Classical KING celebrates Black artistry leading up to Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest, welcomes Music on the Strait to Northwest Focus Live, and highlights a week of summer concerts across the region.

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Music Feature: Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest

Monday, August 17 – Friday, August 21

Classical KING celebrates Black voices and artistry this week with music by composers and performers of African descent. Tune in throughout the week as we highlight the rich contributions of Black musicians to the classical tradition, leading up to Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest at Seattle Center on August 22 and 23. Part of Seattle Center’s Festál series, the festival celebrates African American arts, culture, and heritage through live music, dance, spoken word, visual art, food, and more.

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Northwest Focus Live

Music on the Strait

Friday, August 21 | 7pm

Host: Sean MacLean

Northwest Focus Live welcomes artists from Music on the Strait for a chamber music program featuring violist Richard O’Neill, violinist James Garlick, and pianist August Baik. The performance includes music by John Adams, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Martinů, highlighting the festival’s blend of familiar repertoire and contemporary voices. Founded in Port Angeles, Music on the Strait brings world-class chamber music to the Olympic Peninsula through performances, education, and community engagement.

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Northwest Focus Concert Calendar  

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

Rosehill Philharmonic: Summer Dreams

Tuesday, August 18 | 7pm | Rosehill Community Center, Mukilteo

Spend a summer evening with live orchestral music as Rosehill Philharmonic presents Summer Dreams. This outdoor concert features Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, music from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and more, performed by Mukilteo’s intergenerational community orchestra.

Listen Live at Lunch: Fabio Menchetti, piano

Wednesday, August 19 | 12pm | First Lutheran Church Tacoma

Take a midday break with Italian-born pianist Fabio Menchetti as he performs a free recital for Tacoma’s Listen Live at Lunch series. A faculty member at Washington State University, Menchetti brings an international performance background spanning solo and chamber appearances across the United States and Europe.

Flutes in the Forest: Toujaise

Saturday, August 22 | 3pm | Schmitz Preserve Park, Seattle

Spend a summer afternoon with live music in the forest as West Seattle flute duo Toujaise—Jaime Cornutt and Jennie Goldberg—performs with keyboardist Robin Anderson at Schmitz Preserve Park. The outdoor program features music by Bach, Franz Doppler, Jon Raybould, Sousa, and more, inviting audiences to bring a chair or blanket and enjoy chamber music beneath the trees.

Solstice Symphony Orchestra: Free Spirit

Saturday, August 22 | 7:30pm | Town Hall Seattle

Solstice Symphony Orchestra opens its fourth season with Free Spirit, an all-Russian program featuring music by Glinka, Stravinsky, and Rachmaninoff. Spanning the 19th and 20th centuries, the concert offers a sweeping look at Russian orchestral music while launching a new season for Seattle’s all-volunteer ensemble.

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The Score with Edmund Stone  

50 Years of Summer Blockbusters

Saturday, August 22 | 4pm  

This week Edmund Stone, creator, host and producer of The Score marks TWO major milestones in film history – the 50th anniversary of the Summer Blockbuster and the 900th Score episode! Blockbusters started with Jaws in 1975, and The Score has been celebrating music in the movies 900 times and counting. Hear music from some of the biggest summer movies EVER including The Dark Knight, ET, Finding Nemo, Alien and more.

When the Muse Visits

Sunday, August 23 | 4pm  

In this episode of The Score, Edmund Stone takes a look and a listen to movies that ponder the question “where does inspiration come from?” Enjoy depictions of inspiration including classical influences from the Muses in The Odyssey, divine inspiration for Joan of Arc, and mysterious whispers in the cornfield in Field of Dreams.

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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!