SEATTLE SYMPHONY PRESENTS FREE WEEKLY STREAMING FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CLOSURE
MEET THE INSTRUMENT: CLARINET | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, AT 11 A.M. PDT
TINY CLIPS FOR TINY TOTS: WOODWINDS | FRIDAY, APRIL 17, AT 11 A.M. PDT
MEET THE INSTRUMENT: PERCUSSION | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, AT 11 A.M. PDT
TINY CLIPS FOR TINY TOTS: PERCUSSION | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, AT 11 A.M. PDT
Seattle Symphony Horn John Turman hosts the Tiny Tots Concerts series at Benaroya Hall.
TWO NEW PERFORMANCES EACH WEEK WITH MEET THE INSTRUMENT ON WEDNESDAYS AND TINY CLIPS FOR TINY TOTS ON FRIDAYS
Seattle, WA — The Seattle Symphony presents new weekly installments of Meet the Instrument and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots during Benaroya Hall's closure through the end of May. Since the Hall initially closed on March 12 following COVID-19 guidelines from government and health officials, the Symphony has continued to share music with audiences in Seattle and around the world through concert rebroadcasts and livestreams. After the programs' introductions in recent weeks, Meet the Instrument and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots now join the Symphony's regular streaming schedule to offer joy, discovery and fun for the young and young at heart. The educational content also serves as a resource for teachers and families with young children during this period of school closures.
On Wednesdays at 11 a.m. PDT, Meet the Instrument introduces an instrument in the orchestra to viewers through short excerpts performed by the Seattle Symphony musician hosting that week's video. This program kicked off with the tuba and has since included the French horn and violin in subsequent weeks. Following the musical exploration, children can follow instructions available on the Symphony’s website to make a craft inspired by the instrument of the week. Upcoming broadcasts include Meet the Instrument: Clarinet with Seattle Symphony Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Eric Jacobs on April 15 and Meet the Instrument: Percussion with Seattle Symphony Principal Percussion Michael A. Werner on April 22. Viewers can tune in for the fun on Wednesdays on YouTube and Facebook.
Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots will be broadcast on Fridays at 11 a.m. PDT and is modeled after the Symphony's Tiny Tots Concerts. Hosted by Seattle Symphony Horn John Turman, the program builds on each week's Meet the Instrument by exploring the related orchestral section. Young viewers continue learning about other members of the instrument family through song and performances by orchestra musicians. Finally, the instruments unite for an ensemble performance to show how they work together. Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots recently featured the brass and strings sections. Following their Meet the Instrument companion videos, Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots: Woodwinds will air on April 17 and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots: Percussion will air on April 24. Families can join in the musical adventure on Fridays on YouTube and Facebook.
A selection of Meet the Instrument and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots videos will also be available on-demand on the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube channel starting one week after the initial air date.
The Seattle Symphony will continue to organize additional free livestreams and rebroadcasts until the orchestra can return to the Benaroya Hall stage. Programming updates will be shared at seattlesymphony.org/live. Those interested can also sign up to receive email notifications about upcoming Seattle Symphony rebroadcasts and livestreams. Audiences can view performances on YouTube and Facebook.
Inspired by the orchestra’s dedication to serving the community, more than 2,700 donors have stepped forward with a gift since the closure of Benaroya Hall. These funds launch the Seattle Symphony Future Fund, providing critical resources to ensure a bright future for symphonic music in our community. To learn more about how to support the Seattle Symphony or to make a donation, visit seattlesymphony.org/give. The Seattle Symphony looks forward to welcoming audiences back to Benaroya Hall again very soon and wishes everyone health and comfort in the coming weeks.
ERIC JACOBS | CLARINET, BASS CLARINET & HOST
Eric Jacobs is the Clarinet and Bass Clarinet of the Seattle Symphony. Prior to joining the Symphony, Jacobs was based in Los Angeles pursuing an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral musician and new music advocate. He has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the symphonies of Pasadena, Richmond, Santa Barbara and the Quad Cities. As a chamber musician he has played with musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Danish Radio Symphony, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and many others in the United States, Canada, Denmark and Germany.
A passionate supporter of new music, he has premiered many new works as a core member of the What's Next? Ensemble, DC8 (Da Camera Society), HEAR NOW Music Festival, Jacaranda: Music at the Edge and the Long Beach Opera. He has also performed with Ensemble Modern, the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble and at Carnegie Hall under the guidance of John Adams and David Robertson in two concerts of 20th- and 21st-century American music. He is also the clarinetist with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.
He is forever indebted to his many great teachers over the years: Nancy Genovese, Yehuda Gilad, David Howard, Kenneth Lee, Thomas LeGrand, Charles West and Michael Webster.
MICHAEL A. WERNER | PRINCIPAL PERCUSSION & HOST
Before joining the Seattle Symphony as Principal Percussion in the fall of 2009, Michael A. Werner was a percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera for 13 years, and Principal Percussion for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for two years.
Werner has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Chamber Ensemble, Metropolitan Opera Percussion Ensemble, Pittsburgh Symphony and Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Canadian Brass and Empire Brass ensembles, and at the Santa Barbara International Percussion Festival.
Werner is on the faculty at The New School for Music in New York, and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He has served as a clinician and instructor for the Cleveland Institute of Music, Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, New World Symphony, Oberlin Percussion Institute and Percussive Arts Society. He also serves as an artist and clinician for Pearl Percussion, Zildjian cymbals and Freer Percussion.
Werner started his secondary studies at the Eastman School of Music, under John Beck. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Wiener. Werner also studied with Tom Freer at Cleveland State University.
JOHN TURMAN | HORN & HOST
Prior to becoming a member of the Seattle Symphony, John Turman was awarded the position of principal horn of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in the spring of 2015. During the 2013–2014 season, Turman performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as acting third horn. Additionally, he has performed with the Austin Lyric Opera, Austin Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Symphony. Turman received his degree in Horn Performance from Rice University in 2015 where he studied with William VerMeulen. In addition to performing in the Seattle Symphony horn section, Turman has taken on the role of host and helped develop the highly successful Seattle Symphony Tiny Tots Concerts series for families with young children.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, 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, 26 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 500,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts.
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MEET THE INSTRUMENT: CLARINET WITH ERIC JACOBS
Wednesday, April 15, at 11 a.m.
Eric Jacobs, clarinet & host
Meet the Clarinet! Seattle Symphony clarinetist Eric Jacobs will perform short pieces and lead an exploration of the clarinet.
The broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
TINY CLIPS FOR TINY TOTS: WOODWINDS
Friday, April 17, at 11 a.m.
John Turman, host
Jeffrey Barker, flute
Mary Lynch, oboe
Eric Jacobs, clarinet
Dana Jackson, bassoon
Danielle Kuhlmann, horn
Building on the Meet the Instrument: Clarinet broadcast, Seattle Symphony Horn and Tiny Tots host John Turman will guide young viewers in learning more about the woodwinds section in the orchestra, featuring songs from the Tiny Tots Concerts series and a woodwind quintet of Seattle Symphony musicians.
The broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
MEET THE INSTRUMENT: PERCUSSION WITH MICHAEL A. WERNER
Wednesday, April 22, at 11 a.m.
Michael A. Werner, percussion & host
Meet the Percussion! Seattle Symphony principal percussionist Michael A. Werner will perform short pieces and lead an exploration of percussion instruments.
The broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
TINY CLIPS FOR TINY TOTS: PERCUSSION
Friday, April 24, at 11 a.m.
John Turman, host
James Benoit, percussion
Matthew Decker, percussion
Michael A. Werner, percussion
Building on the Meet the Instrument: Percussion broadcast, Seattle Symphony Horn and Tiny Tots host John Turman will guide young viewers in learning more about the percussion section in the orchestra, featuring songs from the Tiny Tots Concerts series and an ensemble of Seattle Symphony musicians.
The broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.