Test your trivia knowledge in a Trivia Bee hosted by Whatcom Literacy Council. Music from Western Washington University, Bellingham Festival of Music, Bellingham Music Club and Bellingham Symphony Orchestra will inspire you, Bellingham’s Sonja Lee returns with a new band, and the community is invited to join the beginning of the Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey. Also, hop on your bike for a memorable community bike ride.
Trivia Bee
The Whatcom Literacy Council hosts its 26th annual Trivia Bee at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28. For local residents who would like to meet in person, the Local Public House (1427 Railroad Ave.) and Menace Brewing (2529 Meridian St.) will show the event on big screens. Space is limited, so come early to hold your spot; proof of vaccination and masks are required.
The Literacy Council will be working with Ryan Budds of Trivia with Budds in an interactive online trivia night akin to “Jeopardy!” Scotty VanDryver of KAFE Radio will host this match of wits and brainpower. Teams compete in all four rounds in a range of topics and the winner goes home with the traveling “Totten Trophy.” Because it is a virtual Zoom event, participants can play from anywhere, with answers submitted via cell phone. The online auction runs through April 30. All proceeds support the free adult literacy programs of the Whatcom Literacy Council. Find details at whatcomliteracy.org.
Clarinet Dances
Bellingham Festival of Music and Seattle’s Emerald City Music present Chamber Music by the Bay at 7 p.m. April 28 at Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave.
The program consists of the “Clarinet Quintet in Bb Major” by Carl Maria Von Weber and “Gumboots” by David Bruce. Performing are Kose Franch Ballester, clarinet; Kristin Lee, violin and artistic director of Emerald City Music; Jason Ueyama, violin; Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, viola; and Ani Aznavoorian, cello. Tickets are $75 and include wine, appetizers and desserts. For reservations, call Bellingham Festival of Music at (360) 201-6621, or email bellinghamfestival@comcast.net.
WWU presents new work by John Williams
Capping off a weeklong residency at Western Washington University, acclaimed pianist Gloria Cheng will give the U.S. “preview performance” of Williams’ “Prelude & Scherzo for Piano and Orchestra,” with WWU’s Symphony Orchestra, ahead of its official U.S. premiere in June. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 at Western’s Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. The WSO will be the first American ensemble to perform this music. Ryan Dudenbostel conducts the free concert.
Also on the program is Leonard Bernstein’s searing score to the 1954 film “On the Waterfront,” led by graduate student conductor Johnathon Lyons. The piece anticipates his masterpiece “West Side Story” score, composed three years later. Concluding the program is Elgar’s Enigma “Variations.” Find details at cfpa.wwu.edu/music.
Sonja Lee Band
Join singer Sonja Lee and her new band featuring Tim Volpicella, guitar; King Dahl, bass; and Joe Garguile, drums, for a program of new original songs and old favorites along with a sprinkling of cover tunes in a tasty mix of songs in a variety of styles — jazz, blues, gospel, folk and country — from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at the FireHouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave. This event is not ticketed. Cash donations of appreciation gladly accepted. For more info, go to firehouseperformingarts.com.
Memorial Day Parade
Registration for participants for Bellingham’s 100th Memorial Day Parade, which takes place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, is open through May 8 at whatcommemorialdayparade.com.
Bellingham Bike Parade
Make history at the Bellingham Bike Parade Sunday, May 1 in downtown Bellingham, re-creating a historic photo taken by Jack Carver on May 1, 1948, from the corner of Railroad Avenue and East Holly Street. To participate, meet at the WECU parking lot located at 600 E. Holly Street at 12:30 p.m. Bikers depart at 1 p.m., following Holly Street to Waypoint Park.
The ride will take place rain or shine. Bike decorations and costumes are encouraged. All ages welcome. Please note: as a participant you will need to wear a helmet. The parade will be escorted by police. Riders are asked to follow the rules of the road. The parade is made possible by WECU, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, WTA, Smart Trips and the City of Bellingham. Find out more at cob.org/event/bike-parade.
Harmony from Discord concert
Bellingham Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Harmony from Discord concert at 3 p.m. May 1 at Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., conducted by Yaniv Attar.
The notes and voices of those traditionally left out of the repertory reverberate today in the voices of the soloists featured in this concert. Bella Hristova, violin; and Jessica Choe, piano, are involved with the Music of Remembrance Project. Demarre McGill, principal flute for the Seattle Symphony, has also risen to prominence in speaking out about social justice issues.
The program: Joan Tower’s “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1,” Jonathan Leshnoff’s “Elegy,” Erwin Schulhoff’s “Double Concerto for Flute and Piano,” John Williams’ “Theme from Schindler’s List,” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Violin Concerto.” Ryan Dudenbostel’s informative and engaging virtual pre-concert lecture airs at vimeo.com/bellinghamsymph during the week of the concert. To find out more, go to bellinghamsymphony.org or mountbakertheatre.com.
Totem Pole blessing
Join Lummi House of Tears carvers and Totem Pole journeyers Jewell James, Doug James and Siam’elwit at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St., for a Blessing of the Totem Pole ceremony as they begin their journey through Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Local spiritual leaders will bless the pole and the community is invited to come and bless it with prayers and hopes for healing and restoration.
Sponsored by Se’Si’Le, the Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey aims to inspire, inform and engage Pacific Northwest communities through intergenerational voices, ceremony, art, science, spirituality, ancestral knowledge and cross-cultural collaboration in support of the Indigenous-led movement to remove the Snake River dams and restore to health the Snake River salmon runs and the Southern Resident killer whales (Skali’Chelh in the Lummi language) that depend on them. Info can be had at earthministry.org.
Bellingham Music Club
Bellingham Music Club presents a free recital with Western Washington University pianist professor Milica Jelača Jovanović at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 4 at the First Congregational Church, 1401 Cornwall Ave. She has performed in solo recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including her native Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event is a preview for the BMC’s Night Beat full concert at the same venue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6. Head to bellinghammusicclub.org for ticket info.
Before attending an in-person event, check with individual venues to make sure it is taking place as scheduled.
Margaret Bikman’s column runs every Wednesday. Reach her at margaret.bikman@gmail.com.
