Support Cascadia's Live Music Events in the Methow

 Cascadia Chorale Holiday Concert 2025Duende Libre Quintet 2/28/26

Casey Neill 10/18/25

THE FOCUS OF THIS FUNDRAISER: As venue rentals, artist and director fees, and production costs have risen over the past few years, we are specifically seeking funds to sustain our community ensembles and concert programs. These events deeply enrich our small rural community, and provide world class music to folks who otherwise would not have access. Entry to Cascadia Music's Holiday concert and other events, whenever feasible, is "by donation." We strive to ensure that funds are never an obstacle to participation. in our programs.

Community Ensembles: For decades, our orchestra and chorale concerts have been among the area's most widely attended seasonal events. These events are the culmination of months of preparation and practice by all involved. Several of the musicians travel from Omak, Chelan, Tonasket and as far away as Wenatchee to take part. These no-audition ensembles are available to all regardless of experience, age, gender, and cultural identity. Participants range in age from 12 to 85 years old, providing a rare context in our modern world, where people of a wide range of experience and age can come together to create beautiful and accessible programs. With both Chorale, and the Orchestra (youth and adult combined) each averaging 50 people per group, the ensembles represent about 10% of Twisp's population, while, the audiences that attend the concerts number between 250-500 people per show, representing half the town!

Cascadia's ensembles and concerts build a richer, more vital and peaceful community. "The “warm glow” of belonging [one feels at a live music event] is not imaginary; it is deeply rooted in brain chemistry. Live music triggers the release of oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone,” which increases trust and connection, as well as dopamine, which fosters pleasure. Together, these neurochemical responses help explain why audiences often leave concerts feeling closer to one another.  (https://www.garthnewel.org/connection-and-delight-how-live-music-enhances-well-being/)

Nationally Touring Artist Concerts/ Workshops: In 2025-26 Cascadia presented four shows- two concerts with our ensembles and two additional well-attended concerts with nationally touring acts. As part of their engagement with us, the performers were also tasked with presenting workshops to the community, and those were also well attended. Reviews afterwards revealed participants felt "excited to try something new" and "to learn more about the technical aspects" of the artist's work and performances. 

Cascadia's new Strategic Plan calls for growing our capacity and bringing more musically diverse offerings as we build our concert season, with an expansion of genres being offered, such as singer/songwriter, folk, world music and jazz.

Attending a live musical performance or workshop can have life changing impact. A teenager who had never considered jazz walks into a workshop and walks out a different person. That kind of exposure is irreplaceable. These talented artists infuse energy into our community, and expose listeners to styles and genres they may not otherwise have access to. Concerts in a small rural community like ours are not just events, they are central to maintaining and expanding our connections to each other and to the wider world of art and music.

Cascadia Music creates safe, welcoming spaces where individuals find their place in community, and where strangers become friends through the shared joys, power and universal language of music.