Événement

Innocent

The Choir of the Salish Seas inaugural concert, "Innocent," commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Olympic pipeline explosion in Bellingham's Whatcom Falls Park, and includes a variety of upbeat and inspirational songs memorializing locally and nationally known boys and men, including Wade King, Steven Tsiorvas and Liam Wood, who died in the pipeline catastrophe.

A major feature of the program is the thought-provoking and timely oratorio entitled "The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed." This 15-minute tour-de-force for male voices and strings, takes the literal last words spoken by seven unarmed Black men killed by police or other authority figures, and sets them to soaring melodies and visceral rhythms. These men, including Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, have become icons in the struggle for racial justice in America.

"Seven Last Words," says Kevin, "is a profoundly moving work of genius in the tradition of the choral oratorio. With its shifting palette of musical moods, this modern classic finds a direct line to our hearts."

Soprano Ibidunni Ojikutu and tenor Korland Simmons, both with Seattle Opera, are soloists in the program. The Renaissance a cappella choir, Vox Antiqua, are featured guests. Members of the Whatcom Symphony perform string accompaniments along with collaborative pianist Emily Gantt.

The Choir of the Salish Sea is a highly select mens choir created in the spring of 2019 in Bellingham, showcasing singers with advanced vocal technique and extensive choral experience.

Director and founder Kevin Allen-Schmid says "We started with 16 of the finest voices in the area, and they are singing from the heart. Just to hear them fill out a chord is a soul soothing experience, and when they kick a rhythm into gear, hold on to your hats!

Between concerts, at 5pm, director Allen-Schmid will facilitate a 30-minute session for concertgoers to learn more about the creation and issues of The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, and to process their own emotional reaction to it. This exploratory session is free to the public and will also be held in the sanctuary of the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.