A Community Christmas

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

Eden Pawlos

Eden Pawlos is a senior at Kentridge High School. She began at the Key to Change Studio four years ago, learning how to play the violin over Zoom. Since then, she has blossomed into a rising star within the program. She was the first-place winner of the Jessie Montgomery Senior Division at the annual Key to Change Solo String Festival. She has also performed as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony, the Northwest Symphony, and the UW Philharmonia. Furthermore, Eden had the honor of performing for the First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, and this past June also performed for Vice President Kamala Harris.

When not playing the violin, Eden loves painting and spending time with friends and family. She plays on a violin made by David Van Zandt, and studies with Seattle Symphony Concertmaster Noah Geller and Dr. Quinton Morris.

Eden is making her second performance as a soloist with the Federal Way Symphony.

Georges Bizet (1838-1875) was a French composer best known for his opera “Carmen.” Born in Paris, he displayed musical talent from an early age, entering the Paris Conservatory at just nine years old. Despite his early success, including winning the prestigious Prix de Rome, Bizet struggled to gain recognition during his lifetime but his legacy endures through his influential compositions, which helped shape the future of French opera. More

Ralph Vaughan Williams, (1872-1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over sixty years. Strongly influenced by Tudor music and English folk-song, his output marked a decisive break in British music from its German-dominated style of the 19th century. More

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, and priest, whose music has become a cornerstone of the classical repertoire. He is best known for “The Four Seasons,” a set of violin concertos that vividly depict the changing seasons through innovative musical techniques. Vivaldi composed over 500 concertos, along with operas, sacred music, and chamber works, and was a prominent figure in the development of the concerto form. More

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643–1704) was the most important French composer of his generation. Born in Paris, he later spent time in Italy, where he absorbed the rich musical traditions of the region. Charpentier is best known for his dramatic motets and operas and his work reflects a blend of French style with Italian influences. Charpentier’s music, marked by its emotional depth and lyrical beauty, remains influential, and he is celebrated as one of the leading figures of French Baroque music. More

Victor Hely-Hutchinson (1901–1947) was a distinguished British composer, conductor, and music educator, known for his contributions to both classical and popular music. Born in South Africa, he studied at the Royal College of Music in London. Hely-Hutchinson gained recognition for his light orchestral works and choral compositions, with the Carol Symphony, written in 1927 his best-known work. As a conductor, he worked with various ensembles, including the BBC, and played a vital role in promoting new music. More

A 10-year member of the Federal Way Symphony, Elena Vukosavljev, hails from a musical family in Belgrade, Serbia and graduated from the National Conservatory. Her pursuit of excellence led her to École Normale de Musique in Paris before moving to the United States. For over a decade, she has performed in Seattle area, playing with Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, The Sound Ensemble, Lyric Opera Northwest, Evergreen City Ballet, Seattle Men’s Chorus, Taproot Theatre, and Village Theatre. Elena is principal second violin in the Federal Way Symphony and Bellevue Symphony Orchestra, and concertmaster in the Seattle Rock Orchestra. Her collaborations span Europe, the United States, and a numerous recordings and appearances for TV, film, and stage. Elena’s passion extends to teaching, nurturing the next generation of violinists in her Redmond studio and elementary and high schools on the Eastside.

Joseph Bichsel has been happily with the Federal Way Symphony since 2008. He is a graduate of the U. W. School of Music, and has studied cello with Toby Saks, Eva Heinitz, and viola da gamba with Margariet Tindemans. He was the principle cellist of the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra from 1995-2015. Since 2018 he has been the cello coach for the Olympia Youth Symphonies. His wife is a cellist, he has a teenage son, a plant nursery, two dogs, six cats and a large garden.

Karen Sunmark moved to the Northwest in 1998 to study with Mike Crusoe, former timpanist of the Seattle Symphony.  She is principal timpanist for the Federal Way Symphony, Ballard Civic Orchestra, and performs regularly with Symphony Tacoma. She has performed with the national touring company of Les Miserables, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Chamber Orchestra and Auburn Symphony. She is a National Board certified music educator currently in her 27^th year as director of bands at Maywood Middle School in the Issaquah school district.