfully Edmonds attended the theatre’s inaugural 2014 gala wearing a gold lame Las Vegas-inspired gown and pink bunny slippers – with local author Nicki Chen on her arm. The Phoenix raised thousands of dollars that year in a parody of uproarious laughter.

For its 2016 revival The Phoenix returns to ECA’s fabulous lobby, which always inspires a gala frame of mind. (Smart choice, board members!)

Ticket price point: $35 (yes, that is the correct price) More information for this laughter-guaranteed event is at the ‘Gala Fundraiser’ tab on their website.

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The Art of Halloween

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“The show opens Friday, Oct. 7.” Need we say more to teens and young-at-heart adults? When it comes to hauntings, The Nile – in partnership with Haunted Nightmare has it covered – sometimes in gore! For full details on what scares and screams await you go to the My Edmonds News coverage from earlier this week.

– – – –

2016-scarecrow-festival

Friday, Oct. 22
Registration closes

It’s time for Scarecrow Festival 2016

Edmonds Historical Museum Annual Scarecrow Festival 2016 is in full swing. Scarecrows in all manner of madness, muse, and merriment are moving into place for the Festival competition.

Is your entry under construction? Is it scary? Does it have iconic symbolism? Will it make Edmonds children want to run and hide, say “Ahhh…” or maybe even, “Wow”?

Check out last year’s top scarecrows here. The 2015 entrants numbered more than 85 in entrant-categories that include businesses, individuals, homeowner groups, clubs and artists; all coming together to provide an Edmonds Kind Of Haunt.

Registration closes Saturday, Oct. 22 for your scarecrow entry and the following day feverish vote-lobbying begins, so there’s not a moment to lose in design time.

Voting begins Sunday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.

For more information on how to register, instructions on how to build a scarecrow, contest rules and more, go to the Edmonds Historical Museum’s Scarecrow Festival web page here.

– – – –

cascade-symphony-55-years-b

Monday, Oct. 24
7:30 p.m.

Cascade Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

Just some of the haunting pieces which Cascade Symphony Orchestra’s music director Michael Miropolsky has selected to open the 55th season of Edmonds pre-eminent orchestra include Danse Macabre, op. 40 (Dance Macabre); Lehar’s overture to The Merry Widow, Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky.

This is classical music made mischievously fun by the celebrated Michael Miropolsky, music director and maestro of CSO.

Tickets for this performance – and the full season’s program, which includes Holiday Pops, ensemble concerts and programs for children – are available at www.cascadesymphony.org.

~ ~ ~ ~

From the Theatre District

moon-over-buffalo-poster-11x17

 Thursday, Oct. 6
8 p.m.

Dress Rehearsal as a
Pay-What-You-Can

Opening Night:
Friday, Oct. 7
8 p.m.

Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig
   Directed by Eric Lewis

 The artistic team of The Phoenix Theatre has cleverly selected a production about – of all things – what can go awry in a theatre troupe!

Does life imitate art in this Ken Ludwig play, directed by theatre veteran Eric Lewis?

Imagine an actor with a wandering eye (“George Hay”), a flirty ingénue, a sharply intuitive actress married to the philandering actor (“Charlotte Hay”). Like the spinning plate routine on the Ed Sullivan Show that is simply not enough for this troupe!

As Charlotte argues with her husband, George over his dalliances they receive word that none other than Frank Capra will be in the audience of their looming performance to determine who gets a part in his next production. These fading actors have one last chance at fame!

What could possibly go wrong? See betrayal right before your very eyes! Experience the burn of hatred! Feel the dismay of fleeting hope – all in a 96-seat theatre!

Tickets to Phoenix Theatre productions are available at this link – with seat selection capability for patrons. You choose your seat!

~ ~ ~ ~

Fahrenheit 451 flares onto the Edmonds stage!

A star cast headlines Driftwood Players' TIPs production of Fahrenheit 451
A star cast headlines Driftwood Players’ TIPs production of Fahrenheit 451

Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

Opening Night: Thursday, Oct. 20
8 p.m.

Edmonds Driftwood Players announces Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Douglas Bradbury as its first alternative stage show for the 2016-17 season. Fahrenheit 451 is a production of Driftwood’s Theater of Intriguing Possibilities (TIPs).

Playbill: Fahrenheit 451 – a postulation of the temperature at which paper burns. In this well-known dystopian drama, written during the McCarthy era, firemen don’t put out fires; they start them in order to burn books, thus preventing literature from falling into the hands of society.

Instead of cultivating reading, learning, and independent thinking, people are compelled to spend all of their time watching state-sponsored television and listening to an omnipresent radio feed.

When fire-cultivator Guy Montag meets Clarisse McClellan, a 17-year old who questions authority and the system, his world turns upside down. During a burn Montag surreptitiously slips a book into his pocket and begins a thought-provoking journey based on what he reads.

Will he ever be able to fit back into his regular life?

– – –

Director: Ted Jaquith has selected a high-profile cast for this demanding classic: Ryan St. Martin, Paul Giliarmis, Camisa Hensel, Simone Barron, Rebecca O’Neil, Jean Sleight, Sean Morrone, Justin Tinsley, Rita Baxter, Sarita Benson, Anthony Floyd, Nick Horiatis, and Dawn Cornell.

You will want to participate in the discussions that follow this taut, tension-filled Woody Lotts production.

Playwright and Awards: Ray Douglas Bradbury (Aug. 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery fiction author. He is best known for Fahrenheit 451.

In 1954, Fahrenheit 451 won the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature and the Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal and the1954 “Retro” Hugo Award (Wikipedia).

Tickets for this TIPs production are available by calling 425.774.9600 (option 1) or you may purchase tickets for your party at the theatre’s website.

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MAMBO! It's the Girls against the Boys at Meadowdale High's upcoming Dinner and Theatre night.
MAMBO! So much going on at Meadowdale High – From the upcoming Dinner and Theatre night to “Spooktacular Bingo!”

Thursday / Friday
October 20 / 21

Meadowdale Players
Dinner and a Show

Boys vs. Girls by Tanner Powell and Alyssa Olton
Directed by Peter Davies
Meadowdale High School
Black Box Theatre
6002 168th St. S.W.

The Meadowdale Players drama department kicks off its season with the annual Boys vs. Girls show – a duel-set of comedic plays, one with an all-female cast and one with an all-male cast.

Which performance is your favorite? Vote by donation. The play that earns the most money wins the coveted trophy!

Showtimes (one female/one male production each evening) are

  • Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. for dinner);
  • Friday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.

Free Theatre – Add dinner for $10 a plate:

Arrive at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 to enjoy a catered meal by Olive Garden before the show. Just $10 buys you dinner at a catered pasta bar by Olive Garden (doors open at 5:45 p.m.) in Meadowdale High School’s Great Hall. (Dinner is limited to the first 100 guests.)

At 7 p.m. stroll over to the Black Box for a donation-only theatre performance of Boys vs. Girls.

Let’s continue this wildly successful annual tradition of fun and food, because all proceeds go to the MHS drama department.

Keep up with the event news sheets on MAMBO’s web page.

~ ~ ~ ~

 Smart Arts

From the photography collection of Bill Ray.
From the photography collection of Bill Ray.

Monday, Oct. 17
7-9 p.m.

ARTworks Studio at
Dayton Street at 2nd Avenue South

Photographer Bill Ray will be offering a spectacular stargazing class, Milky Way Photos this month.

A dramatic image of the Milky Way looks magical – learn how to capture your own impression of the Universe in this straightforward class.

Bill Ray sets up the steps to planning, capturing and the post-process necessary to take your own memorable photographs of our home galaxy.

Equipment

You need a modern DSLR or mirrorless camera, an ultra-wide lens and a tripod. Free tools and web sites help you be in the right place, at the right time, with the Milky Way positioned over your perfect foreground.

To bring out the best of what the camera sees (better than our eyes can see) requires post-processing. This seminar gives some tips with examples in Photoshop (masked layers help optimize sky and foreground processing) and light painting.

All the steps are under your control except the weather. You can even rent the correct lens.

Prerequisites: None.

For questions regarding this class Bill Ray encourages you to contact him at billray@apian.com or visit the ARTworks website assigned to this seminar.

– By Emily Hill

12 Emily-2015

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at myedmondsnews@gmail.com.

 

  1. Awww. . .Thanks, Janice!
    It’s SO fun working for a news organization with as much pride for the achievements of our Colleagues ; for the Community, and our Readers.

    Since I began writing the “Artfully Edmonds” column for My Edmonds News; Edmonds has developed its arts offerings into a sophisticated “scene” that is bringing visitors in from miles around.

    It has been a joy to watch the gallery owners, developers (Cascadia Art Museum in particular), artists, performers and educators bring it all home — to Edmonds.

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