The Seattle Chamber Orchestra

Please help Jack Van Zandt, Lorenzo Marasso and Nadia Shpachenko raise $4,000 to ensure the fabulous Seattle Chamber Orchestra reaches its 2024 season fundraising goal.

Your support is 100% tax deductible!

The Seattle Chamber Orchestra (SCO) was founded during the pandemic by pianist and conductor Lorenzo Marasso, and is now nearing the end of its remarkably successful second season. The orchestra, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was created to present affordable unique thematic programs to the Seattle audience of carefully chosen masterpieces from the classical canon, alongside thought-provoking new and recent works. As might be expected under the circumstances of the past four years, funding such an organization has presented challenges which the orchestra has nearly met for the year. A modest amount of assistance is needed to reach the 2024 fundraising goal to cover the season’s remaining budgetary items, including for the upcoming season finale’s performer fees, transportation and accommodation; harp and piano rentals and cartage; and venue hire.

On April 12, SCO Music Director Marasso will lead the orchestra’s final 2024 program dedicated to the theme of transfiguration, including the world premiere of La Nuit Étoilée: A Nocturne after Van Gogh for harp, piano and strings by Grammy winning composer Jack Van Zandt, performed by two fellow Grammy winners, Los Angeles harpist and Washington native Alison Bjorkedal, and Los Angeles pianist Nadia Shpachenko. The concert will begin with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata Ich Habe Genug (featuring baritone Charles Robert Stephen and oboist Darlene Franz) and will conclude with the string orchestra version of Arnold Schoenberg's electrifying early work, Verklarte Nacht.

Supporters who donate to this fundraiser will receive VIP tickets to the April 12 concert, which they can use or give as presents to friends and family in the area should they be too far away to attend themselves. The concert will be held at Tagney Jones Hall at the Seattle Opera (363 Mercer Street, Seattle, 98109). Join us at 7:15pm for a pre-concert talk. The concert begins at 8pm. The VIP donor tickets include preferred seating, the pre-concert talk, the performance, and a reception with drinks and appetizers. For a donation of less than $100, supporters of this fundraiser will receive 2 VIP tickets, and for a donation of $100 or more, supporters will receive 4 VIP tickets. Tickets will be held at the door in the name of the supporter making a donation.

Plans for the 2025 series include performances of Thea Musgrave’s Green, Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, Mahler’s arrangement for string orchestra of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet, a period instrument performance of Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, and a Claude Bolling jazz evening. Also one or two newly commissioned works for the SCO’s 2025 season will be announced soon.

The SCO provides employment opportunities to local performers and soloists, and also invites international artists to bring their talents to Seattle audiences. During the second season, these included UK organist Wayne Marshall, as well as Shpachenko and Bjorkedal for the concert on April 12. The SCO has plans to create more interesting thematic programs in the coming 2024-25 season, and to commission more new works over the coming years. Composer Jack Van Zandt and pianist Nadia Shpachenko are joining the SCO Advisory Board to assist in creating a commissioning program and 21st Century music presentations.

Your support is 100% tax deductible!

Seattle Chamber Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 87-1447746).

Tax-deductible contributions may be made to the extent allowable by law.

https://www.seattlechamberorchestra.org/