Symphony at Light Speed

Stacey Mastrian

Stacey Mastrian, a “manifestly courageous” (Boston Globe) soprano who is “versatile and passionate” (Der Tagesspiegel), has sung at the Konzerthaus (Berlin), Kennedy Center (DC), Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur (Montréal), Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (NYC), St. Peter’s (Vatican City), Teatro La Fenice (Venice), and in Mexico and more than half of the U.S.  She sings in over two dozen languages, spanning 900 years from Hildegard von Bingen to Monteverdi, Mozart, Verdi, and beyond.  This spring at Benaroya Hall she sang Democracy in the west coast premiere of the voting-rights cantata Say Your Name by Reena Esmail with Kirkland Choral Society and Philharmonia Northwest, as well as Sibelius’ Luonnotar and the U.S. premiere of Grace Williams’ Fairest of Stars with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra.  She has been a Fulbright grantee and awarded prizes from The American Prize, Chamber Orchestra of NY, Seattle Opera Guild, and Vocal Arts DC. 

Please visit Stacey’s website at www.staceymastrian.com

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was born into a musical family (his mother was his first piano teacher) and became one of the most popular composers of the Romantic period. Rooted in the national folk tradition of Norway, Grieg’s music is noted for a refined lyrical sense. In addition of composing, he maintained a busy concert schedule throughout Europe and, in 1903, recorded nine collections of his piano music for the then-new gramophone. More

Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) was an English composer known for his lyrical and evocative music. Finzi studied under notable figures such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and became part of the English pastoral tradition, celebrated for works like his “Clarinet Concerto” and “Intimations of Immortality.” His choral music, particularly settings of poems by poets like Thomas Hardy and Edward Thomas, showcases his ability to blend intricate harmonies with profound emotional depth. More

Isidora Žebeljan (1976–2020) was a prominent Serbian composer and pianist renowned for her innovative contributions to contemporary classical music. Born in Belgrade, she studied composition at the University of Arts, where her unique style emerged, blending traditional elements with modern techniques. Žebeljan’s works often drew inspiration from Serbian folklore, exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage. In addition to her orchestral and chamber music, she was an advocate for contemporary music and played a vital role in promoting new works by fellow composers. More

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer, organist, and violinist, widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western music history. Born in Eisenach, he came from a family of musicians and displayed prodigious talent from an early age. Bach’s extensive body of work encompasses a diverse range of genres, including orchestral suites, concertos, cantatas, and the monumental “Mass in B minor.” His music is characterized by intricate counterpoint, expressive melodies, and rich harmonic language, blending the traditions of the Baroque period with his unique innovations. More

Luke Fitzpatrick is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and artistic director of Inverted Space, a Seattle-based new music collective. He recently performed the US Premiere of Isidora Žebeljan’s Three Curious Loves with Seattle Philharmonic and the world premiere of Joël-François Durand’s La descente de l’ange for violin and clarinet . Additionally Luke has performed with Deltron 3030, Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective and as a touring member of the Harry Partch Ensemble and has appeared on recordings released by Ablaze and Centaur records. Luke is currently concertmaster of Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra and Federal Way Symphony. He is a founding member of the String Quartet Pure Flavor and performs with Temple Mozaic, an improvisational music and dance collective alongside Smerk, Orb and Free. Besides music related things, Luke is an avid dancer and enjoys biking, eating sushi and collecting shoes.

Kate Mondragon has been a member of the Federal Way Symphony since 2004. Kate is also principal flute of the Bellevue Symphony and has performed with Symphony Tacoma and the  Olympia Symphony. In addition to performing, she maintains a private flute studio in Puyallup and enjoys adjudicating and giving flute clinics throughout the Puget Sound Region. Outside of flute and music, Kate stays busy with her family: husband, Steven, children, Freyja & Magnus, and dog Raven.

Helen Lee is a highly accomplished Seattle-based flutist and piccoloist. She performs with many orchestras, ensembles and choirs in the Puget Sound areas, including Federal Way Symphony (since 2004), Bellevue Opera, Bellevue Symphony, Northwest Symphony, Cascade Symphony and the Sound Ensemble. Inspired by a flutist featured in a Japanese anime, Helen began the flute in Seattle at age 11 which led to many music awards, scholarships, and music performance degrees. Helen enjoys spending her free time with family and friends, relaxing on her lever harps, taking photos and sipping bubble tea.