Garfield High School 2011 Graduation

Last night we attended our son's High School Graduation Ceremony @ Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
It was a night of celebration for over 400 grads.  Congratulations to all those who have graduated this year.  Go Bull Dogs!

Garfield High School Graduation Ceremony 2011,  Memorial Stadium

Garfield Vocal Jazz @ Lionel Hampton 2011

We just got back from the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho on the University of Idaho's Campus.  The festival started Wednesday and will continue until Sunday.  Our son Ian is one of the members of a 20 person Vocal Jazz Group directed by Carol Burton.  They had adjudicated performances starting at 8:15 am in the morning.  Some students performed solo pieces that were judged and then the Vocal Jazz group performed 3 pieces in the multi-mic division.  Garfield did well enough that two students Lucie Saether and Otienno Stevens-Terry were asked to perform their solo pieces at the large afternoon performances at the Kibbe Dome and Garfield Vocal Jazz was asked to sing "Blues for Stephanie".   Congratulations to Garfield Vocal Jazz and Director Carol Burton!

Here is the sketch of the Multi-mic performance in Haddock Hall.

Garfield Vocal Jazz @ Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest 2011

Vocal Jazz Practice

Garfield Vocal Jazz Choir was practicing for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival coming up in a couple of weeks.  I went to hear them.  My son Ian is singing a duet in one of the pieces.  Here is a sketch of the group under the direction of Carol Burton choir director.

Winter Waltz @ Benaroya

Friday night was the 18th annual Winter Waltz @ Benaroya Hall.  This is a fundraiser event put on by Friends of Garfield Orchestra and the Garfield High School Orchestra led by Marcus Tsutakawa.
It was a wonderful event open to the community.  Students, parents and general supporters of the orchestra attended.  An evening of waltzing from 7:00 to 11:00.   What was so great about it was seeing everyone enjoy the dance whether or not you really knew how.  At some moments there were so many people on the dance floor that it felt like driving in evening traffic!  The music was excellent and filled the space.  I brought my sketchbook and watercolors here are the sketches I did while there.

Winter Waltz @ Benaroya Hall

Chihuly Chandelier in Entry Lobby @ Benaroya

Eventful Week

Haven't posted in a while but the last two weeks have been eventful... filled with concerts, art exhibits and December Sketchcrawl.

Pacific Place Atrium

This sketch is of Pacific Place where we met for the December Urban Sketchers' Sketchcrawl.  Good thing we set it up inside because it was pouring outside. 

We also went to the Picasso exhibit which was simply astounding.  That exhibit really takes more than an evening to enjoy.  I was exhausted after going through it.  I would suggest breaking it up to two sessons. The sketch below is of Harborsteps while waiting for our time to get in to see the Picasso exhibit.

Post Alley and Harborsteps

Two concerts that we went to in the last couple of weeks were the Garfield High School Musical Revue and City Cantabile Choir Magnificat. The Musical Revue was great entertainment, music dance, comedy....the Garfield Vocal Jazz and Concert Choir did an outstanding job putting this all together under the direction of Choir Director Carol Burton. The second concert  was the City Cantabile Choir singing two Magnificats. The Bach Magnificat was under the direction of Fred West and in collaboration with music director Kent Stevenson and the Elemental Ensemble, a Gospel Magnificat by Kent Stevenson was sung in the second half of the concert. Classical Bach and Contemporary Gospel. Absolutely breathtaking, inspiring, handclapping, foot tapping music all in one concert! 

City Cantabile Choir Bach Magnificat.

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Garfield High School Musical Revue 2010

The "Q" Lobby

Friends of Garfield Orchestra

Monday night the Garfield High School Orchestra had a rehearsal and a parent group supporting the orchestra had the first meeting of the year in the Commons.  I took the opportunity to sketch while listening to the plans for the year.  Garfield High School Orchestra is under the direction of Marcus Tsutakawa and has grown from 10 students in 1985 to 160 with three levels of orchestra and smaller chamber groups.  See www.garfieldorchestra.org for concert listings this year.

Sundodger Invitational

Saturday, September the 18th was University of Washington's Sundodger Invitational Cross Country Meet.  Both of my sons ran in the meet, which was located at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.  It turned out to be a gorgeous day.  Despite showers the night before.