Join us for the 3nd Annual Sips for Seattle Children’s charity event!

Sips for Seattle Children’s
Saturday, September 17th
6 – 8:30 PM
EFESTE Winery

Our Sips for Seattle Children’s charity event now not only includes an evening of fabulous wine, gourmet wood-fired pizza, and prize drawings, but also a performance by local beatboxing extraordinaire and American Idol finalist, Blake Lewis!

Raise your glass to toast Grammy award-winning composer Mateo Messina’s upcoming 14th annual symphony concert benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital. You’ll also have the chance to buy tickets to the concert while at the winery.

Drawings will be held for some fantastic prizes, including an XBOX Kinect and more!

Proceeds benefit uncompensated care at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.

Event details:
Date: Saturday, September 17
Time: 6:00-8:30pm
Location: EFESTE Winery
Cost: $25 in advance or $30 at the door. [Purchase Advance Tickets]
More Information [PDF]

We are not a typical symphony.  It’s sometimes hard to describe our concerts.  When I hear “symphony” I often think “expensive nap.”  Yes, we have an orchestra.  Often we have choirs.  Then we pepper in Brazilian capoeira fighters, Japanese taiko drummers, the entire University of Washington drumline, Brazilian drummers and dancers, 2nd grade school choirs, DJ’s, & electric cellists (note:  the cello is electric, not the actual cellist).  We joke around a lot.  In fact, here is an example of one of the largest forms of flatulence you’ll ever witness:  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z8VjxG_Vto)  Our stage has hosted the Pike Place Fishmongers throwing salmon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iASkA1pdFkk), Alice in Chains fully, completely rocking out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIY3aaJCjn4), our entire audience singing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7bvUvJsZsk), even a barista from Starbucks making a cup of coffee with the orchestra (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IBX4CIBGRw).  We have a lot of fun with our audiences & on stage!  Each concert in our 13 year run so far has been unique, emotional, fun, and serves a purpose.  The best way to describe a concert is to let our audience describe it for you!  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdZhp7CxOoY)

Writing a symphony is always a journey for me.  It’s fed by my experiences, emotions, thoughts, the general public, whatever happens to catch my attention in the time I am dreaming, scheming, plotting, planning, pondering, sketching, playing, writing, producing, and eventually debuting.  I’d love to say there is a tried and true formula for writing a concert, but in my 14 years of writing symphonies, I have to admit, it’s different every time!  This is a good thing.  I can look back to what I wrote in my first symphony as a 23 year old and think, “wow, that was elementary.”  Then again, it is still some of the greatest music I’ve ever written.  That first concert was more influenced by Led Zeppelin than Beethoven.  That’s a good thing to me as I believe it’s good to challenge the rules, try new ideas, be a pioneer…

Did you know that . . .

1) Seattle Children’s Hospital (SCH) is ranked 7th among the nation’s best children’s hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report 2011?

2) SCH provides care for ALL children regardless of the family’s ability to pay?

3) SCH provided $102 million in uncompensated care to families in need in 2010?

4) though the need may seem overwhelming, each guild plays a vital part in providing families with the care they need for their sick child?

5) the Symphony Guild has raised over $875,000 for uncompensated care?

Well, now you DO know!

Thank you for partnering with The Symphony Guild and assuring that ALL children receive the care they need at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Please join us for the Fourteenth Annual Benefit Symphony composed by Mateo Messina titled The Last Wonder of the World on November 4, 2011 and help us exceed $1 million raised for uncompensated care!