Community Arts Organizations
Fidalgo Youth Symphony
Young Musicians from Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and Snohomish Counties come together to present masterpieces of symphonic music! Northwest Youth Symphony Association provides performance training for young Northwest Washington musicians, since 1995. Two geographically distanced groups-Fidalgo and Mt. Baker Youth Symphonies, function under this non-profit umbrella organization. Director, Sharyn Peterson, and a great team of professional music instructors prepare students for four inspiring concerts each school year. Students of every educational level have opportunity to participate in one of three ensembles: Youth Symphony conducted by Sharyn Peterson, Junior Symphony conducted by Malcolm Peterson, and Sinfonette conducted by Karla Smart Hickman. NOTE: We truly enjoy presenting the newly composed works of our student composers!
Mount Vernon High School Choral Department
Under the direction of Jesus Gomez, students perform music from a broad repertoire of engaging music from around the world. MVHS Choirs recent accolades include Superior ratings at numerous music festivals, and participation in several invitation-only performances . Many choir members have been recognized at the regional and state levels, and have been selected to participate in the All-State, All-Northwest, and National ACDA Honor Choirs.
Mount Vernon High School Instrumental Music Department
The Instrumental Music Department at MVHS maintains a balanced program in all facets of music education and development of the individual musician. The award winning Band and Orchestra program has consistently produced excellent musicians who are in demand by colleges and universities. The tradition of excellence is developed through the hard work and dedication of current students, past members, private instructors, parent boosters, and directors Jake Scherr and Ramon Rivera.
Pacific Northwest Opera
Pacific Northwest Opera (formerly Skagit Opera)
The Pacific Northwest Opera celebrates its 18th season of professional, fully staged operas featuring intensely dramatic and committed performances by the rising stars of the opera world. Dedicated to traditional treatments of masterpieces of the classical vocal arts, the company has presented 74 fully staged performances of 20 different operas, 15 performances of four different operettas, 4 oratorio performances and numerous concerts and recitals. Several of the young singers who began their careers with Pacific Northwest Opera (formerly Skagit Opera) have gone on to national and international careers,
including at the Metropolitan Opera. In the five centuries since the birth of opera in Florence, the emotional power and glory of the un-amplified human voice has thrilled audiences in every culture.
Skagit Symphony
Skagit Symphony
Skagit Symphony, under the leadership of Music Director Michael Wheatley, is celebrating the musical traditions of North, Central, and South America. At each performance during the 43rd season, you’ll hear beloved classics from household names like Copland, Gershwin, and Dvořák alongside passionate and colorful works you’ve never heard before. As always, you can look forward to breathtaking performances by world-class guest artists.
Skagit Valley Academy of Dance
Skagit Valley Academy of Dance
At SVAD the art of dance is celebrated by all. From tots to adults, beginners to pre-professionals, their unique style of teaching and focus on technique provides each student the optimum experience in learning, development, growth, and performance. Offering classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and Theater – there is something for everyone! Directors Shelly Lowe-Whan and Kelly Fellers are driven by their passion to continue the SVAD reputation of providing high quality instruction while inspiring the JOY in dancing.
The Nutcracker | December 2-4, 2022
Skagit Valley Chorale
The Skagit Valley Chorale is a group of musicians who love to sing. Since its inception in 1984, the Chorale has grown from 30 members to as many as 130 singers and is currently under the direction of Dr. Adam Burdick. Chorale concerts offer a wide variety of repertoire, ranging from early music to modern popular styles, and drawing from traditions around the world. Audiences have enjoyed the Chorale’s polished and emotionally rich performances which feature powerful texts and varied musical styles, presented with commentary on musical and historical context by Dr. Burdick. The Chorale enjoys collaborating with local musicians of all ages and varieties, recently sharing the stage with a children’s choir, orchestra, wind band, big band, chamber ensembles, folk instruments, duo pianists, and a brass and percussion ensemble! Chorale members have performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City, Mozart Choral Festivals in Salzburg and Vienna, various historic cathedrals in Italy, and a recent tour to the Olympic Peninsula.
Skagit Valley College Music Department
Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College is nationally recognized as a premier educational institution with award-winning faculty – a community college that attracts, challenges, and empowers outstanding students who become successful in the global community. The Skagit Valley College Department of Music offers exciting opportunities for students to explore music, offering a variety of courses for the music major and non-major. The Music Department offers an Associate of Music degree. Students can experience everything from music theory to the history of rock and roll. Opportunities for solo, vocal, and instrumental
performance, as well as chamber music ensembles, are available. In addition, credit may be earned by participating with one of our community organizations, including the Skagit Valley Symphony or the Skagit Valley Community Band.