Come One, Come All to Day of Music at Benaroya Hall

By Leilani Polk

Benaroya Hall first opened its doors in 1998 and the week of festivities celebrating this inaugural milestone included the first-ever Day of Music. Lines of people snaked around the block, waiting to get a first-hand look at the sparkling new concert hall and enjoy a day full of free performances by groups from Seattle and beyond. Since then, Day of Music has become a tradition, a cherished part of Benaroya Hall’s history that has been revived several times over the years, usually to mark a celebratory occasion, like the venue’s 10th and 15th anniversaries 

The heart of downtown Seattle comes alive once again for the latest Day of Music, happening on June 22 in celebration of Benaroya Hall’s 25th anniversary, and featuring a diverse array of artists from across the Puget Sound region on the hall’s stages and spread throughout its many spaces: the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby and more. Some highlights below. 

The Mogao Caves: An Immersive Experience One of the world’s great cultural heritage and Asian art sites, the Mogao Caves — excavated grottoes at the edge of the Gobi Desert in Dunhuang, China — date back over 1,000 years and contain remarkable displays of Buddhist artwork. In this virtual, 360-degree immersive journey to the desert (presented in partnership with the Dunhuang Foundation and revived from the 2022 presentation that coincided with Tan Dun’s Buddha Passion concerts), you’ll walk through the astounding caves that inspired composer Tan Dun. (10–11am, Octave 9) 

Rhythms of India Founded by Shub-Chintan Kaur, the group showcases India’s vibrant culture through the art of Bhangra, a traditional dance of Punjab that is positive and energetic, its steps and movements synonymous with what takes place on a farm or in agricultural fields; derived from tilling, ploughing, seeding, watering, tending and harvesting the land. It is a dance of the common folk who work hard to bring their soil to life by growing food not only for themselves but also all communities at large. Rhythms of India also hosts dance classes for all ages to learn about India’s performing arts heritage, express themselves through movement and foster self-esteem. (10:30–11am, Grand Lobby) 

Seattle Latino Film Festival The Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF) is an annual event held in October that celebrates the richness and diversity of Latino cultures through film. Founded by Cuban poet and film industry pro Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Pacheco in 2009, the festival provides a platform for Latino filmmakers to showcase their work, and for audiences to engage with stories from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the Latino and Romance language diaspora. Films due to be presented throughout Day of Music include Roberto Salvador’s artistic documentary Yo Soy La Reina (I am the Queen), about “La Mixe Soprano” María Reyna, traveling from a childhood scarred by domestic violence and the ultraconservative views of indigenous communities in the south of Mexico, to her desire to go out into a world “beyond the mountain.” Also scheduled to be screened is Sonja Ortiz’s ¿Porque Bailamos? (Why Do We Dance?), which follows four dancers from different backgrounds who meet in Berlin and ponder why they do what they do, exploring the deep motivations of their search for the common denominator of human movement. (11am–Noon and 1–2pm, Recital Hall) 

Jonathan Batista featuring Destiny Wimpye, Deise Costa, Angelika Kushi, Meese Tonkin and Julia Vendemiatti The Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Principal Jonathan Batista leads a dance performance fusing different dance styles and exploring transformation, freedom and cultural identity. The Black Swan, traditionally associated with themes of duality and transformation in ballet, takes on new meaning as it intersects with Afro-Brazilian cultural motifs, representing resilience and the richness of Brazil’s diverse heritage. It’s been described as “Black Swan meets Afro-Brazilian Orixás.” (11–11:30am, Taper Auditorium) 

Push 4 Love Seattle-based Push 4 Love is fronted by vocalist Melanie Granger, who can belt it out throatily or deliver rich easy tones alongside nimble lead guitarist Xavier Salinas and a rotating cast of special guest artists on bass and drums. Push 4 Love fuses the sounds of neo soul, Latin music, pop and rock n’ roll, and amid a catalog of original material, they’ve been known to perform covers of artists ranging from Whitney Houston and Tina Turner to Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. Their philosophy: “Music has the power to heal, build, destroy, free and renew. We perform to simply express love and bring people together to create meaningful experiences.” (12–12:30pm, Taper Auditorium) 

The Rocketeers A vintage swing dance and vernacular jazz dance performance team based in Seattle, The Rocketeers specialize in the dynamic and high-energy moves of swing dances from the 1920s through 1950s, including the lindy hop, balboa, Charleston, shag and solo jazz dances. The group’s repertoire includes numbers first performed in places like the Savoy Ballroom and on the soundstages of many black-and-white films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. This is in addition to the group’s own original choreographies, all against a soundtrack that encompasses nostalgic favorites by Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington as well as the music of contemporary jazz artists like Jonathan Doyle and The Cloud Drops. (12:30–12:50pm, Grand Lobby) 

Barbara Anne Lawrence Suquamish Tribal Elder and traditional storyteller Barbara Ann Lawrence has served on the Suquamish Tribal Higher Education Board and is a former Chairwoman of the Suquamish Tribal Elders Council. Suquamish storytelling is a traditional way of teaching and Lawrence practices this form of education with all ages, from preschoolers to the elderly. She has a passion for Suquamish and Coast Salish history, culture, archaeology, social justice, environmental racism and contemporary tribal issues.  (1–1:30pm, Octave 9) 

Panama Folklore Seattle Panama Folklore Seattle is a nonprofit organization committed to the advancement and preservation of Panamanian cultural heritage within the Pacific Northwest, which includes the celebration, promotion and cultivation of the rich tapestry that constitutes Panamanian identity. (1:30–2pm, Grand Lobby) 

Morning Star Korean Cultural Center Founded in 1985 under the direction of Jiyeon Cheh, Morning Star Cultural Center teaches Korean dance, music and heritage to those interested in Korean culture. Morning Star has continued to expand and diversify its repertoire, programs and services for the community, and performs locally and throughout the world as cultural ambassadors. (2–2:30pm, Taper Auditorium) 

Metropolitan Fashion Week featuring Seattle Symphony String Quartet Founded in Seattle in 2012, Metropolitan Fashion Week is a long-running fashion event on the West Coast of the United States, presenting events in dramatic, non-traditional venues in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. Metropolitan Fashion Week spotlights over 750 works of art — one-of-a-kind creations, avant garde and couture gowns created by international fashion and costume designers. For the Day of Music event, pieces will be modeled while a quartet of Seattle Symphony musicians (Violin Andy Liang, Second Assistant Concertmaster Emerson Millar, Viola Oliva Chew and Assistant Principal Cello Nathan Chan) performs live. (2:30–3pm, Grand Lobby) 

Mo’ Jam Presents  A dynamic music event based in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood at Nectar Lounge, Mo’ Jam Presents was founded in 2013 by drummer and CEO Morgan (Mo’) Gilkeson and her fiancé, Jambassador Davy Nefos. The event was founded to provide opportunities for local musicians to showcase their talent and connect with the community via live jam sessions and special showcases, which touch on jazz, hip-hop, funk and soul. Mo’ Jam has done 450 episodes, in which strangers make up original “Mo’ Jam is Yo’ Jam” songs on the spot. (2:30–4pm, Recital Hall Lobby) 

Gansango Music & Dance Presenting traditional and contemporary dance, song and drumming from West Africa, Gansago Music & Dance is directed by choreographer and dance educator Etienne Cakpo, who formed Gansago in 2001 after he arrived in Seattle from Benin, West Africa. He’s been building on his repertoire for more than three decades, drawing on the traditional rhythms and movement from across the African continent, specifically from Benin, Ghana and Togo, among others, while also incorporating contemporary styles. The group performs ritualistic dances, social ceremony dances and royal historical dances. Live drums (including djembé, djun-djun and paholé) and percussion (shaker and bell) accompany the group’s modern dance arrangements while colorful costumes provide cultural context. (3–3:30pm, Taper Auditorium) 

Bahia in Motion A Brazilian arts organization providing education in Brazilian dance, music and Capoeira (Brazilian martial art), Bahia in Motion offers classes, workshops, performances, events, community engagement and annual cultural immersion tours to Bahia, Brazil, to spread its mission of joy, connection and community. Bahia in Motion’s approach is firmly rooted in the importance of a balanced body, mind and spirit, and the integral role the arts play in nurturing this balance. (3:30–4pm, Grand Lobby) 

Day of Music happens from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, June 22. Admission is free for all. Food and drink vendors will be serving along with Davids & Co., a curated pop-up market will showcase local artisans and makers, and guided tours of Benaroya Hall will be offered every 30 minutes.

The Mogao Caves: An Immersive Experience was generously sponsored by Mimi Gardner Gates and the Dunhuang Foundation.  

The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, the Arakawa Foundation, Marco Argenti, ArtsFund, Delta Air Lines, the Merriman-Ross Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.