THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY AND MARIACHI SUPERSTAR JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ KICK OFF THE 2023/2024 FAMILY CONCERTS SERIES WITH DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS AT BENAROYA HALL

PROGRAM INCLUDES WORKS BY COMPOSERS ARTURO MÁRQUEZ, BLAS GALINDO, JOSÉ PABLO MONCAYO AND MORE — TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Seattle, WA — On October 14, internationally recognized Mexican mariachi musician, composer and educator José Hernández joins the Seattle Symphony as a featured guest for the first Family Concert of the 2023/2024 season, Día de los Muertos, at Benaroya Hall. Douglas F. King Associate Conductor Sunny Xia leads the orchestra in the concert program, which features vibrant Mexican music and composers, taking audiences on a journey through styles, from traditional folk dance to contemporary classical music, including an exciting world premiere composed by mariachi legend José Hernández.

This fun-filled performance with dazzling guest artists, decorated ofrendas and musical storytelling is the perfect weekend event to bring the family together and celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday while building musical memories. Pre-concert activities, including craft making and instrument exploration, begin one hour prior to the performance in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, and are free with ticket purchase. Families can also purchase delicious Mexican treats, pan de Muerto and champurrado while viewing a beautiful tapete de arena (sand rug) by artist Fulgencio Lazo, which is an Oaxacan tradition to honor those who have died.

Ticket Information 

For more information on tickets for Día de los Muertos, please visit seattlesymphony.org or contact the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office. The Seattle Symphony Ticket Office is located in Benaroya Hall, at Third Avenue and Union Street. The Ticket Office can be reached by phone at 206.215.4747 during the following times: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Open Captions are provided at all Family Concerts Series performances. Please contact the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office at tickets@seattlesymphony.org or call 206.215.4747 for appropriate seating locations.

SUNNY XIA | CONDUCTOR

Recognized for her innate musicality, compelling presence and technical precision, conductor Sunny Xia’s ability to forge an immediate and captivating connection with orchestras and audiences alike has led to engagements around the country. Xia began her position as the Assistant Conductor of the Seattle Symphony in September 2022 and was promoted to the Douglas F. King Associate Conductor at the start of the 2023/2024 season. In the 2021/2022 season, Xia was selected as Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, where she made her festival debut leading the world premiere of Marc Migó Cortés’ Dumka in July 2022. She led a production of La bohème with the Chandler Opera Company to great success and served as Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra. A dynamic advocate for contemporary music, Xia led the Seattle Symphony in works by composers Katy Abbott, Chen Yi, Quinn Mason, Angelique Poteat, Gabriella Smith and Tan Dun in the 2022/2023 season.

JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ | HOST & COMPOSER

José Hernández and his platinum-selling ensemble Mariachi Sol de México are a mariachi music institution with a rich history and deep legacy of recordings spanning more than four decades. A proud fifth generation mariachi musician, Hernández traces his roots back to 1879 to the birthplace of mariachi — Jalisco, Mexico. After founding Mariachi Sol de Mexico in 1981, Hernández has broken countless barriers in the world of mariachi music and set a new standard for modern mariachi ensembles while immortalizing this passionate music across the world. An accomplished trumpet virtuoso, Hernández is the first mariachi musician to have arranged, composed and conducted for numerous international symphony orchestras while his Sol de Mexico became the first mariachi ensemble to earn two Grammy nominations. “Sol” continues to travel the world as Ambassadors of Mariachi Music, selling out venues in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, China and North Korea. Hernández has performed for five U.S. Presidents, was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Latinos in America” by Hispanic Magazine, and is deeply committed to his work in education and guiding young musicians, collaborating with school districts across the country to build standards-based mariachi programs.

SEATTLE SYMPHONY

The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony+ streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.

BENAROYA HALL 

Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, is located in downtown Seattle and surrounded by numerous restaurants, retail stores and parking facilities. Opened in 1998, Benaroya Hall is the most-visited performing arts venue in Seattle. It has received numerous awards, including a 2001 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award for outstanding architecture. Benaroya Hall has three versatile performance venues, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, all renowned for their pristine acoustics, luxurious design and prime location. For additional information, including rental information, event listings and public tour schedules, please visit www.benaroyahall.org.

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DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
FAMILY CONCERTS SERIES
Saturday, October 14, at 11 a.m.

Sunny Xia conductor
José Hernández host
Seattle Symphony

Zequinha de Abreu Tico-tico no Fubá
José Hernández Jarabe Sinfónico No. 1 (World Premiere)
Arturo Márquez Danzón No. 2 for Orchestra
Blas Galindo Sones de Mariachi
José Pablo Moncayo Huapango
Gabriela Ortiz Kauyumari

Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Associate Conductor.
Delta Air Lines proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Community Partnerships for Youth and Education.
The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, Marco Argenti, ArtsFund, the Merriman-Ross Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.