FRIDA presented by Orquesta Northwest

A Concert Honoring Latinx Essential Workers

On June 12th, at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Orquesta Northwest will present Frida, a Latino arts and culture concert, celebrating Latinx Essential Workers and featuring the Ballard Civic Orchestra with Paula Madrigal conducting. Frida is a colorful and dramatic modern opera about the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, by Robert Xavier Rodriguez, an American composer with Mexican roots.

The June 12th event has two special guest artists. In her role as soprano for the Frida opera suite, Hanna Socorro, Filipino-American soprano and dynamic stage actress, will display a voice with a dark and honeyed quality that conveys both strength and tenderness. As Ballard Civic Orchestra’s special guest artist, Mirta Wymerszberg, an accomplished flutist, bandoneon player, vocalist, and native of Buenos Aires, will contribute her extensive experience in authentic music from Argentina where she received her education and performed. Ariel Pirotti will be featured on piano. Seattle artist Alfredo Arreguín generously granted permission to use his portrait of Frida entitled “Fragrance” for our June 12 event publicity.

In addition, Orquesta Northwest will introduce its newest educational and performance project: Orquesta Escuela de Tango, created by Paula Madrigal. Several of the most advanced World Youth Orchestra members have already been learning the intriguing tango style of music.

We hope you can join us for a wonderful afternoon of opera and tango!

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.

Ticketing Policy

Orquesta Northwest (ONW) is committed to the health and safety of our guests, visitors, artists, volunteers, and staff. In compliance with developing guidelines issued by federal, state, and local governments, ONW has put in place preventative measures to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our Concert venues. By purchasing a ticket to a Orquesta Northwest event, or by entering or by one’s presence in a ONW venue, including rehearsal spaces and shops, a patron, actor, visitor, volunteer, staff member or guests agrees to abide by all COVID-19 safety protocols as determined by ONW at the time of the event. This could include but is not limited to mask wearing, temperature checks, proof of vaccination, social distancing, and use of credit cards to purchase concessions and merchandise. All guests agree to adjust any behavior as instructed by members of ONW staff, should a staff member determine such behavior to be unsafe and request such an adjustment. Specific safety protocols will be listed on orquestanow.org prior to Concert performances and may be updated at any time.

COVID-19 Acknowledgement

Ticket Holder acknowledges and agrees there are inherent risks to health and safety associated with attendance at any Concert performance. Risks include, but are not limited to, the possibility of contracting COVID-19, a variant of COVID-19, and other communicable diseases (collectively, “Illnesses”) any of which can result in unforeseen impacts on one’s health and, in some cases, loss of life. Ticket Holder acknowledges the decision to attend a Concert performance is voluntary, solely within Ticket Holder’s discretion, assumes all risks, and understands the Concert venue does not and cannot prevent the spread of such Illnesses.

If you feel ill, or test positive for COVID-19, you agree not come to the Concert venue.

COVID-19 Waiver

In consideration of being permitted to attend and by attending any Orquesta Northwest Concert performance, Ticket Holder acknowledges and assumes the inherent risks associated with the above COVID-19 Acknowledgment. Ticket Holder and anyone acting on Ticket Holder’s behalf knowingly and voluntarily releases the Concert venue, and without limitation, its Board of Directors, its officers, employees, performers, agents, and affiliates and/or any person or entity acting on their behalf (collectively, the “Venue Releasees”), waives all claims of liability and damages either at law or in equity, to the fullest extent permissible by law, that could be brought against the Venue Releasees, and relinquishes all rights to bring any claim or recover any damages associated with injury or loss of life against the Venue Releasees in connection with exposure or infection with such Illnesses arising out of entry into and/or attendance at any Concert performance regardless of any action, inaction, or fault on the part of the Venue Releasees.

Ticket Holder understands and agrees that this Agreement is subject to and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to choice or conflict of law provisions. If any provision in this Agreement is declared illegal, void, or otherwise unenforceable Ticket Holder agrees that such provision or part thereof will be deemed severable, and all other provisions contained herein remain valid and binding with full force and effect as if the severed provision or part did not exist.