PORT ANGELES — Romance, music and a “makeover.”
All three will come together in the Port Angeles Symphony’s season-opening party, “Concert & Cuisine,” organizers said.
Set for 6 p.m. Saturday, the evening will take place at C’est Si Bon, 23 Cedar Park Drive, to benefit the symphony.
Tickets are $75 per person, with proceeds supporting the Port Angeles Symphony’s 85th season, which begins with two Pops & Picnic concerts, one in Port Angeles on Sept. 29 and the other in Sequim on Sept. 30.
Lauren Rankin of Port Angeles, 17, and Adlai Erickson of Port Townsend, 11, will perform at the party. The pair tied for first place in the Young Artist Competition, hosted by the Port Angeles Symphony earlier this year.
Rankin will perform “Légende,” a showpiece by the Polish virtuoso Henryk Wieniawski.
This piece reportedly helped secure Wieniawski’s engagement to Isabella Hampton.
Her folks, the story goes, were not so keen on their daughter marrying Wieniawski — until they heard “Légende.”
Her inspiration
Rankin credits her orchestra teacher at Port Angeles High School, the now-retired Ron Jones, as well as symphony maestro Jonathan Pasternack, for inspiring her to play. She became a violinist 12 years ago and is in her third year with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.
In an interview, Lauren quickly spoke for her fellow “Concert & Cuisine” performer, Adlai Erickson of Port Townsend.
“[Adlai] is fantastic,” she said of the cellist.
At 11 years old, Erickson tied with Lauren as winner of the 2017 Young Artist Competition.
He has also received seals of outstanding achievement at the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival and won second place at the Seattle Music Teachers Association Simon-Fiset Competition this year.
At “Concert & Cuisine,” he’ll play David Popper’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.” Like Rankin, he will have a Seattle-based, Juilliard-trained pianist alongside: Lisa Bergman, a Gracie Award-winning announcer on Classic KING-FM of Seattle.
In addition to playing the rhapsody with Erickson and “Légende” with Rankin, Bergman will offer a set of her own: something she calls “Great Composers Get a Makeover.”
‘A new twist’
She promises “samplings of beloved classics with a new twist.”
C’est Si Bon’s Michele Juhasz will prepare dinner: a choice of beef bourguignon, salmon in parchment or vegetarian ratatouille, with appetizers, salad, Camaraderie Cellars wines and a French dessert.
“Concert & Cuisine” also features a preview of the 10 guest soloists who will come to perform with the Port Angeles Symphony this fall, winter and spring. Patrons will have a chance to choose soloists they want to support with a partial sponsorship.
“Concert & Cuisine” sold out in 2016 and 2015.
To reserve a seat, call the symphony office at 360-457-5579 or email port angelessymphony@gmail.com.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsula dailynews.com.
Seattle’s Lisa Bergman, a KING-FM announcer and classical pianist, will host the Sept. 16 Concert & Cuisine event in Port Angeles. (Port Angeles Symphony)
Cellist Adlai Erickson, 11, of Port Townsend will play Popper’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” at the Sept. 16 Concert & Cuisine benefit in Port Angeles. (Port Angeles Symphony)
