SEATTLE SYMPHONY, MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS, RUSSELL WILSON AND CIARA BENEFIT CONCERT RAISES NEARLY 1.4 MILLION TO SUPPORT YOUTH, EQUITY AND ACCESS TO THE ARTS

Funds raised will directly support initiatives of the Why Not You Foundation, the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Equity Fund and the Seattle Symphony’s Education Programs

SEATTLE, WA – On Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 8 p.m. Seattle forces joined together to present an inspirational one-night-only benefit concert at Benaroya Hall in support of greater equity and opportunities for youth, and access to the arts. This special evening was hosted by Russell Wilson, conducted by Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor Pablo Rus Broseta, and featured individual and collaborative performances by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Ciara, and the Seattle Symphony.

Funds raised from the benefit concert totaled nearly 1.4 million. All proceeds from the evening will directly support initiatives and programs of the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Equity Fund, Russell and Ciara’s Why Not You Foundation, and the Seattle Symphony.

The evening opened with Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor Pablo Rus Broseta leading the orchestra in a performance of Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. Seattle Symphony Board Chair Leslie Jackson Chihuly and Larry Estrada, Board member of the Seattle Symphony and the Why Not You Foundation, welcomed the audience and explained the cause that united the three organizations.

“Equity means that everyone is on an equal playing field — it’s seeing who’s trying to get in the room but can’t. Equity cannot be achieved without access and all three groups tonight are doing very important work to ensure the youth in our community have transformative opportunities,” said Larry Estrada.

Chihuly added, “At the core of the Seattle Symphony is our mission — one that is universal: to unleash the power of music, bring people together, and lift the human spirit. We all believe that music has the power to transform lives and we’re so thrilled that tonight’s concert brought us together for a night of incredible music while raising funds to empower our youth.”

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson hosted the evening and introduced performances by current and past participants who have benefited from each organization’s respective programs. 

Tah-jae, a sophomore at Seattle’s Franklin High School and mentee of Friends of the Children, performed a spoken word piece, titled after Russell and Ciara’s foundation, “Why Not You.” The Why Not You Foundation partners with organizations to inspire and empower children so they reach their highest potential.

“We are so proud of our work in the community through the Why Not You Foundation and are always looking for ways to collaborate with innovative partners such as the Seattle Symphony and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to have a greater impact,” said Russell Wilson.

“Music is so powerful and inspiring,” says Ciara. “Just as we look to the gym for our physical well-being, music and the arts is an avenue for mental and emotional wellness and healing. We are truly grateful for our community’s support and excited that the funds raised tonight will directly benefit the lives of kids throughout our region.”

Third through fifth grade Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School students who have participated in the Seattle Symphony’s Link Up program joined the orchestra on stage as the audience sang along to Beethoven’s famous Ode to Joy. Link Up is a multi-year curriculum that encourages young students to fully participate in the music-making process. Taught by classroom teachers, music teachers or Seattle Symphony teaching artists, Link Up culminates in a performance at Benaroya Hall where students sing and play along with the orchestra.

Glasshouse, aspiring teen hip-hop artists from The Residency, performed original songs on the program. The Residency is a program founded by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis that provides teens with tools they need to strengthen songwriting, performance techniques and beat production. Two alumni from the program, Talaya Logan and Aurelio Valdez, joined Russell to share how their experience in The Residency helped their growth as individuals and young artists. A powerful poetry reading by The Residency participant Lashaunycee O’Cain followed.

"I was fortunate growing up to have access to equipment and opportunities that helped me find my passion in music. We wanted to do whatever we can to give young people great opportunities, so they can discover their passions," said Ryan Lewis. "Seattle has always been a place that values creativity and culture. Creating music and arts opportunities for youth is an important way to continue that tradition."

“As our city grows and changes, it's so important for us to be supporting and investing in young people. If we want this generation and the next generation to be healthy, fulfilled and to make progress, then we need to give young people the space and platform to express themselves,” added Macklemore.

After intermission students from the Garfield High School Orchestra joined the Seattle Symphony side-by-side on stage, performing “Same Love” and “Otherside” with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, with special appearances by Mary Lambert and Eric Nally. The program concluded with collaborative performances by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Ciara and the Seattle Symphony.

This unique event sprang from conversations between the artists and organizations as they explored fun and creative ways to come together in an effort to inspire and engage the greater community to support critical programs that are focused on youth, equity and access to the arts.

This special musical evening was presented by Alaska Airlines, with additional sponsors including T-Mobile, Aegis Living, Safeway, Expedia, Larry & Brittni Estrada, Goldman Sachs, Linda Rae Hickey & Mark Grant, Jeffrey & Grace Roh, Intuitivex and Wheels Up.

WHY NOT YOU FOUNDATION

On a mission to empower change in the world, one individual and one child at a time, the Why Not You Foundation supports programs and organizations with specific focuses on poverty, education, and health and wellness. The Foundation was founded by Seattle Seahawk Quarterback Russell Wilson who was challenged by his late father to always approach life with an anything is possible (“Why not you?”) attitude. Russell’s wife, Ciara, recently joined the Foundation to lead initiatives specifically focused on empowering girls and young women in all aspects of their lives. To learn more, visit whynotyoufdn.org. 

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS EQUITY FUND

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are committed to using their resources and platform to advance issues of racial and social justice and through the M&RL Equity Fund, they are partnering with organizations dedicated to these values. In 2015, along with MoPOP and Arts Corps, they founded The Residency, an innovative program that provides access and opportunity to young aspiring hip-hop artists in the greater Seattle area. 

SEATTLE SYMPHONY

The Seattle Symphony is one of America's leading symphony orchestras and is internationally acclaimed for its innovative programming and extensive recording history. Under the leadership of Music Director Ludovic Morlot since September 2011, the Symphony is heard from September through July by more than 500,000 people through live performances and radio broadcasts. It performs in one of the finest modern concert halls in the world — the acoustically superb Benaroya Hall — in downtown Seattle. Its extensive education and community engagement programs reach over 65,000 children and adults each year. The Seattle Symphony has a deep commitment to new music, commissioning many works by living composers each season. The orchestra has made nearly 150 recordings and has received three Grammy Awards, 23 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades. In 2014 the Symphony launched its in-house recording label, Seattle Symphony Media. Link Up is a national program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

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PHOTOS & VIDEOS AVAILABLE HERE.

SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Shiva Shafii, Public Relations Manager | shiva.shafii@seattlesymphony.org
Rosalie Contreras, Vice President of Communications | rosalie.contreras@seattlesymphony.org

CIARA
Lauren Ceradini |lceradini@smithandcompany.com

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS
Carrie Tolles | carrie@tcbr.com
Allison Smith | allison@tcbr.com

WHY NOT YOU FOUNDATION
Michael Graubard, WHY FOR GOOD | michael@whyforgood.com