Music teachers promote music
The Enumclaw Music Teacher’s Association is a group of local music teachers who have joined together to promote and encourage the making and studying of music in the area.
Meeting once a month, this local chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association, also affiliated with the Music Teachers National Association, gives a place for music teachers to gather and talk about teaching music and encourage one another in professional development.
In addition to participating in the annual state level adjudications each spring, EMTA also plans cooperative events for its students like the Ribbon Festival earlier in November.
The group is led by Luanne Kauppila, president. Katherine Taylor serves as vice president, Shala Gunnells is treasurer and theory chairwoman and secretary is Barbara Shane. Bonnie McLarty is the group’s adjudications chairwoman and Gay Santerre handles publicity.
Local music teachers looking for a place to belong and share their talents are welcome. For questions about the group, contact Kauppila at Luanne@luannesmusicstudio.com or 360-825-8870.
Orchestra performs holiday concert
With a special appearance by “The Grinch,” the Plateau Community Orchestra presents “Holidays on the Plateau” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Enumclaw High School auditorium.
Under the direction of guest conductor Jonathan Graber, the group will perform traditional, classical and popular seasonal compositions. The program will feature “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” “O Holy Night,” “All Is Calm,” a variation on “Silent Night,” “A Bach Christmas,” “Santa at the Symphony,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Swingin’ On The Housetop,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Around the World at Christmas Time.”
“A Bach Christmas” and “Santa at the Symphony” weave familiar seasonal melodies with classical symphonic themes. “All Is Calm” highlights soloists from the orchestra.
A suggested concert donation of $5 is requested at the door to help cover expenses.
Writers hots Northwest author
Author Mike Hickey will be the guest speaker at the Plateau Area Writers Association’s general meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Enumclaw Public Library.
Hickey is currently working on a sequel to his first novel “Counterclockwise.” He has also published a poetry chapbook “In Defense of Eve,” as well as won awards for poetry, teaching and as a labor leader for the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to being a tenured creative writing instructor at South Seattle Community College, he has taught as a volunteer to children at summer bereavement camps, to at-risk youth in White Center and to prisoners at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
Hickey represents It’s About Time’s Reading Series’ vision, and has been participating in the series for more than a decade. Not only has he read his own work and presented a popular Writer’s Craft talk, he brings his students from both South Seattle Community College and the University of Washington Experimental College to participate, which meets at the Ballard branch of the Seattle Public Library. His years of teaching, as well as his involvement with the community, reflect his devotion to furthering fairness and justice in the public sphere.
The Poet Populist Program, which includes Hickey, supports creative public thinking, articulate leadership and the practice of democracy. It proposes artists can be part of the civic discourse and that the civic discourse can be artistically inclined. It also gives dozens of arts organizations a chance to reach out to audiences.
Chorale lights up holidays
The Cascade Foothills Chorale presents “The Darkness of Winter; The Light of the Holidays” concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the White River High School auditorium. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors, $5 for age 16 and younger.
The chorale invites audiences to join it experiences the cold, darkness of winter with songs like, “Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind,” by John Rutter, “A Glimpse of Snow and Evergreen” by the Northwest’s own Vijay Singh and “The Hands of Winter” by Mark Hayes.
The concert then lights up with songs like “One Candle Lights the Way” by Jay Althouse, Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Christmas Dinner” as well as John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol.”
The singing continues with Willan’s Hodie “Christus Natus Est,” Howard Helvey’s “O Lux Beatissima,” “Away in a Manger” and “What Child is This,” with guitar accompaniment.
The concert is complete with the annual Christmas carol sing-along as well as singing the “12 Days of Christmas,” contest style.
Ballet brings ‘Nutcracker’ to life
The Ballet Workshop presents its annual performance of the “Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 and 3 p.m. 3:00 pm Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 at the Enumclaw High School auditorium. Tickets are $12, $10 and $8. For information, contact The Ballet Workshop at 360-825-2196.
Band shares season’s sounds
The Gateway Concert Band will perform “Sounds of the Season” at 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the White River High School auditorium and 7:15 p.m. Dec. 6 at Enumclaw High School auditorium.
Classic debuts at Sumner stage
ManeStage Theatre Company presents “It’s A Wonderful Life” beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sumner Performing Arts Center, 1707 Main St. Performances continue at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, Dec. 5, Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 and 7 p.m. Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 10 and Dec. 11. Admission is $10 to $16.
