Classical KING celebrates the teachers who shape musicians, welcomes the Candide Quartet to Northwest Focus Live, and highlights a weekend of chamber music and cultural celebrations across the region.

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Music Feature: Inspired by Teachers

Tuesday, September 8 – Friday, September 11

Behind every great musician is a teacher who helped them find their way. As students and teachers head back to school, Classical KING celebrates the mentors who shape generations of musicians. Hear works inspired by teachers, written for mentors, and shaped by the relationships that help musicians find their voice.

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Northwest Focus Live

Candide Quartet — Frances Walton Competition Winners

Friday, September 11 | 7pm

Host: Sean MacLean

Meet the next generation of chamber musicians as the Candide Quartet, winners of the Ladies Musical Club’s Frances Walton Competition, performs on Northwest Focus Live. Formed in 2023, violinists Chili Ekman and Henry Rogers, violist Amelia Krinke, and cellist Vanny Hu bring their shared passion for collaboration and chamber music to the Classical KING studios.

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Northwest Focus Concert Calendar

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

Bel Canto Seattle: Divine Beauty

Saturday, September 12 | 6pm | Almost Famous, Kirkland

Opera steps outside the traditional concert hall as Bel Canto Seattle presents Divine Beauty, an evening of familiar vocal music in a relaxed Kirkland setting. Featuring works by Bach, Mozart, Donizetti, Tchaikovsky, and more, the program offers an approachable way to experience some of classical music’s most enduring melodies up close.

Prospect Recital Series: Big Bunch of Roses — Peter Nelson-King, piano

Saturday, September 12 | 7pm | Prospect Congregational UCC, Seattle

Discover a bouquet of rarely heard American piano music as Peter Nelson-King presents Big Bunch of Roses. Featuring works by Florence Price, John Wesley Work III, Marion Bauer, Edward MacDowell, Fannie Charles Dillon, and others, the program explores everyday life, landscapes, fantasy, nature, and a few roses through early 20th-century American miniatures.

Orquesta Northwest | El Grito: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Sunday, September 13 | 1–6pm | Town Hall Seattle, Seattle

Celebrate Mexican arts, culture, and community as Orquesta Northwest marks the 10th anniversary of El Grito with an afternoon of orchestral music, mariachi, dance, food, and tradition. Featuring the Ballard Civic Orchestra, Mariachi Hermanas Rosario, Bailadores de Bronce, Trío Guadalevín, and more, the celebration centers on the traditional Grito de Independencia followed by a community fiesta.

Ladies Musical Club presents Candide Quartet, 2026 National Frances Walton Competition Winners

Sunday, September 13 | 2pm | Village Green Community Center, Kingston

Meet the next generation of chamber musicians as Candide Quartet, winners of the 2026 National Frances Walton Competition, performs a free community concert in Kingston. Violinists Chili Ekman and Henry Rogers, violist Amelia Krinke, and cellist Vanny Hu take the stage as part of their Washington State recital tour following their Northwest Focus Live appearance.

SYSO Concerto Competition Live Finals

Sunday, September 13 | 2pm | Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, Shoreline

Cheer on some of the region’s most talented young musicians as Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras presents the live finals of its annual Concerto Competition. Finalists perform concerto selections with piano accompaniment for the chance to appear as soloists with a SYSO orchestra in the coming season, with winners announced the following week.

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The Score with Edmund Stone

Game Craft

Saturday, September 12 | 4pm

Video games have been popular for decades, and their music just keeps getting better. This Saturday on The Score, Edmund Stone explores music from video games and films about games, including Tron, The Legend of Zelda, Call of Duty, and more, along with interviews with some of the composers and voice actors who bring these worlds to life.

Otherworldly

Sunday, September 13 | 4pm

Escape the confines of Earth as Edmund Stone explores the rich lore and fantastical cultures of other worlds throughout the universe. Journey to Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water, visit the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, travel to Asgard in Thor, and step through the Stargate for a dazzling musical journey to the stars on The Score.

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Explore More on ClassicalKING.org

Looking for details about what you hear online, on our app, or on 98.1 FM?

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

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