News Release
Washington Middle School and Garfield High School Orchestras to Play Benefit Concert
The Washington Middle School and Garfield High School orchestras will perform together this Friday in "Sounds of Harmony," a special benefit concert that crosses the boundaries of culture, language and musical instruments, at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Washington's Meany Hall.
Washington Middle School's 72-student orchestra will take a musical journey through the Chinese love story known as "The Butterfly Lovers," conducted by Washington music teacher, Taryn Webber. This violin concerto tells the story of a girl who must dress as a boy to receive an education. Though the story unfolds tragically, it ends with the girl and her true love transformed into butterflies.
This popular Chinese concerto will be a highlight in the "Sounds of Harmony" program that will feature Chinese music played on Western instruments and American music played on traditional Chinese instruments. Washington Middle Schools' Senior Orchestra will play this violin concerto with distinguished Chinese soloists Haiying Li and Zhenlun Li. Warren Chang, a distinguished Chinese conductor and soloist, will perform with his Chinese Youth Orchestra during the concert on traditional Chinese instruments - the erhu, yangqing and guozheng.
The award-winning Garfield High School Orchestra, under the direction of Marcus Tsutakawa, are featured guests, performing Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite," as well as joining with Washington's musicians to perform "Night on Bald Mountain." Both the Washington and Garfield orchestras have been consistent award-winners regionally and nationally. Washington recently won first place in the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children and all proceeds will benefit Washington Middle School's music programs. To purchase tickets online, visit Washington's Web site at: http://www.seattleschools/schools/washingtonms/ or call Debbie Erickson of Washington Middle School, at (206) 783-2946.
Background on schools and musicians
Washington Middle School is a Seattle public school with an award-winning music program in which more than 400 students participate. There are many music ensembles singing and playing a range of music from jazz to classical.
Garfield High School is also a Seattle public school with award-winning ensembles in both classical and jazz arenas (most recently the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York).
Taryn Webber has taught at Washington Middle School since 1997. She has led her orchestra to trophies from regional competitions and consistently won raves from adjudicators. Her orchestra recently won a Gold Medal in the Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, Calif.
Marcus Tsutakawa has taught music in Seattle since 1979. He has been director of Garfield's orchestra since 1985. His orchestra won "Best in Festival" at a regional competition four separate years. They have performed regularly in Meany Hall, conquering a very challenging repertoire. He is also conductor of the Seattle Junior Symphony Orchestra.
Warren Chang has made it his mission to educate young Chinese-American students in the traditions of Chinese music on original Chinese instruments. He founded the Chinese Youth Orchestra about 10 years ago and is the Music Director of both the youth orchestra and an adult orchestra. He is also President of the Chinese Arts and Music Association of Seattle, and one of the best-known Erhu experts in the United States. Warren Chang's Erhu music was included in the soundtrack of the Japanese movie, "The Soong Sisters." Also, he was a performer in the recent Silk Road Project. The Erhu is a traditional stringed instrument of China.
Haiying Li is a violinist who was formerly director of The Music School, affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He received professional training as a soloist and chamber music performer in both China and the United States. For the past 10 years in Seattle, he has been training young artists. The first chair first violinists from both Garfield and Washington orchestras are his students.
Zhenlun Li is a cellist who lives in the San Francisco Bay area. He was the winner of a national cello competition in China in 1988, among other awards, has served as principal cellist with the Beijing Symphony and has taught at the Tianjin Music Institute. He was principal cellist of the Federal Way Philharmonic in 1993 and helped create a cultural exchange between Federal Way and Beijing.