Music shaped by the Northwest takes center stage this week, from choral artistry on Northwest Focus Live to a Seattle Symphony broadcast concert, plus The Score spotlighting unforgettable film music tied to our region.

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Northwest Focus Live  

Columbia Choirs: Concord Chamber Choir

Friday, May 1 | 7pm 

Host: Nikhil Sarma

Northwest Focus Live highlights exceptional artists with ties to the Pacific Northwest, and this week features Concord Chamber Choir of Columbia Choirs. Founded in 1984, Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle has been a musical home for singers of all ages, grounded in a mission of access, inclusion, and community connection. Concord Chamber Choir, its auditioned ensemble for experienced adult singers, is known for its work with living composers and its vibrant, collaborative approach to choral performance.

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Broadcast Concert  

Seattle Symphony: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto 

Friday, May 1 | 8pm 

Host: Dave Beck

Let Classical KING bring the concert hall to wherever you are. From Benaroya Hall, the Seattle Symphony is led by Associate Conductor Sunny Xia, with Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma making her debut in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto—one of the most beloved and virtuosic works in the repertoire, written during a burst of inspiration on the shores of Lake Geneva. The program also includes music by Augusta Holmès and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, a work shaped by the landscapes and traditions of the composer’s homeland.

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Northwest Focus Concert Calendar  

Find local concerts in your community at: https://classicalking.org/nw-focus-concert-calendar  

Salish Sea Early Music Festival: Telemann’s Paris Quartets

Thursday, April 30 | 7pm | Faith Lutheran Church, Seattle

The Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents historically informed performances across the Puget Sound region, connecting modern audiences with early music through period instruments and rarely heard repertoire. Telemann’s “Paris Quartets,” written for some of the most celebrated musicians in 18th-century Paris, helped establish his international reputation. This program features selections from his 1730 and 1738 sets, blending French style with virtuosic interplay for flute, violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord.

Ladies Musical Club: Composer’s Concert

Friday, May 1 | 7:30pm | Music Center of the Northwest, Seattle

Formed in 1891, the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle has a long-standing mission to foster classical music through education, performance, and community engagement, offering programs for people of all ages across Washington State. This concert highlights new works by Pacific Northwest composers, featuring music by Steve White, Colleen Fraser, Patrick O’Keefe, Eldon Leuning, and Jonathan Shih. The program includes a range of chamber works, from piano preludes to cello sonatas and more.

Bells of the Sound: Fascinating Rhythm

Saturday, May 2 | 7pm | Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Shoreline
Sunday, May 3 | 4pm | First Christian Church of Tacoma, Tacoma

Bells of the Sound is a nationally acclaimed handbell ensemble known for its high-energy, polished performances and for bringing handbell music into the mainstream. This program celebrates rhythm and swing with jazz favorites by Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and Scott Joplin, transformed through the unique sound of handbells. It’s a lively, toe-tapping concert that highlights both musical precision and playful expression.

Magnolia Chorale: Lift Every Voice & Sing

Saturday, May 2 | 7:30pm | Magnolia Lutheran Church, Seattle 

Magnolia Chorale is a community of singers united by a shared passion for music, with over 35 years of bringing together voices from across the Seattle area through commitment to artistic growth, collaboration, and community. This program highlights music by composers including Florence Price, Sherryl Sewepagaham, and Carlos Cordero, exploring themes of hope, resilience, and freedom. Through a diverse range of cultural perspectives, the concert honors voices that have endured, uplifted, and inspired across generations.

Auburn Symphony Orchestra & Seattle Pro Musica: Mozart Requiem

Saturday, May 2 | 7:30pm | Seattle First Baptist Church
Sunday, May 3 | 2:30pm | Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center 

Auburn Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Wesley Schulz, has grown into one of the Northwest’s leading orchestras, while Seattle Pro Musica is internationally recognized for its innovative programming and choral artistry. Together, these ensembles bring a shared commitment to musical excellence and community connection. This program centers on Mozart’s Requiem, left unfinished at the composer’s death and renowned for its emotional depth and dramatic power. It is paired with Osvaldo Golijov’s Oceana, a work that sets poetry by Pablo Neruda within a rich sound world blending classical tradition and South American influences.

Opus 7: All Northwest

Saturday, May 2 | 7:30pm | University Congregational United Church of Christ, Seattle

Founded in 1992, Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble is known for its focus on 19th–21st century choral music and its strong commitment to new works, premiering compositions—many by Pacific Northwest composers—while championing emerging voices through its student composition awards. This season-closing program features music exclusively by Pacific Northwest composers, blending established names with new and student works. The result is a vibrant snapshot of the region’s current creative energy, highlighting the evolving sound of choral music close to home.

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The Score with Edmund Stone  

Now you See Them, Now You Don’t  

Saturday, May 2nd | 4pm  

You’ve seen them in movies, and this Saturday on The Score we’re going to go behind the microphone and take a listen to great actors who are also great voice actors. James Early Jones will send shivers down your spine in Star Wars. Robin Williams melts hearts and delivers non-stop fun in Mrs. Doubtfire. Julie Andrews voices a ferocious sea monster in Aquaman, and more. 

Scenes from the Pacific Northwest (Classical KING Special)  

Sunday, May 3rd | 4pm  

This Sunday, The Score takes a closer listen to music from films and television connected to the Pacific Northwest, in a special episode curated by Edmund Stone for Classical KING listeners. Featuring music from Sleepless in Seattle, An Officer and a Gentleman, Harry and the Hendersons, and more, the program highlights the region’s lasting role in film and TV.

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Metropolitan Opera 

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin

Saturday, May 2 | 10am  

In Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, a fashionable yet emotionally detached young aristocrat inherits his uncle’s country estate, setting off a chain of decisions that lead to heartbreak and regret. Based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin, the opera is known for its deeply human characters and one of the most compelling emotional transformations in the repertoire.

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Explore More on ClassicalKING.org 

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Visit our playlist for comprehensive information on every piece and performer. 

Stay inspired and enjoy another week of incredible music on Classical KING!