Wayward Music Series: Songs from the Exotic
$5-$20 donation
Hale Smith — The Valley Wind
Judith Weir — Songs from the Exotic
Emily Ostrom — Selected works
Peter Nelson-King — Selected works
Emily Ostrom, vocalist
Peter Nelson-King, piano
Aaron Kirschner – Four Love Songs of Sara Teasdale (Northwest premiere)
Hale Smith – The Valley Wind
Judith Weir – Songs from the Exotic
Complete program TBA
Join accomplished multi-instrumentalists Emily Ostrom and Peter Nelson-King for an evening of striking contemporary art songs for medium voice and piano. This widely-varied program features modern masterworks that prove the art song has remained a vital medium for contemporary classical music in America. Chief among the works are three major cycles: Hale Smith's lush The Valley Wind, Judith Weir's beguiling Songs from the Exotic, and Aaron Kirschner's Four Love Songs of Sara Teasdale receiving its Northwest premiere. Also featured are world-premiere songs composed by the performers, as well as other rare gems from the American song repertoire.
Emily Ostrom is a mezzo-soprano, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who has dedicated her life to music. She completed undergraduate studies at Oberlin College and Conservatory with dual degrees in oboe performance and neuroscience. In college, she developed a serious interest in singing and then went off to the University of York (UK) for a master’s in vocal performance specifically focused on Renaissance and contemporary music for five voices.
Peter Nelson-King is a trumpet player, pianist, tenor, and composer born in the Seattle area. After getting acclaim in school as a trumpet player he earned two degrees in brass performance – a Bachelors from University of Puget Sound and a Masters from Boston University. He performs with the Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, Ensign Symphony & Chorus, and Brass Band Northwest, as well as the keyboardist for the Paper Puppet Opera. He has mounted a host of new music concerts as a soloist and chamber performer, premiering dozens of works over more than 10 years.