FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle Theatre Group (STG) PRESENTS SYNERGIA NORTHWEST 2011

Synergia Northwest 2011 Brings Rock, Pop, Cultural Artists And Classical Music Community Together Benefit to Aid Northwest Youth Music Education

Friday, May 6, 8:00pm
The Moore Theater, Seattle Washington

Reserved and Golden Circle Tickets On Sale Friday March 25, 10AM charge by phone at 877-784-4849 or online at STGPresents.org and www.synergianorthwest.com

APRIL 2011 - Synergia Northwest 2011 will debut its first Seattle concert on Friday, May 6th at 8:00pm at Seattle's renowned Moore Theater, original home to The Seattle Symphony. The concert event raises funds to provide extended learning, enrichment and performance opportunities to music students who would not have the necessary financial resources. A first of its kind event, Synergia Northwest 2010 launched in Tacoma's Landmark Convention Center last year, and blended classical, contemporary, professional and student musicians into one concert, unifying musicians across cultures, ages and musical genres all in the name of Washington State Youth Music Education. This year Music Aid Northwest's "Music Matters" Washington State License Plate Initiative campaign fund will be an emphasized beneficiary. This initiative allows the Washington State Department of Licensing to collect fees to create special 'Music Matters' license plates. These plates will help fund music programs in our Washington schools.

Highlights of the evening will include performances of the Synergia Northwest Orchestra with Pacific Northwest rock recording artists including Grammy award-winning drummer Alan White (Yes, John Lennon) and his band WHITE in a reprise of their performance at Synergia 2010, QUEESRYCHE, Shawn Smith of Brad, Tennis Pro, Heart by Heart with Heart founder Steve Fossen and Somar Macek, Brendan Hill of Blues Traveler, Geoffrey Castle, Michael McMorrow, special performances by the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drum Corp and Seattle's Kokon Taiko. The Kokon Taiko performance continues Synergia Northwest's acknowledgement of the area's unique and diverse cultural heritage. Synergia 2010 included a special tribute to the music of Beaverchief. Additional special guest performers will be announced.

The concert will conducted by internationally recognized Dr. Nikolas Caoile, Director of Orchestras at Central Washington University and the conductor of the Wenatchee Symphony Orchestra. Acclaimed violinist William Boyd is the concertmaster. The Synergia Northwest Orchestra is comprised of some of the areas finest professional classical musicians and selected players from Washington State All-State groups and regional youth and public school orchestras.

Within the wide spectrum of music, the Synergia Orchestra will also perform the brilliant and moving Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia composition "China Doll" from Georgia-based composer and educator Lee Johnson’s "Dead Symphony #6: An Orchestral Tribute to the Music of the Grateful Dead".

Synergia Northwest was conceived and developed by Seattle composer, producer and recording artist, Michael McMorrow, who has long been involved in producing some of Washington States most prestigious and beneficial music events. McMorrow is also an advisory board member of Music Aid Northwest.

"Last year Synergia Northwest 2010 was a grand and successful musical experiment and due to the overwhelming response from audience members and participants, the Synergia Northwest concept continues to blossom and grow. We learned a lot and for such a new concept we did well. We ended up raising over $8000.00 that provided extended learning, enrichment and performance opportunities to students who would not have the necessary financial resources. If there is one single cause I can hang my hat on, it is the importance of youth music programs," said McMorrow.

The event will have special emphasis on "Music Matters", a self-perpetuating fundraising imitative Senate-House Bill 1329 to help support school music programs through sales of a distinctive new Washington State license plate, available through the Washington State Department of Licensing. Monies raised through Synergia Northwest 2011 will help the campaign fund school music programs statewide in Washington as well as collect signatures needed to continue its development in the state legislative process.

Synergia Northwest 2011 is sponsored by Washington Music Educators Association, Central Washington University, NAF Productions, Drifting Homeward Music, STG, Stenide Ilumination. Synergia Northwest 2011 has again enlisted Music Aid Northwest, a Washington State 501 (c)(3) organization, to direct the funds to Young Musicians Excelling award funding grant program through Washington Music Educators Association to Musicworks Northwest and Music Matters. Other non profit agencies benefiting from Synergia Northwest 2011 will be announced.

Tickets are on sale Friday, March 25, 2011 at 10am at Tickets.com, in person at the Paramount Theatre box offices (M-F 10am-6pm), 24-hour kiosks located outside The Paramount & Moore Theatres, charge by phone at 877-784-4849 or online at STGPresents.org. (Golden Circle seats are a reserved seat in the first 3 rows with access to a pre-show meet and greet with musicians, a poster for autographs and a photo opportunity.)

Military discount is available to all current and retired military and their families. A special password can be requested for online ticketing only by contacting Operation Military Family at mschindler@operationmilitaryfamily.org Tickets can be purchased for Synergia Northwest at www.stgpresents.org

The production team includes: Dr. Bret P. Smith/Central Washington University - Synergia NW Orchestra; Philip Petersen/Orchestrator/Arranger; Beth Chandler (Yakima Symphony) Orchestrator/Arranger; Mark Naficy/NAF Productions, Inc. Production; Amy Elyse/Production (H.O.R.D.E., Live Nation, House of Blues) Production and Logistics Coordinator; and Brenna Davenport-Leigh, Hellbender Media Event Publicity; and Carolyn Douglas, Broadcast News.

Synergia Northwest remains committed to Northwest Youth Music Education

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"It's all about celebrating the extraordinary talents of our region's young people and raising awareness for youth music in the Northwest, something that is very close to my heart."

Gerard Schwarz, Conductor Musical Director Seattle Symphony

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Synergia Northwest - 640 Richmond Beach Road, Shoreline, Washington 98177 206.264.5072