Author: Anita Wong

Sleigh Ride – Virtual Performance

As musicians, we love making music, especially during the holidays with all the wonderful festive music available to play. Having been unable to meet in person due to COVID-19 restrictions to rehearse and perform, we chose to put together this virtual performance of one of our favorite holiday pieces of all time. Happy Holidays from the Kirkland Civic Orchestra. Enjoy!

Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson © Woodbury Music Company LLC (ASCAP)

Christmas Traditions Comes Home

For over a decade, Northwest University’s Christmas Traditions has featured some of Northwest University’s finest vocalists and musicians. This year, Christmas Traditions is coming home with the same traditional Christmas songs you’re used to along with an Advent message from President Castleberry.

We were unable to perform in person this year, however, rejoice in a beautiful recording of our performance last year, featuring the Northwest University Concert Choir, Coro Amici, The Pilgrims Men’s Chorus, and The Kirkland Civic Orchestra directed by Jim Truher.

Community is our Heart

In these uncertain times, Kirkland Civic Orchestra’s desire to make music is not diminished, nor is our desire to bring that music to our community. With physical distancing measures in place that make rehearsing together a logistical nightmare (imagine 70 players separated by 6 feet–that’s a big space!), we’ve looked at using click tracks and other technologies, and have found them impractical for our group.

So we’re taking a leaf from the scores of other performing arts groups, and are digging into our archives. We’ve been recording concerts for years, but have never had the impetus to actually do the post-production work and rendering. With ample time on our hands, we’re planning a “virtual season” of four special broadcasts of past recordings using Facebook Live. Simply go to our Facebook page to view them!

  • April 26, 2020, 3 pm (PST) – Reprise of Frenemies, Part I: Brahm’s Symphony No. 2. [watch now]
  • May 31, 2020, 3 pm (PST) – Reprise of Russian Masters, Part I: Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36 (Rimsky-Korsakov); Andante cantabile from String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11 (Tchaikovsky); Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61 (Saint-Saëns),which features local favorite and award-winning violinist Charlotte Marckx of the Sempre Sisters. [watch now]
  • June 28, 2020, 3 pm (PST) – Reprise of Frenemies, Part II:  Tchaikovsky’s Violin concerto, featuring again local favorite and award-winning violinist Charlotte Marckx of the Sempre Sisters. [watch now]
  • July 26, 2020, 3 pm (PST) – Reprise of Russian Masters, Part II: Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112 (Shostakovich). [watch now]

We hope that these few hours of classical music help soothe your souls and bring you a little bit of the joy we had in performing them. Recordings will be posted afterward on our YouTube channel so you can continue to enjoy them.

P.S. Depending on how physical distancing measures change between now and summer, we’re hoping to perform at the Ballard Locks on August 30–watch our social media channels for the most up-to-date information!

Concerts cancelled

Good news and bad news:

The bad news, which should come as no surprise, is that we are also cancelling our May 31 Concert. Given the ongoing physical distancing needed to combat the pandemic, we would not have enough rehearsals to present a concert that we could be proud of.

The good news is that we are working towards another rebroadcast on Facebook Live! If we can get that working, we’re hoping to put on several “virtual flashbacks.”

Stay tuned for more updates!

In the meantime, please enjoy a recording of one of our concerts from March 19, 2017. Tuba Concert in F minor by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with soloist J.c. Sherman on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0mhQheGURw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1v-7MQDIMNK6Xvp8CeeTX4AHmHOsERDx8QkhAS0Dt-enpZlHSf34izFoY

We are looking forward to the time when we can again play for you in person!

Wishing you the best to stay healthy and safe from our Kirkland Civic Orchestra family to yours!

Christmas Traditions 2019

Details: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM PDT Benaroya Hall

Program: The Northwest University Concert and Chamber Choirs and Coro Amici, joined by the Pilgrim’s Men’s Chorus and the Kirkland Civic Orchestra, present Christmas Traditions at Benaroya Hall.

Celebrating over a decade of annual performances, this established concert celebrates the traditions of Christmas. Features include new carol arrangements and traditional selections with Christmas carol sing-a-longs.

Tickets: https://www.seattlesymphony.org/concerttickets/calendar/2019-2020/benaroyahall/christmas-traditions