News

2015-2016 Annual Financial Report and the Year in Review

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President, Lynn Muehleisen at the 125th Birthday Bash at MOHAI

Dear Members and Friends of LMC,

Dare I say our 125th season of musical impact and excellence was an epic one?

I dare to say, “Yes!”

Let me share just a few of the highlights during our 2015-16 season:

  • A new LMC website was launched in May which gave us a whole, new world of flexibility, navigability, and inspiration to show how amazing LMC’s programs are. Included on the site are a number of videos, produced by our own PR team, that create instant impact and information about our programs, especially Music in Schools and The Frances Walton Competition. Classical KING FM 98.1 was our media sponsor this year. Our new LMC logo and collateral materials gave LMC a fresh, new look.
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    Steinway B at Seattle Central Library dedicated in memory of Eleanor Hale Wilson

    We purchased and installed a Steinway B grand piano on January 13, 2016 to be on long-term loan to the Seattle Central Library. Our new piano was named for long-time member and benefactor, Eleanor Hale Wilson. The celebratory concert featured member pianists, as well as appreciative remarks from the Library staff. The Library promoted the event on their social media sites.

  • Among the 57 concerts LMC presented on the Public Concerts Series, two special concerts in March celebrated the 125th anniversary of LMC’s first meeting and the 125th anniversary of LMC’s first concert. Works by LMC composers past and present were featured. This season saw more collaborative programming than ever before! Our PR team produced two beautiful new program covers featuring our work in the community and quasquicentennial history.
  • Our 125th Annual Luncheon was particularly celebratory this year, with music critic
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    Melinda Bargreen, keynote speaker at the 125th Annual Luncheon

    and longtime advocate, Melinda Bargreen, serving as our special guest speaker. Competition winners Sophie Baird-Daniel, harpist, and Jovanni-Rey de Pedro, pianist, performed as well as describing their experiences on tour.

  • Once again The Frances Walton Competition in June dazzled us with the talent of our competitors! For the first time a bassoonist was one of the solo winners, local talent, Dana Jackson. Music in Schools collaborated with FWC to bring two of the solo winners into Seattle schools for visits during the September 2016 tour.
  • Finally, July 7th was a momentous day for LMC and the Museum of History and Industry! LMC celebrated its 125th Birthday Bash with two performances of an entertaining and informative program about our amazing history, featuring a number of LMC performers and guests representing our programs. The City of Seattle and Mayor Ed Murray proclaimed July 7th Ladies Musical Club Day! Free birthday cupcakes were handed out to the crowds, and all seemed to have a truly joyous evening. MOHAI saw its largest July 7th attendance that day since 2013!

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    125th Birthday Bash at MOHAI

I am continually amazed at the commitment and tireless work of the members of LMC. I look forward to continuing the development of LMC’s great work in the 2016-17 season!

Sincerely,

Lynn Muehleisen

President, Ladies Musical Club of Seattle

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Hilary Field chosen for Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project

Hilary Field’s recording of her arrangement of the traditional Spanish lullaby “Arrorró” was chosen by Carnegie Hall for their Lullaby Project. This song is from Hilary’s CD “Cantilena” with vocalist Patrice O’Neill. Other artists in Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project are well known artists in many genres, including Yo Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Marilyn Horne, Billy Joel, Emmy Lou Harris, Alison Krauss and others. Carnegie Hall’s blog states that “the core of Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project is an effort to deepen the connection between parents and children through music.”

A longtime active participant in LMC programs, Hilary is a former Frances Walton Competition winner, a frequent volunteer with our Music in Schools Outreach program and a 16-17 LMC board member. She performs November 3 at the Seattle Art Museum with LMC soprano, Christine Menschner and guest artist tenor, Brian Minnick and March 8 at the Seattle Public Library with sopranos Ya-Li Lee and Christine Menschner.

Performing member auditions on November 5

LMC member auditions to be held on Saturday, November 5 from 12 noon to 4pm at Queen Anne Christian Church

Ladies Musical Club (LMC) members participate in a wide variety of rewarding music activities and collaborations with other women of similar interests. Join us in growing our presence and influence in the community. LMC membership is open to music and fine-arts advocates as well as actively performing musicians. In addition to our outreach programs, LMC promotes music among its members through interest groups, master classes, special events, professional networking and community building. All ages are welcome!

Malya sings Mahler

Applying for membership

Performing and At-Large membership is by invitation of the Board of Trustees, based on audition or résumé review. Annual dues are $100 for both At-large and Performing Members over age 32.  Members who are age 32 and under pay $90 per year. Dues for members accepted during the winter/spring auditions will be half the annual rate. There is a non-refundable $25 application fee, which will be applied to the annual dues for successful applicants. To apply:

Download the LMC application for membership (PDF).
Complete the application. Save and place your name where indicated in the file name.
Email the completed application to our membership committee.
Applicants can email the LMC membership committee at membership@lmcseattle.org with any questions that are not answered on the website, or if the application process cannot be completed.

LMC Member-musician auditions
LMC Performing Member auditions will be held on Saturday November 5, 2016 from 12 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Queen Anne Christian Church, Seattle. Please have your application in by October 23, 2016. An application received after this date may still be considered if the audition schedule permits. If not, the application will remain active for the Spring LMC Auditions.

Applicants wishing to be accepted as a performing member have two options: audition either as a solo performer or as a collaborative/ensemble performer. In either case, the applicant shall prepare three pieces in contrasting styles, for a total of about 15 minutes of music. Music does not have to be memorized. Other requirements for specific instruments and for singers are:

Pianists wishing to audition as accompanists, but not as solo pianists, should bring a collaborator to the audition. This may be a current collaborator or LMC may be able to find a current LMC member for this purpose. If a collaborator is needed, the applicant shall notify LMC with enough time to find someone, and for the applicant to be thoroughly rehearsed by the day of the audition.

Pianists desiring to perform both as soloists and accompanists should plan to complete an audition for each category. In this case, please submit only one application and fee.

Singers should prepare songs in three different languages. At least two of the selections should be art songs, as LMC primarily presents recitals.

Applicants wishing to audition as an ensemble-only performer, please indicate this on the application. We would strongly prefer to hear the audition with a collaborator. If you have questions about this, please contact LMC at membership@lmcseattle.org.

More information about the benefits of membership