Dia de Muertos Concierto

Join Paula Madrigal and the Ballard Civic Orchestra for Orquesta Northwest’s annual Dia de Muertos Concierto on Thursday, November 2nd at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard.

Featuring music by special guests Trio Guadalevin and soprano Viviana Garza, dance performances by Bailadores de Bronce and Joyas Mestizas, and artwork by Maria G. Casey, Dia de Muertos is an opportunity to honor our ancestors and loved ones with the community. Bring photos of those who have passed, and place them on the Altar de Muertos that will be present in the concert hall during the event.

Dia de Muertos

The Day of the Dead is a deeply rooted Mexican cultural tradition that honors the deceased and celebrates the lives of those who have passed away. The beliefs and practices related to the Day of the Dead have their roots in pre-Columbian indigenous cultures, such as the Aztecs, and have been mixed with Catholic influences after the arrival of the Spanish.

Some prominent elements of the celebration include:

Ofrendas (Offerings): Families create decorative altars in their homes or in cemeteries to remember their departed loved ones. These altars are adorned with flowers (especially marigolds, known as "flower of the dead"), candles, photographs of the deceased, personal items, and food and drinks they used to enjoy.

Sugar Skulls and Pan de Muerto: Sugar skulls and pan de muerto, a special bread with skull or bone-shaped decorations, are made and placed on the altars and shared during family gatherings.

Cemetery Visits: Families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones, often spending the night there to remember and honor the departed.
Parades and Artistic Representations: In some regions of Mexico, there are parades and theatrical performances involving skulls and skeletons, including the famous "La Catrina," created by artist José Guadalupe Posada.
Music and Dance: Traditional music and dance also play a significant role in the festivities, with mariachis and other musical groups playing specific Day of the Dead songs.

Catholicism and Indigenous Beliefs: The celebration combines Catholic elements, such as the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, with indigenous beliefs and practices related to life and death.

The Day of the Dead is a celebration that varies in form and style throughout Mexico, with different regions and communities having their own traditions and specific approaches. It is a vibrant, symbolic, and meaningful holiday that celebrates the relationship between the living and the dead, remembering those who have passed in an atmosphere of respect and joy.

Dia at the National Nordic Museum. In Scandinavia, similar to the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos, November 2nd is a day dedicated to remembering all souls and to honoring saints and family members who have departed. Most Swedes take the day off and visit cemeteries with their families or stay home to share a big meal.

About Orquesta Northwest

Led by primarily Latinx staff and board, Orquesta Northwest has worked to promote a sense of belonging and empowerment in Seattle-area Latino community members, beginning with the arrival of Paula Nava Madrigal, professional cellist, and conductor from Guadalajara. In collaboration with a local nonprofit providing instruction, without charge, to under-served youth, she launched the World Youth Orchestra program the same year. In 2015 Ms. Madrigal and Teo Benson, professional violinist and founder and Director of Halcyon Strings Music School, co-founded the Ballard Civic Orchestra and began offering annual Latino arts and culture concert series featuring Latinx guest artists and composers. In 2019 Orquesta Northwest became a 501c3 nonprofit organization, presenting World Youth Orchestra and Ballard Civic Orchestra arts and culture programs and projects and offering an annual Master Class by a new Cascade Conducting program in partnership with Symphony Tacoma. Orquesta Northwest collaborates and partners with other Seattle-area Latino organizations, such as the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, Casa Latina, Latino Community Fund, and SeaMar Museum of Chicano/a Latino/a Culture, to present Latino arts and culture events and youth educational programming without charge.

The programs and projects of Orquesta Northwest serve as a bridge to excellence in every dimension of life by celebrating Latino arts and culture, empowering marginalized community members, especially youth, and building partnerships and deepening ties with the Latino community. In 2022 Orquesta Northwest social justice projects include voter education, community messaging about the pandemic and vaccination, a celebration of Latinx essential workers, youth cultural education, and capacity-building to achieve equitable access to space in Seattle.

Orquesta Northwest is supported by city, county, state, and federal grants as well as foundations and individuals, including the National Association of Latino Arts & Culture (NALAC), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Tides Foundation, 4Culture (King County), ArtsWA, Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture and Neighborhood Matching Fund, and Equitable Communities Initiative.

Dia de Muertos - Roots & Traditions Concert