The Pacific Northwest Rings in a New Musical Era
Seattle Washington—May 2010—A first of its kind event, Synergia Northwest blended classical, contemporary, professional and student musicians into one concert, unifying musicians across cultures, ages and musical genres.Two years in the planning, Synergia Northwest proved to be everything it was billed to be and more, all in the name of Washington State Youth Music Education.
“It was a grand and successful musical experiment and due to the overwhelming response from audience members and participants, the Synergia Northwest concept will continue to blossom and grow. We learned a lot this time around and for such a new concept we did well. We ended up raising much needed funds that will provide extended learning, enrichment and performance opportunities to students who would not have the necessary financial resources We are grateful to Music Aid Northwest for receiving and distributing the funds to Young Musicians Excelling, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra and Music Aid Northwest’s “Music Matters” Washington State license plate campaign,” said musician Michael McMorrow, Synergia Northwest Executive Producer and Musical Director.
The concert performance was one continuous piece broken into two sets that weaved in and out of genre and encapsulated centuries of music within a two hours performance.
The opening sequence began with a powerful and beautiful tribute to the legacy of Beaverchief aka Fred Jamison. Beaverchief was of NW Coast Salish decent, registered with the Lummi Tribe and West Saanich tribe near Vancouver, CA. Beaverchief’s son Freddy, brother George, Salena Moses, Bret Smith and composer Mark Nichols lent their voices to the performance of his Dreamer Song then the stage lights slowly lit to the newly formed Synergia Northwest Orchestra, conducted by internationally recognized Dr. Nikolas Caoile, Director of Orchestras at Central Washington University which was comprised of some of the area’s finest professional classical musicians with selected players from Washington State Public School Orchestras.
Musicians who lent their talents to this historic breathtaking performance included some of the Pacific Northwests most high profile rock recording artists all backed by the 46 piece Synergia Northwest Orchestra including Grammy award-winning drummer Alan White (Yes, John Lennon) renowned guitarist Howard Leese (Heart, Paul Rodgers, Bad Company) with Randy Hansen, Mike Derosier, Michael McMorrow, Grammy nominated Eugene, Oregon native Tracy Bonham (Mother, Mother), visionary six-string violinist Geoffrey Castle, Seattle Seahawk Blue Thunder and 31 years in the making reunion of Original Members of “Heart” Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher, Michael Derosier, Howard Leese with vocalist Somar Macek.
A BIG thank you to all of our performers, our staff and crew (the best of the best) our wonderful volunteers, photographers and all of our sponsors: the Tacoma Landmark Convention Center, Musicworks Northwest, Washington Music Educators Assoctiation, NAF Productions, Stenide Lighting, Drifting Homeward Music, Music Aid Northwest and Central Washington University.
Synergia Northwest 2010,
Temple Theatre, Tacoma, WA
5-15-2010
Set One
Recorded Beaverchief voice over PA, telling story “The Rocks thought they were People”
Freddie & George Jameson , Salena Moses, Mark Nichols, Bret Smith–Beaverchief’s “Dreamers Song”
Segue w/stage lights to >
Synergia Orchestra, Bill Boyd, solo violin–”Andante and Allegro from Concerto Grosso Op. 6 #5″ George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Geoffrey Castle–”Streets of Inwood”>
Geoffrey Castle and Melissa Walsh–Violin and Harp –”Star of the County Down”>
Synergia Orchestra, Bill Boyd, solo violin; Phillip Peterson, solo cello; Melissa Walsh, harp–Variants of “Dives and Lazarus” Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Tracy Bonham w/Synergia Orchestra–”When You Laugh The World Laughs With You”
Tracy Bonham, Geoff Castle w/Synergia Orchestra–”Mother, Mother”
Marty Riemer/Bob Tomberg (Music Aid Northwest)
Intermission
Set Two
Freddie & George Jameson, Salena Moses, Mark Nichols,voices; Synergia Orchestra – Beaverchief’s “Swan Song”
Alan White and WHITE w/ Tracy Bonham Vocals w/Synergia Orchestr a–”In the Presence Of”- (Magnification)>
Alan White and WHITE w/Synergia Orchestra w/ Seattle Seahawk Blue Thunder (coming thru audience up to and on to stage)>
Alan White and WHITE, Tracy Bonham Vocals w/Synergia Orchestra and Seattle Seahawk Blue Thunder–”Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)—(Tales from Topographic Oceans)”
Synergia Orchestra –”Washington’s Birthday” Charles Ives (1874-1954)>
Synergia Orchestra –”Atlas Eclipticalis ” John Cage (1912-1992)>
Howard Leese w/Synergia Orchestra –”Somewhere”
Howard Leese w/Synergia Orchestra –”The South Summit”
Marty Riemer reads letter from Seattle Symphony Conductor and Musical Director Gerard Schwarz
Fossen, Fisher, Derosier, Leese, Macek w/Synergia Orchestra –”Mistral Wind”
Fossen, Fisher, Derosier, Leese, Macek w/Synergia Orchestra –”Crazy on You”
Fossen, Fisher, Derosier, Leese, Macek –”Barracuda” band only
Encore:
“Instant Karma!” with all rock musicians
Beaverchief’s “Dreamer Song” with all musicians, including rock artists w/Synergia Orchestra, drummers, and AUDIENCE!