A new season for the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra offers a new opportunity for concert-goers to engage with the musical programs.
Executive director Gail Ridenour recently announced the formation of a BSO Book Club, teaming up with Bellingham Public Library, Whatcom County Library System, and Village Books, pairing a book with each concert theme. Books can be checked out through the libraries or purchased at Village Books.
“Combining reading with music creates an opportunity to connect more deeply with both,” says Michael Cox, deputy director for the WCLS. “Each of these art forms has the capacity to change how we think and feel. The Whatcom County Library System is excited to be a part of the rich and potentially unexpected conversations born from this collaboration.”
Even better, there’s a special book club for kids!
“Books and music have historically been, and continue to be, powerful and meaningful vehicles for telling and sharing stories,” says Bethany Hogland, deputy library director for Bellingham Public Library and former head of youth services at BPL. “We’re thrilled to team up with the Bellingham Symphony to provide an opportunity for deeper connection and exploration of important topics to the community that supports the Symphony’s 2024-2025 concert series.”
A Marriage of Music and Literature
Beginning with the season opening concert on September 29, the first book for adult readers is Bredan Slocumb’s The Violin Conspiracy, which connects with the BSO’s soloist piece for the concert, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto as well as to Grammy Award-winning composer Jessie Montgomery’s Banner.
“The Violin Conspiracy” is about a violin soloist in the International Tchaikovsky Concerto Competition as well as about the experience of being Black in the classical music world, which relates directly to Banner.
True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America, by Betsy Gaines Quammen is the title for the November 24 concert, which features John Williams’ Cowboys Overture, Midkiff’s Mandolin Concerto “From the Blue Ridge,” Copland’s Appalachian Spring, and Ginastera’s Four Dances From Estancia. The book examines myths and stories of the West and can serve as an entry to think about new perspectives on the dream of America.
For the March 23 concert, readers are invited to read Something About the Sky by Rachel Carson, with gorgeous illustrations by Nikki McClure. Carson’s book revels in the connection between wonders of nature and the delights of poetry and other literature.
March’s concert theme is Making Waves, with an eclectic program that features Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Concerto for Birds and Orchestra, which incorporates recordings of birdsong, as well as John Williams’ theme from “Jaws” and Debussy’s La Mer.
The Green Mile by Stephen King is the selection for the April 27 concert, which is themed Singing Out. The symphony will be joined by the Bellingham Chamber Chorale and the Phoenix Chamber Choir.
The story of an inmate at the Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death-row facility, The Green Mile is set in the 1930s. The concert features Bellingham soprano Heather Dudenbostel, in the symphony’s annual “Harmony from Discord” series. Each piece in this concert — Kenji Bunch’s Supermaximum, Henriëtte Bosmans’ Concert Piece, andGabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” are powerful reminders of our past.
For details on this music-and-literature series, please go to https://bellingham.bibliocommons.com/list/share/110058314_bpladultlibrarians/2605082083_bellingham_symphony_orchestra_literacy_connections
BSO Book Club Children’s Titles
For the children’s series, a librarian will come to the Classical Kids dress rehearsals for storytime with the library. Classical Kids dress rehearsals — which are free for families to attend — allow kids to experience the orchestra at their level. There are snacks, activities, space for movement, plus the orchestra, and sensory-friendly options with low light levels and noise-minimizing headphones for those who would like them.
For September: The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Katie Hickey
For November: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
For January 26 (no book for the adult series): Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki
For March: Night Walk to the Sea: A Story about Rachel Carson, Earth’s Protector by Deborah Wiles
For April: Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll by Tonya Bolden
For June 8 (no book for the adult series): The Boy Who Said Wow by Todd Boss
For details on these titles, please visit https://bellingham.bibliocommons.com/list/share/2176711491_alistaff/2567416499_bellingham_symphony_orchestra_picture_book_pairings.
BSO and Village Books are matching a 15% discount for books and tickets. Use code TAKE15 to save when ordering tickets online!
“You can find a book to complement any event or learn more about anything,” says Paul Hansen, co-owner of Village Books. “And this is such a perfect pairing of the arts — literature and music, in perfect harmony!”
For more on the symphony’s programs, please visit www.bellinghamsymphony.org.
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