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Behind the Scenes at the 2016 GRAMMYs

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I write this as I am on the plane headed back from the GRAMMYS to the Mayor’s State of the City address. I’ve had the good fortune to go to the GRAMMYS three years in a row. My husband works for the Recording Academy, so amazingly, get to be his +1 to the GRAMMYS. It is always so exciting to be there with the nominees from the Seattle area. The intensity of the anticipation is palpable.

One of the crazy thrills of my GRAMMY +1 perk is that I get to go to the nominees’ reception at the gorgeous Wilshire Ebell.

Seattle was seriously representing!

Seattle GRAMMYs

Northwest Contingent of Recording Academy members with Brandi Carlile, GRAMMY nominee

One of the things I only fully realized about the GRAMMYS once I went is that there is a giant premiere show where many awards are presented in advance of the telecast. It all starts at noon.
Eight nominations are Seattle nominations, so of course, we were rooting for them. It is agonizing to be sitting with excited nominees as they realize they haven’t won. And it is thrilling to be there when they win. Seattle brought home one GRAMMY this year for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Seattle Symphony Board Chair Leslie Chihuly jumped out of her seat when it was announced. Huge congratulations to Seattle Symphony conductor Ludovic Morlot and violinist Augustin Hadelich for winning a GRAMMY for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L’Arbre Des Songes. Amazing! Thanks for making our City of Music(TM) shine!
Two years in a row, the Seattle Symphony has brought home a GRAMMY.

Seattle Symphony Grammy

The Seattle Symphony camp is thrilled! Simon Woods, Executive Director, Seattle Symphony, Michael Compton, Executive Director, PNW Chapter of the Recording Academy, yours truly, Leslie Chihuly, Seattle Symphony Board Chair, Patty Sabee, Executive Director, EMP Museum, David Sabee, Seattle Symphony Musician

 

 

Listen!

Here are a few photos from this extraordinary evening….

GRAMMY After Party

The After Party

Hollywood Vampires

Hollywood Vampires with Seattle musician Duff McKagan

Taylor Swift

TAylor Swift

 

 

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY PAYS HOMAGE TO SEATTLE’S MUSICAL LEGACY TONIGHT

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The Seattle Times
Sonic Evolution is a new and ambitious undertaking by the Seattle Symphony. The 6-year-long project features composers from around the world creating new symphonic music based on the work of legendary Seattle artists, with the results performed by the Seattle Symphony. Those being honored include Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, and Nirvana, among many others. By presenting the project, the Seattle Symphony hopes to bring popular music of major historic significance to symphonic audiences, and attract a new audience to the concert hall. Up-and-coming Seattle artists will be given the chance to work alongside the Symphony, performing their new work during the series as well. The first pieces commissioned for this season will debut TONIGHT, October 18th with a guest performance by Hey Marseilles.

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY’S GERARD SCHWARZ TO BE HONORED WITH A STREET NAMING CEREMONY

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Seattle City Council
To commemorate the retirement of Seattle Symphony Music Director Gerard Schwarz, the Seattle City Council will adopt a resolution to give University Street from Second Avenue to Third Avenue the honorary name of “Gerard Schwarz Place.” A ceremony hosted by Councilmember Tom Rassmussen will take place today outside Benaroya Hall. A longtime fixture of the classical music community, Schwarz dedicated 26 years to the Seattle Symphony and was integral in the creation of Benaroya Hall, which opened in 1998. Under his leadership, the Seattle Symphony received 12 Grammy nominations and won two Emmy Awards for two self-produced television specials, Seattle Symphony From Benaroya Hall in 2007 and Seattle Symphony From Benaroya Hall: Brahms, Kernis and Kodaly in 2008. Schwarz also worked closely with the Seattle Opera and the Mostly Mozart Festival over many years. Following his retirement, Schwarz will assume the title Conductor Laureate and will continue to conduct the Seattle Symphony for several weeks each season.

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TEENY AWARDS 2011 FOCUS ON THE BEST IN ARTS FOR TEENS

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Teen Tix Blog
Seattle youth are encouraged to voice their opinions about this past year’s arts offerings as part of Teen Tix’s Teeny Awards 2011. Teen Tix provides affordable access to film, dance, theater, and other performances for teens ages 13-19. The Teeny Awards categories are both straight forward and irreverent, ranging from Best Art Exhibit to Best Bathrooms to Best Date Venue. Among the nominees are some fantastic film organizations (National Film Festival for Talented Youth, SIFF, NWFF, and more) and excellent musical performances (Sound Off! 2011 at EMP, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at Seattle Symphony, and more). Voting is open to Teen Tix members only, so those qualified to participate should head on over to the Teen Tix blog and check out the full list of nominees.

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES NEW CONDUCTOR FOR 2011-2012 SEASON

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Seattle Times
Newly designated French conductor Ludovic Morlot has some big ideas brewing for the 2011-2012 Seattle Symphony itinerary and there seems to be something for every Seattleite on the menu. Get excited for innovative new programs created by Morlot such as “Sonic Evolution,” that will team local Seattle band Hey Marseilles with songwriter legends Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Kobain as inspiration and musical alluding. Alongside your symphony classics like Mozart, Bach, Chopin and Brahms you will see the likes of James Bond themes, sci-fi film scores, holiday tunes and American classics in the “Seattle Pops Series.” International collaborations will be a big highlight in the “Visiting Orchestra Series” as the Seattle strings and brass are joined by visiting orchestras from across the globe; Korea, Russia and Hungary to name a few participating countries. The season finale is of extra-terrestrial proportions and will include HD images from NASA space explorations and music from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Bold and exciting picks Morlot. Scope the link above to learn more about the upcoming Seattle Symphony season.

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY MOONLIGHTING AS HOLIDAY FLASH MOB

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Seattle Symphony
Tra-la-la-la…. Flash Mob! Check out this holiday-tastic video of the Seattle Symphony chorale—led by Gerard Schwartz himself—taking over the downtown Nordstrom over the weekend.

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TONIGHT’S CITYSTREAM’S MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

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Seattle Channel
Tonight’s edition of Seattle Channel’s “CityStream” will feature some of Seattle’s finest classical music. Seattle Symphony, Pacific MusicWorks, Seattle Academy of Opera and KING-FM are featured on the episode, which begins at 7 pm. Here’s what “CityStream” is saying about the show: “Maestro Gerard Schwarz is celebrating his 26th, and final, season with Seattle Symphony. Not only has he transformed the symphony into a world-class orchestra, he’s credited with being the driving force behind the symphony’s home, Benaroya Hall. Maestro Schwarz takes a look back at his remarkable career and tells us about his future plans. Then say hello to Pacific MusicWorks and the Seattle Academy of Opera—newer organizations bringing older music to the Seattle scene. And Northwesterners have tuned in to classic KING-FM for fifty years. Now big changes are in the air(waves) for the region’s popular classical music radio station.” Tune in tonight to Seattle Channel or watch it online at seattlechannel.org.

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SEATTLE SYMPHONY NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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The Seattle Times
The Seattle Symphony has named its new executive director. Simon Woods, chief executive of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, has accepted the post. Woods is taking over for interim executive director Mark McCampbell, who stepped in when Thomas Philion left in February. Some tasks will begin immediately, and Woods will take over the position full-time beginning in May 2011. Previous US experience for Woods has been with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Welcome to Seattle, Mr. Woods!

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ORCHESTRAS IMPORTANT FOR CORPORATIONS TOO

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Crosscut
The Seattle Symphony is taking steps to ensure its survival in this city. With the induction of the new conductor, Ludovic Morlot, and plans for a new concert hall, the Symphony is boldly making its mark on the city of Seattle. Of course art and music lovers are appreciative of the organization’s efforts to enhance the culture of the city, but the permanence of the Seattle Symphony is important for economic reasons as well. Writes David Brewster, “Corporations use symphonies not only to recruit executives (and their spouses and families) but as showcases for marketing to upscale and influential audiences. Serving on prestigious arts boards is a way for rising executives to test their public skills and to network. Orchestras well understand how to turn evenings at the symphony into carefully calibrated experiences, depending on donation levels, in social hierarchies at intermission time or in the conductor’s suite afterward.” To read the full article, follow the link.

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GET TO KNOW NEW SEATTLE SYMPHONY MUSIC DIRECTOR DESIGNATE LUDOVIC MORLOT

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Thirty-six-year-old French conductor Ludovic Morlot talks to KCTS 9’S Enrique Cerna about being the new Music Director Designate of the Seattle Symphony.
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