“Save the Date!” A Journey of Love through the Ages
Join us for an evolution of love through time!
Our concert begins by exploring youthful infatuation, lust, and heartbreak, while the second half invites a more philosophical lens, with different perspectives on what constitutes a deep and profound connection. Eric Whitacre’s “Five Hebrew Love Songs” for choir, piano, and violin is the centerpiece of the concert; however, as the concert title suggests, this is only part of the “journey!” You’ll be treated to an eclectic assortment of styles including a Renaissance madrigal, a Baroque aria, and a Romantic partsong, with texts by Sara Teasdale, Shakespeare, and more!
Finally, you’ll enjoy the premiere of the winning work, “From Shattuck Inn” by Wendy Davis, from our “Love is Love” composer competition! In this event, we sought to program texts that in some way challenge heteronormativity and use inclusive language to support all kinds of love regardless of identity, orientation, or gender. Find Bellevue Chamber Chorus on Facebook in June for a follow-up feature during Pride Month, but you’ll want to come to the concert and catch this new work live and in-person!
At this time Bellevue Chamber Chorus continues to require our patrons to wear masks and show proof of vaccination to attend our live concerts. For those unable to attend, we offer an online recording of some of the program.
2022-2023 Season
i believe | Northwest Gems | “Save the Date!” A Journey of Love through the Ages
Hailed as “dazzling” by Peninsula Reviews, violinist Caitlin Kelley is a versatile performing artist, equally at home with traditional classical and contemporary repertoire. Currently based in Seattle, she enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teaching artist.
As a soloist, Caitlin has appeared with orchestras across the country, including the Arlington Philharmonic, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic, Lake Union Civic Orchestra, Long Beach Chamber Orchestra, Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, Olympia Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Community Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, Seattle Festival Orchestra, Seattle Youth Symphony, and Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. During the 2022-23 season, she will perform concertos with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Caitlin has appeared many times on Classical KING FM in Seattle, most recently as a winner of the 2022 LMC Frances Walton Competition. She has also been featured on KUOW’s “The Beat” and KOMO TV. As a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, Caitlin performed on the popular NPR show From the Top.
An avid chamber musician, Caitlin has performed with Camerata Pacifica and the Colburn Chamber Music Society, and collaborated with renowned artists including Daniel Hope and Menahem Pressler. Her festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, Holland Music Sessions, Innsbruck Institute, Juilliard’s FOCUS Festival, Laguna Beach Music Festival, Lake George Music Festival, Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center. Caitlin is a member of Wild Up, a Grammy-nominated modern music collective, and is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of Nightjar, Seattle’s newest chamber music society.
As a freelance orchestral player, Caitlin frequently performs with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She is co-leader of the North Corner Chamber Orchestra (NOCCO), and has recently appeared as guest concertmaster of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, and Federal Way Symphony. Caitlin is the former concertmaster of the Colburn and YMF Debut Orchestras, and previously served as Interim Assistant Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, and Louisville Ballet. She held a first violin position with the New West Symphony in Los Angeles, and has also performed with the American Ballet Theatre, New World Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony. In the spring of 2023, she will perform as guest concertmaster of The Phoenix Symphony.
In addition to performing, Caitlin is deeply committed to education and community outreach. While living in Los Angeles she founded and directed an outreach concert series, while also serving as a mentor for the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Colburn Teaching Fellowship Program. As a recipient of the Juilliard’s Gluck Community Service Fellowship, Caitlin was involved in regular outreach performances throughout the greater New York area.
A native of Seattle, Washington, Caitlin received a Bachelor of Music degree and Professional Studies Certificate from the Colburn School in Los Angeles, and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York.
Wendy Davis began composing mainly for choirs, voice, and piano after retiring from working as a reference librarian in Chicago’s north suburbs for most of her career. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from the University of Evansville in Indiana, where she was an active piano accompanist, chamber player, and choral singer. She also has a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Michigan.
Wendy especially welcomes the challenge of composing from a thematic, textual, or other non-musical prompt. In 2022, her SATB setting of a medieval Valencian text won the prize for best work in the Valencian language from the Federation of Choirs of the Valencian Community (FECOCOVA) and was published in Spain. Also in 2022, her Meditation for Earth and Sky for piano premiered as part of Ann DuHamel’s Prayers for a Feverish Planet recital series at the University of Minnesota Morris.
While enjoying retirement with her husband in Lake Bluff, Illinois, she spends much of her time composing, playing the piano, and continuing the choral singing she has treasured through the years by singing with the concert and treble choirs of nearby Lake Forest College.
Wendy so appreciates opportunities for emerging composers to submit works to competitions such as the “Love is Love” composer competition and is honored to have her submission chosen and premiered by the Bellevue Chamber Chorus. She thanks all who made it possible.