Our Stage Is Your Stage

By Leilani Polk

For the past five years, the Seattle Symphony has played a powerful role in uplifting Puget Sound voices — those that have helped shape and grow our region’s unique musical and cultural landscape — via the Community Stages Fund (CSF). Originally established with support from the Tagney Jones Family Fund, the CSF is an initiative offering fully sponsored or highly subsidized use of Benaroya Hall’s stages to nonprofit organizations, groups and artists. Showcasing music, dance, spoken word and theater, the 19 grantees that have been awarded the fund range from Pacific Northwest-based composer Jessi (George) Harvey, who will be premiering a piece later this spring as part of the CSF’s newly created Octave 9 Residency, to the King County youths gaining confidence in public speaking as a part of Speak With Purpose, to the radically welcoming social justice choir belting gospel, spirituals and more in Resounding Love Center for the Arts. 

“We will be forever grateful for the opportunity to share our hearts and our art with a segment of people that probably would not have otherwise ever heard of Resounding Love,” said Artistic Director Marshan Moultry in a recent video created to mark the CSF’s fifth anniversary. Moultry also expressed gratitude that his choir was able to perform at Benaroya Hall, sharing their music in a venue they might not ordinarily have access to. Resounding Love, Speak With Purpose and nine other previous CSF grantees — Puget Sound Co., Chamber Music Marysville, The Rhapsody Project, Yoga Behind Bars, Camp Jitterbug/Evergreen Rhythm, Sharon Nyree Williams, Key to Change, ARC Dance Company and Puckduction — will perform on the mainstage alongside the Seattle Symphony in the CSF’s Fifth Anniversary Celebration on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 7:30pm.  

“While all of these artists have performed at Benaroya Hall before, thanks to the Community Stages Fund, this anniversary concert will give them the opportunity to do what they do best on our largest stage, in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, and alongside our orchestra,” said Seattle Symphony Senior Manager of Community Relations & Partnerships Dr. Lorin Green, who is the coordinator of the CSF. “And as this is one of our regular Community Concerts, everyone in the community is invited to join us to experience these powerful performances for free.” 

The artists set to hit the stage at the anniversary party represent the breadth and variety of talent that has benefited from the CSF. “The energy of the many communities and their stories, embodied by these artists and organizations, defines the rich cultural fabric of our region,” said Seattle Symphony Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement Jérémy Jolley. 

Seattle-based actor/dancer/choreographer Yusef Seevers serves as host of the concert, which is broken up into two parts. The first half features performances by grantees only (Yoga Behind Bars, The Rhapsody Project, Chamber Music Marysville, Sharon Nyree Williams, ARC Dance Company and Puget Sound Co.). In the second half, Associate Conductor Sunny Xia will lead the Seattle Symphony as members of Camp Jitterbug/Evergreen Rhythm, Key to Change studio, Resounding Love, Puckduction and Speak With Purpose perform. The celebration culminates in a grand finale that finds the orchestra performing Bernstein's Mambo from West Side Story, side by side with select grantees. A post-show party will be held in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby directly following the performance. All concert attendees are invited to join in the celebration. 

Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Associate Conductor. 

The Arakawa Foundation proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Youth Education Partnerships. Additional support is provided by Delta Air Lines. 

The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, ArtsFund, the Merriman-Ross Family, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.  

Free or reduced cost access is supported by 4Culture.