SEATTLE

As a major center for the arts in the Northwest, Seattle is home to an orchestral scene few other locales can boast – the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras is one of the largest community youth orchestras in the United States, and the much-lauded Seattle Symphony Orchestra has been thrilling audiences for over a century. The city is also home to the Seattle Opera, known for its superb interpretations of Richard Wagner productions, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, which is considered one of the top ballet training institutions in the United States. The Seattle music setting cannot be discussed without mentioning the early 1990’s popular music known as grunge, thanks to the many local bands that popularized the music, such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and the hometown favorite, Nirvana.

There is also no lack of sights to visit. The Seattle Center, an arts and entertainment district built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is home to the Space Needle, one of the tallest structures in the United States, the outrageously designed Museum of Pop Culture, and the Pacific Science Center – home of the Boeing IMAX Theater, Eames IMAX Theater, and Seattle Laser Dome. Pike Place Market, one of the oldest continually operated public farmers’ markets in the United States, is a wonder of local food and shops.

With its rich and eclectic culture, Seattle is the perfect tour stop for performance ensembles that participate in Seattle’s National Festival of the States concert series!