Coming Soon
Jazz Fest 2023: säje
After debuting an inspiring and energized set at the 2020 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, säje went on to tour multiple jazz festivals and clubs from January to March. During quarantine, säje received their first GRAMMY® nomination, for their composition “Desert Song” in the Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals category. They were awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Award for their second composition “Wisteria”, as well as their first Jazz Journalists Association Award Nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Group”. The collective also recently received gracious support for their continued work through the Chamber Music of America New Jazz Works grant, the Super Patron Grant, the Jazz Road Creative Residencies grant, and the USC Visions + Voices grant.
Jazz Fest 2023: Martin Taylor and Biréli Lagrène
The Orcas Island Jazz Festival (OIJF), Orcas Island’s premier jazz event, lights up Orcas Center for three days every Labor Day weekend. OIJF is dedicated to celebrating and sharing the music of jazz with the Orcas Island community and visitors, to introducing this quintessential American art form to new young audiences through education and performance, and to raising appreciation for the art of jazz in all audiences. As a program of Orcas Center under the artistic direction of Martin Lund, OIJF consistently showcases superb jazz. Each year at this Festival audiences enjoy some of the most highly regarded jazz artists working today.
Barron Ryan
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesBarron Ryan’s love for music has always been divided. The son of two musicians, he grew up in a house filled with the sounds of artists ranging from Mozart to Motown. So when it comes to his own work, he’s not content drawing on just one influence. He combines them all into a musical adventure that’s vintage yet fresh, historical yet hip, classic yet cool.
Paula Russell & The Orcas Rascals
Join us for a FREE Show and Dance in the Orcas Center Madrona Room from Paula Russell and the Orcas Rascals!
Call of the Orcas Film Screening
Join us in a showcase of the film “Call of the Orcas” highlighting the work of Ken Balcomb and the Center for Whale Research. Following the film, there will be panel discussion including the film director Jessica Plumb and others who assisted with the research for the film. Light refreshments will be provided.
Love Movement: Woman in the Woods Productions
Woman in the Woods Presents: Love Movement. This ensemble, led by tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman, is a hybrid of the highest levels of musicianship and hoofing. This group incorporates original music, spirituals, jazz, traditional and electronic tap boards, which will surely challenge your thoughts, uplift, and send you dancing all the way home.
Inter-Island HS Art Show – Call for Student Artists
The San Juan Arts Council invites ALL San Juan County high school students (9th-12th) to participate in our first ever Inter Island High School Art show! We will be displaying on Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas Island.
Bahia in Motion: Abrindo Caminhos
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesBahia In Motion’s work is firmly rooted in the importance of a balanced body, mind and spirit and the integral role the arts play in nurturing this balance. Bahia In Motion is driven by the belief that individuals and families thrive when they feel healthy, engaged and part of something larger than themselves, especially when learning from cultures outside their own. Bahia In Motion encourages people to find joy within themselves, and transform life’s challenges through movement and the power of human connection.
Orcas Island Film Festival 2023
October 11-15, we will screen over 30+ incredible films over the course of five days in three venues that boast state-of-the-art cinema projection systems. Films at the Orcas Island Film Festival are, "the crème de la crème of the first-tier festival circuit," says Charles Mudede, Film/Art critic from The Stranger. Attendees will see these films before their official theatrical release and the festival provides a unique opportunity for filmmakers and film lovers to connect and share the cinematic experience as well as parties, panels and special events.
Nina Gerber and Chris Webster
The Grange 3252 Orcas Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMusic fans know Chris Webster and Nina Gerber as two of the most skilled and artful musical talents. Webster's voice is uniquely compelling while Gerber's guitar is beautiful and powerful. Together they're magic. With originals, tasteful covers-soulful ballads, jazzy tunes and sweet folk, a great show.
VAC Art Exhibit: Made From Nature
Join us at Orcas Center for an artist opening reception on Friday, October 20th from 5:30pm-7pm with complimentary snacks and refreshments, a wine bar, and learn more about the artists and their work.
Whale of a Show – Auditions ’23
Whale of a Show Auditions! Acts from ages 5-18 are invited to participate. Solo acts and group acts are welcome; family acts, too! Sing, dance, play some music!
Mariachi Herencia de México
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe historic tradition of mariachi music has its roots of origin in cities such as Guadalajara and Mexico City. As the ever-evolving genre's influence spread, it reached Chicago and birthed the Mariachi Herenciade México. The energetic, virtuosic Latin GRAMMY-nominated group has issued chart-topping albums and performed across the North American continent.
Whale of a Show – 2023!
Join us for a guaranteed good time as we watch and celebrate the talent of our island youth! Directed by Didier Gincig, this annual event is an opportunity to relax among friends and neighbors while enjoying acts of song, dancing, skits, and musicianship. Family acts are included in this event as well.
Screenagers: Under the Influence
Coalition for Orcas Youth and the Funhouse Present: Screenagers: Under the Influence Wednesday, November 8th 6-8pm Free! Kids are vaping in classrooms.
Polyrhythmics
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesPolyrhythmics sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.
J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band)
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJ2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band) is an all-star bluegrass supergroup featuring four legendary, award-winning musicians – John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals – delivering bluegrass like no one has ever heard it before.
I’ll be Frank
Take a walk down memory lane with renowned Orcas artist and author, Frank Loudin, (along with interviewer, Cathy Ferran) as he shares some totally unrehearsed "YARNS" from his latest book of heartwarming stories: Christmas YARNS - STORIES FROM THE WAY WE WERE. Frank's latest creation is a delightful collection of his musings and works of art.
On Display Now: High School Art Exhibit
Join us in welcoming student artists from San Juan, Lopez, Shaw, and Orcas Islands in the first inter-island showcase presented by The San Juan Arts Council along with the Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center! Painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed-media art created by our talented youth will be on display from Friday, November 24th until December 17th. The opening reception is on Friday, November 24th from 5:30-7pm with refreshments and entertainment from Grace Zwilling on the piano.
The Olga Symphony – 2023
They’re back! The beloved tradition returns, as the Olga Symphony once more takes to the Orcas Center stage for their annual Holiday Concert. Melinda, Gordon, Z, JP, and Anita will bring guitar, fiddle, bass, mandolin, ukulele, banjo, dobro, musical saw and luscious vocals to you in decidedly non-symphonic manner. There will be classic favorite songs, a few new treasures, some laughs, and some really nice clothes.
Handmade Craft Market
Celebrate the holiday season and all the incredible talent this island has to offer! The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center is excited to host a Handmade Craft Market on November 25th (Small Business Saturday) from 11am-4pm
Orcas Choral Society: Messiah
Orcas Choral Society is offering several performances of Handel’s Messiah. “George Frederic Handel was a showman, in this case setting the most sacred of texts,” said Bruce Langford, Choral Society Artistic Director. “It is our intent to honor both the excitement and profound nature of his most popular work.”
Sea Island Nutcracker
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesOrcas Dance Collective is proud to present their maritime take on a holiday classic: The Sea Island Nutcracker. Featuring many wildlife and nautical themes that make our island home so magical, this full length dream ballet showcases an inter-generational cast of local talent, with featured roles performed by The Orcas Dance Collective, Junior Dance Collective, Mini Dance Collective, and Class Series Students.
Orcas Center’s Holiday Break
Thank you all for a fantastic 2023! Orcas Center will be closed to the public December 18th, 2023 - January 8th, 2024.
Band of Brothers
Before Tony Levin founded Stick Men and played bass for Peter Gabriel and King Crimson (with side gigs including recording with John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, Dire Straits and many others), he racked up major jazz credentials, playing with Buddy Rich, Steps Ahead, Chuck Mangione, and others. In this special performance, old friends, legendary brothers LEVIN (Tony and Pete), and LA BARBERA (Pat & Joe), have decided to join brotherly forces together and to go back to their roots - jazz!
On Screen: Dead Man Walking (Met Opera)
The most widely performed new opera of the last two decades, Dead Man Walking is adapted from the groundbreaking memoir by Sister Helen Prejean. It concerns her ministry to condemned murderers on death row, and in bringing this powerful story to the operatic stage, composer Jake Heggie created a score that recalls Sister Helen’s prose and her advocacy style: direct, unaffected, and unflinchingly honest—but not without a deep understanding of the heart and humanity inside each one of us.
On Display: VAC Art Exhibit
For the first show of 2024, we honor the work of these dedicated artists and their tireless commitment to the arts on Orcas. Join us in celebrating the work of Kathleen Youngren, Leon Rosenblatt, Mary Jane Elgin, Julia Summers, Sarah Crigger, Zoe Osenbach, Carol Ann Anderson, Kirk Nozaki, Whitney Chamberlin, Marjorie Taylor, and Julie Rusby - Our current VAC committee members. On display through February 27th.
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms and Golden Shoals
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJoin us for an evening of old time stringband music and harmony duets with original songwriting. Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms and Golden Shoals. Golden Shoals is a fiddle and guitar duo with a "rousing old-time-style music that’s fueled by acerbic modern-day wit” (-No Depression Magazine).
On Screen: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Met Opera)
Anthony Davis’s first opera, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X dramatizes the life of the civil rights icon, but rather than explain, let alone beatify, its subject, the work is primarily focused on his personal transformation. It is also the journey of his audience and how they have perceived him, from victim of poverty to leader-agitator to martyr. Neither the music nor the libretto seeks to console nor superficially inspire, but always to engage and intrigue.
Texas Guitar Quartet
Formed in 2009, GRAMMY™-nominated Texas Guitar Quartet has been hailed as “Impeccable in every respect” by Classical Guitar Magazine. Throughout the United States, Central America, Spain, and China, audiences have embraced the quartet for their daring programs, dazzling virtuosity and joyful music making. Recent highlights include performances for the Encuentro Internacional de Guitarra 2016 (Nicaragua), Victoria Bach Festival, Guitar Foundation of America Convention, Festival Internacional del Noreste (Mexico), and Texas Music Festival.
On Screen: Florencia en el Amazonas (Met Opera)
Fluidity—of time, place, emotion, and even of identity—is at the core of Florencia en el Amazonas. It is ostensibly the tale of passengers traveling down the Amazon River aboard the steamship El Dorado; the real drama, though, lies in the psychological journeys that each character undertakes. The libretto, by Marcela Fuentes-Berain, is an original story rich in allusion to other tales that skirt the border between drama and fantasy. Fuentes-Berain was a student of Gabriel García Márquez, whose style of magical informs the plot.
Let’s Talk About Love
Let’s stay up late on a Wednesday night, drink hot cider, eat snacks, maybe nod off a bit before actually leaving to go to bed, and listen to people like Mary Oliver, John O’Donahue, Maya Angelou, David Whyte, I don’t know — Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Toni Morrison, Winnie the Pooh…(bring your own favorite?), or maybe your own words. Let’s not make it all about fancy dinner, chocolates and roses, this year, let’s get inspired. Let’s move beyond romantic love, to our deep longing and knowing of something vaster, and our growing need to increase our capacity to offer and receive it. Let’s have a Valentine’s Day for our souls to remember.
She Kills Monsters
Witches and warlocks, paladins and goblins, elves and humans rejoice! Join us for an action-packed Dungeons & Dragons adventure which follows a young woman’s quest to learn more about her dead sister and ultimately herself. It is a comedic, heartfelt story of sisterhood, friendship, identity, and grief which unfolds with each role of the dice.
On Display: Avi Shmueli / Landscapes
Our March Exhibit celebrates Featured Artist Avi Shmueli and our community show theme is Landscapes - On display through March 26th.
Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Drive
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIn many disasters and critical need scenarios – like mass shootings, natural disasters, or large-scale accidents, a significant amount of blood is required immediately. However, with widespread blood shortages, most blood centers do not have the blood on the shelves to handle this type of emergency. That’s why Bloodworks Northwest is collecting additional units of blood as part of our on-call status with the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps this month. The blood you donate means we’ll have an emergency shipment ready to rush to a disaster if called upon, without delays or uncertainty.
Chutes and Ladders
The Orcas Dance Collective is proud to showcase the Junior Dance Collective and Mini Co dancers in a new work called, “Chutes and Ladders.” Come and witness a journey through dance that explores the theme of teens entering a new phase of self identity, loss of innocence, growth and change in perspective. Another all ages dance show perfect for an all ages audience.
TAKE3
TAKE3 lives at the intersection where pop, rock and classical fusion collide. Their unmistakable style and infectious joy in music making brings them to over 60 stops during the 22/23 season. Join them as they take Orcas Center's Main Stage with their “On the Road Again” tour!
Food Planet Future – Book Launch
Food Planet Future takes the reader on a remarkable visual tour of everyday foods and in the process, connects us more deeply to the world we help to shape. It draws upon art, research, and innovative practices to reimagine the tangled crises of food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Food Planet Future invokes awe and wonder and inspires action taken on our Earth’s behalf.
On Display Now: From Time Immemorial
Children of the Setting Sun is honored to be sharing our stories at your home, "The Orcas Center." Our ancestral homelands include Orcas Island and the Orcas Center. The exhibit will open March 29 with a film screening and gallery opening at the Orcas Center. We will be showcasing some of the work of our people, and bringing gratitude for all the wonderful opportunities to share. It's good to share the memories of our homeland and deepen understanding of the things we are working towards today. The Lummi people still fish here, canoe here and we take care of our ancestors here. This we are grateful for. We hope to see you at the Orcas Center March 29 for the opening of our exhibit and screening of our films. Hyʻshqe!
Pamyua
Pamyua showcases Inuit culture though music and dance performance. The show is a platform to share indigenous knowledge and history. Their style derives from traditional melodies reinterpreted with contemporary vocalization and instrumentation. Often described as “Inuit Soul Music,” Pamyua has discovered their own genre.
Returning Focus
Orcas Center - Black Box 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesEmbark on a journey of grief, self-discovery, and womanhood in “Returning Focus,” a new play written and directed by Ellie Wright. Following the loss of her mother, a woman and her daughter grapple not only with their individual relationships with the late matriarch, but their relationship with one another. In a blend of dialogue and dance, “Returning Focus” explores the complexities of grief as the duo navigate the tumultuous path of disconnection, re-connection, and ultimately, understanding.
Tangled in Vow and Beseech
Orcas Center - Black Box 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesTangled in Vow and Beseech - An evening of poetry, conversations, and artwork with Jill McCabe Johnson and guests Martha Farish and Kate Geddes. Presented by the Orcas Island Library.
Inspire Washington – Community Discussion
During this time of rebuild, cultural organizations are in dire need of funding for financial recovery and to restart programming. You are invited to join your local partners for in-person Cultural Futures! At the Cultural Futures, we aim to provide you with news you can use. From funding sources to advocacy opportunities, Inspire Washington staff will share all the information you need to know right now.
Into the Woods
Into the Woods follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
AOK and High School Art Show
To celebrate our island youth, a six-week student art exhibit is being hosted at the Orcas Center from May 3-June 12, 2024, with an art opening on Friday, May 3rd at 5:30pm. The show features art created in A*OK classes, Kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as pieces from the Orcas Island High School.
Summer Concert Series – GiveOrcas Fundraiser!
Help fund Orcas Center's free outdoor Summer Concert Series! Orcas Center's Summer Concert Series returns to the Village Green! Give the gift of entertainment to our community and help fund this incredible program. This year features 11 FREE outdoor concerts on Eastsound's Village Green stage - with touring artists and local music makers, offering world class music from all kinds of genres at zero cost to you and your families.
SJC Free Legal Clinic 2024
For the third year in a row, Skagit Legal Aid and the San Juan County Bar Association are jointly hosting a Law Day Legal Clinic where anyone from San Juan County can meet with an attorney about a variety of civil legal issues.
On Screen: Carmen (Met Opera)
Bizet’s masterpiece of the gypsy seductress who lives by her own rules has had an impact far beyond the opera house. The opera’s melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure.
OCS: Songs of Shadow and Light
From the sublime to the downright silly, Orcas Choral Society’s spring concert, Songs of Shadow and Light, features works of contemporary English composer John Rutter. The program begins with Rutter’s Requiem, a fervent arc of prayers for all humanity. The second half turns to sweetness, light, and all manner of fun, with spirituals, a jazz madrigal, songs that rejoice in the beauty of spring, and a new OCS ensemble of tenors and basses. Under the lively baton of Artistic Director Bruce Langford, Songs of Shadow and Light will leave your heart singing.
On Screen: La Forza Del Destino (Met Opera)
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Verdi’s grand tale of ill-fated love, deadly vendettas, and family strife, with stellar soprano Lise Davidsen as the noble Leonora, one of the repertory’s most tormented—and thrilling—heroines. Director Mariusz Treliński delivers the company’s first new Forza in nearly 30 years, setting the scene in a contemporary world and making extensive use of the Met’s turntable to represent the unstoppable advance of destiny that drives the opera’s chain of calamitous events.
Disaster Preparedness Forum
Join Brendan Cowan with the Department of Emergency Management, Russell Guerry from OPALCO and Chief vanSchaick from Orcas Island Fire & Rescue for a community disaster preparedness forum on Wednesday May 22nd from 5:30 - 7:30pm at Orcas Center.
On Screen: La Rondine (Met Opera)
Initially conceived as an operetta before receiving the full operatic treatment, this bittersweet love story is the least-known work of the mature Giacomo Puccini, largely due to the circumstances of its premiere: Italy and Austria became enemies during World War I, precluding a Vienna premiere, and the opera quietly opened in neutral Monte Carlo, never finding a permanent place in the repertoire. That loss is scandalous, since La Rondine, judged on its own merits rather than compared to other operas with similar themes, is a fascinating work—featuring an abundance of exuberant waltzes, a lightness of tone (particularly in the intoxicating first two acts), and a romantic vision of Paris and the south of France.
All-District Strings Concert 2024
This concert showcases the growth of the public school string program on Orcas. From our 5th grade strings through our graduating seniors. Telemann to LeRoy Anderson to Robert Plant. Come and support our young string musicians!
Peace by Piece
An all ages showcase featuring everyone involved in Orcas dance! Peace begins in the family home and spreads into our community where we can collectively shine out an example of inclusion and unity. Please come join your family, friends and neighbors as we gather, dance and strengthen our vision of what Peace looks like together!
On Screen: Madama Butterfly (Met Opera)
The title character of Madama Butterfly—a young Japanese geisha who clings to the belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage—is one of the defining roles in opera. The story triggers ideas about cultural and sexual imperialism for people far removed from the opera house, and film, Broadway, and popular culture in general have riffed endlessly on it. The lyric beauty of Puccini’s score, especially the music for the thoroughly believable lead role, has made Butterfly timeless.
Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Drive
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt takes 1,000 blood donors each day to save lives across the Pacific Northwest. This spring, Bloodworks Northwest is touring together, from Bellingham, WA, to Eugene, OR, with one message: thank you. Hear the stories, feel the need, and discover the reasons why people choose to be 1 in 1,000. Join us in being a donor!
On Screen: When Backwards is Forwards
A story of overcoming our deepest fear with faith and self-love. Orcas High School alum Ella James BigBee co-directs and captures the cinematography of the wilderness in Western America. In her debut experimental film, Ella shadows her father's journey, silently documenting and filming the process.
Melodies, Marches, and Memories
Please join your friends and neighbors in the OI Community Band for its first formal concert since the pandemic! Our music presents something for all tastes. Enjoy a concert of lively marches, touching beloved melodies and some tunes which will evoke memories of years past.
Paul Winter Consort
Seven-time Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Paul Winter will perform at Orcas Center on Saturday, June 8th at 7 pm. A journey through Paul Winter’s world of “living music,” the concert will feature Winter’s soprano sax and the virtuosic piano playing of Henrique Eisenmann.
Spring Cleaning Help Needed!
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt’s Spring Cleaning Time! For three days (June 11-13), we are looking for volunteers to help us tame the wilds of our warehouse! Over the course of a season it can get pretty squirrelly in there, so it needs pruning! Come to any / all of the days - There will be food for the crew!
Art Exhibit: Terry Johnson & Friends
Terry Johnson and his students are pleased to present an exhibition of their works at Orcas Center through July 22. Exhibiting artists include: Avi Shmueli, Barbara Gourley, Barbara Wixom, Betsy Nelson, Christa Smith, Mimi Peters, Pearl Mudd, Peter Carlson, Shawna Franklin, and Willie Williams.
Luca Stricagnoli
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesLuca Stricagnoli is a world-renowned guitarist known for his innovative fingerstyle techniques and genre-blending musical arrangements. Hailing from Italy, but now based in Nashville, Luca's mesmerizing performances have earned him a massive social media following and critical acclaim from fellow musicians and critics alike worldwide.
Dirty Cello
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDirty Cello - cello like you've never heard before! Combine the virtuosic wail of Jimi Hendrix, the soul of BB King, and the fire of Bill Monroe, and add a whole lot of cello, and you get the Dirty Cello band.
Improv workshop
Brian James O'Connell's three-day workshop aims to help you not just on stage, but with any artistic endeavor you do. Through his decades of award-winning stagecraft, filmmaking, and producing, he has created the curriculum ALL IMPROV—a way of looking at everything you create and unlocking its maximum potential.
Laughs by the Pound – Improv Showcase!
Join us for a fun and unscripted evening in the Blackbox with Brian James O'Connell and Kyle Duncan Graham! We don't know what's going to happen - That's the beauty of improv - Join us and find out!
Beethoven’s Five Beloved Piano Concertos
World-renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker’s mastery of the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos will be center stage for this epic two-night event. With acclaimed Scott Holshouser on orchestral piano, Parker will perform all five of the inimitable composer’s piano concertos over the course of two concerts, an extraordinary artistic feat not to be missed!
Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRoy Rogers is considered one of the world’s preeminent master Delta slide guitarists. With over 20 recordings to his credit, Rogers has garnered 8 Grammy nominations for producing, as a recording artist, and as a songwriter. His collaborations have garnered major media accolades globally for producing critically acclaimed Grammy nominated recordings for John Lee Hooker and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, as well as collaborations with Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Allan Toussaint & Sammy Hagar, among others.
Summer Theatre Camp 2024!
Orcas Center Presents: Summer Theatre Camp 2024: Theater 360! Theatre 360 is a deep dive into what theatre is, how it works,
Jens Lindemann
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesAs the first classical brass soloist to ever receive the Order of Canada, Jens Lindemann is hailed as one of the most celebrated artists in his instrument’s history and was recently named “International Brass Personality of the Year” (Brass Herald). Jens has played both jazz and classical in every major concert venue in the world: from the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo to Carnegie Hall and even the Great Wall of China.
Adrian Xavier and Ska Island
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesAdrian Xavier has been spreading his uplifting message music for two decades, performing at festivals, colleges and events of all kinds. Adrian Xavier has been a part of Seattle's thriving music scene his entire life, with over 50 performances with original members of RNR Hall Fame band Heart and a regular featured guest with Marmalade, Seattle's longest running funk collective. Reggae music has always been a part of his journey and his role in cultivating the scene has led to exposer and development for many artist from Jamaica to Hawaii, Prezident Brown, Rocker T., Ras Michael, Clinton Fearon and Marty Dread are among the many artists Adrian Xavier has supported, toured and collaborated with extensivley on events and in the studio.
Heroines of History: Portrayals of Asian Women
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThree Asian-American storytellers portray the lives of pioneering women who have impacted history. Roopa Mohan will re-create the life of Kasturba Gandhi. Bowen Lee will embody the pioneering woman mountain climber, first woman to climb Mt. Everest. Nancy Wang will enact the life of Quock Mui, a pioneering Chinese American from the Chinese fishing villages of the Monterey Bay area.
Fantasy Island Masquerade Gala
Orcas Center's Fantasy Island Masquerade Gala Saturday, July 20th Starting at 5pm Join us for a gala like no other!
Up Up Up
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesUP UP UP Inc. is a touring crane truck circus ensemble! Our goal is to do socially distant shows for outdoor gatherings, small farms, immigrant communities, dinner parties, nursing homes, women's shelters, etc. to bring joy and levity into the air!
Art Exhibit: 2024 Orcas Artist Studio Tour
Take a look at the Orcas Artist Studio Tour on display at Orcas Center until August 20.
Thurmond Russell Recital
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThurmond Russell is pleased to invite the community to his first solo piano and voice recital. The program will feature Robert Schumann‘s Kinderszenen, Johannes Brahms’ Op. 10 Ballades, select Franz Schubert lieder, and an original composition. Born and raised on Orcas Island, Thurmond began his piano studies in 2020 and vocal training this year. He hopes to continue improving his skills with a future goal of composing and playing his own works.
Alice di Micele
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe first thing you ‘ll notice about Alice Di Micele is her voice. With a five-octave range that is intense, sensual, rich and soulful, Di Micele has been known to turn a noisy bar silent within a few notes. Her warm presence and humor disarm and create a rare intimacy between audience and performer. Whether singing a jazzy-folk number, belting a sassy blues, crooning a hushed ballad, or rocking out on one of her trademark rhythmic earthy grooves, Alice is a vocalist that moves people. A kick-ass guitarist as well, whether playing solo or with a band “Force of Nature” her acoustic guitar conjures percussive poly-rhythms, bass lines, and melodies that perfectly frame her vocals.
OICMF – Gryphon Trio Returns
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesGryphon Trio: Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys, Jamie Parker, Aloysia Friedmann, Illia Ovcharenko
Songwriters in the Round
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJoin local songwriters, Melody Funk, Carolyn Cruso, Madison West and Lisa Legros for this intimate musical experience. The In the Round format allows for artists to share their songs as well as the stories and inspiration behind writing them. Each artist is inspired by the piece that went before and can adjust their set list accordingly. Themes arise, running jokes emerge, harmonies are offered. It promises to be an evening of magic, lyrics and melody.
OICMF – Virtuoso Violins!
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMargaret Batjer, Robyn Bollinger, Robert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, David Grossman, Gryphon Trio, Cho-Liang Lin, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Children’s Concert
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Presents: The Children's Concert. Join us for The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, and lots of other musical fun!
OICMF – Orcas~trations: Twos and Tangos
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMargaret Batjer, Robyn Bollinger, Robert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, Mak Grgić, David Grossman, Gryphon Trio, Cho-Liang Lin, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
Caleb & Reeb and the Cali Cutups
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDust off your boots and gather around for some true and original modern honky tonk music. An all-star cast of master musicians backs these two soul singers of country music, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms. These two are known to roots music fans across the globe for their soulful harmonies, driving dance tunes, classic original songs, and commitment to the raw truth of rural American music.
OICMF – Sizzling Strings and Killer Keys
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRobert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, Mak Grgić, David Grossman, Cho-Liang Lin, Miró Quartet, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Teenage Genius
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRoman Borys, Daniel Ching, Robert deMaine, William Fedkenheuer, Aloysia Friedmann, Joshua Gindele, Mak Grgić, John Largess, Miró Quartet, Jon Kimura Parker, Annalee Patipatanakoon, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Open Rehearsal for Seniors
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Presents: Open Rehearsal for Seniors Orcas Center Main Stage Friday, August 16, 1:00pm FREE (no tickets required)
New Primitives
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesNew Primitives was founded in Minneapolis in 2003 by drummer, singer, songwriter Stanley Kipper. They are four-time Minnesota Music Award recipients and have played with Taj Mahal, Ziggy Marley, Mickey Hart, and the Neville Brothers, among others. New Primitives musicians come from a variety of strong musical backgrounds. Stan is on drums, Chico Perez on congas and percussion, Patrick Nelson on bass, Andrew Wozniak on lead guitar, “Lightnin” Joe Peterson on B3 and Brian “Snowman” Powers on saxophone. The music is Funky R& B/American Reggae with world music influences.
Art Exhibit: Julia Summers / Abstracts
This exhibit celebrates Featured Artist Julia Summers and our community show theme is Abstracts - On display through September 24th.
Acrobatic Conundrum
With all the passion and purpose that only eighteen months of solitudinous circus training can evoke, the performers of Acrobatic Conundrum are ready to channel the dancing, flipping sublime once again. This evening length, open air show is a one of a kind, not to be missed smorgasbord of aerial dance, hand to hand pas de deux, tumbling and clownery, always delivered in inimitable, authentic style.
Tanya Leigh Hutchins Memorial
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesPlease join us for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Tanya Leigh Hutchins. We will gather together on Saturday, August 24 at 1pm in the Madrona Room to remember our wonderful Tanya, and her partner Hans, who will be greatly missed.
Audio Brunch Workshop at Orcas Center
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJake Perrine will present a Live Sound Basics workshop over TEN Sunday mornings at Orcas Center Center Stage from 11am-12pm. The workshop is open to the public, and designed for audio hobbyists who want to improve their understanding of how audio works, how to work with it, and improve their live audio chops for weddings, live events, live recording, etc. Tuition is a WORK TRADE! Anyone present at 11am for the each workshop will learn for an hour, and then head down to the Village Green Stage at noon and put their learning into practice by helping set up for the weekly Summer Concert Series show for an hour (and / or promise to return at the end of the show and help break the gear down for an hour). You will learn as much by doing as you did in the workshop, and are welcome to ask questions throughout!
Duende Libre
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDuende Libre is an award-winning jazz ensamble which combines jazz virtuosity with roots rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, and West Africa into a “strikingly authentic blend.” Each having apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of these traditions, they consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: A euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots, pushing open the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.
Jazz Fest 24-Edmar Castañeda & Andrea Tierra
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesEdmar Castañeda nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category "Best Latin Jazz Album" with his album Family. In fall 2021, Castañeda's performance will be heard in Disney's latest film, Encanto (Release date: November 24, 2021), which features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Castañeda acts on the soundtrack and serves as music consultant on Encanto; Hailing from Medellín, Colombia, singer-songwriter Andrea Tierra crafts an innovative fusion of popular Latin-American rhythms, seamlessly blending them with the poignant essence of her own poetry. Each performance becomes a stage for her lyrical creations. While her songs often carry progressive themes and political stances against global injustices, Andrea's contralto voice equally resonates in contemporary love ballads and new-age compositions.
Jazz Fest 24 – Oliver Groenewald NewNet
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe roots of the "NewNet" stretch back to the early 1990s in Austria when band leader, Oliver Groenewald, assembled a unique lineup consisting of two trumpets, a trombone, three saxophones, and a rhythm section to give life to his musical vision. Groenewald's intricate compositions and the band's ability to evoke the volume of a Big Band while maintaining the intimacy of a smaller ensemble quickly drew attention, including that of the legendary American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy.In 1992, Murphy commissioned Oliver to arrange and produce an album together. The fruit of their collaboration, "Very Early," was released in 1993 and received critical acclaim, earning the title of Vocal CD of the Year from the New Yorker Cadence magazine.
Jazz Fest 2024 – Martin Lund & The Off-Island All-Stars
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMartin Lund, one of the most diverse musicians in the universe, lives and breathes music in many different colors and cultures. He has played with some of the great blues artists of our time and worked in the studios of LA as a composer, arranger, and musician. He is well known for bringing great artists to this island and providing some of the best shows at Orcas Center.
Film: S/he is Still Her/e
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesS/he is Still Her/e is a comprehensive, enthralling and aptly provocative portrait of the singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist and occultist known as Genesis P-Orridge. Join us for this one-night event including a post-film discussion with the director, David Charles Rodriguez!
West My Friend
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIn the modern musical landscape, it’s rare to hear something as put-together as Cascadian folk duo West My Friend - something so layered, deeply symphonic, baroque, and mysterious in its own winking way while still courting an edge of disaster. Simple is safe, but complex is fiery, intricate, and ultimately more rewarding.
Ladies of Hip Hop: Woman in the Woods Productions
Woman in the Woods Productions, presents: Ladies of Hip Hop! Join us at 5pm for appetizers from The Kitchen (including vegan options) as well as Steve Alboucq and Oliver Groenewald Quintet in the Madrona Room. Performance starts at 7pm
Good Lovelies
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesWith nine critically acclaimed releases, a #1 single, a JUNO Award, and a devoted fanbase blanketing the globe, roots-pop combo The Good Lovelies are among Canada’s brightest musical lights. The hardworking trio of Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough, and Susan Passmore — guitar-wielding songwriters all, and queens of the goose bump–raising three-part harmony.
Auditions – Kids Got Talent
Auditions for Orcas Center’s youth talent show will take place on Wednesday 10/2 and Thursday 10/3 from 3-5pm on both days on Center Stage. Bring your talent and show us your act! We will select the most appropriate acts for the two shows which will take place on Saturday 10/12 at 6pm, and Sunday 10/13 at 2pm.
Kids Got Talent!
Kids Got Talent - A Show for Kids by Kids! Co-hosted by Maddie Olson Saturday, October 12th at 6pm Sunday, October 13th