John Clayton photo by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute Appoints New Executive Leadership
After serving as interim executive director for ten months after the transition of longtime director Tim Lennon, in June, the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute appointed Ebony Arunga as the permanent director. Arunga steps into the leadership role of an institution that has been formative to her since childhood and is excited to expand the institute’s reach, including revitalizing youth programming and fostering collaboration with the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas to create financial opportunities for Black artists. One initiative, called Create and Thrive, builds on the legacy of the Seattle Artist Relief Fund, which raised $1.1 million to support artists during the pandemic.
The John Clayton Jazz Fund
After 20+ years as artistic director of Jazz Port Townsend, Centrum launched the John Clayton Jazz Fund. This fund will support Centrum’s commitment to artistic excellence and accessibility by providing Jazz Diversity scholarships to students of color, those with financial need, and by bringing exceptional teaching artists to share their knowledge and talent, all in John Clayton’s name. Additionally, mark your calendars for the 2025 festival which is slated for July 21-27. Contributions to the fund can be made at centrum.org/claytonfund.
Queer Sick Pay Fund
Drag queens, comedians, musicians, and other entertainers are mostly independent contractors, oftentimes without employer-provided health insurance or sick time. Local drag queen Betty Wetter, as well as the dance duo Drama Tops, and Velocity Dance Center, have come together to initiate the Queer Sick Pay Fund which is intended to provide queer nightlife performers in the Seattle area with sick pay and resources when they have to miss a gig. Their goal is to raise $100,000 to provide these grants. To learn more and how to support the project visit velocitydancecenter.org/project/qspf.
Auditions Open for More Music @ The Moore
STG is seeking the region’s most talented emerging artists, ages 14-21, for an experience that includes collaboration, mentorship, and a performance at The Moore Theatre on March 21, 2025! Auditions are now open for the 24th annual More Music @ The Moore, a paid training and performance program for young artists representing diverse music styles. This program provides training and rehearsal time with professional musicians, collaboration with peers, production and promotional support, and the opportunity to perform in two collaborative shows at the historic Moore Theatre. Past musical styles have included everything from opera, hard rock, hip-hop, Japanese taiko drum, klezmer, folk, neo-soul, Tongan & Samoan, Vietnamese pop, singer-songwriters, jazz, musical theatre, steel pan, gospel, and more! Video auditions are due by 5pm, November 1. Visit stgpresents.org/ece/more-music for complete guidelines.
The Femme Ellington Project
Seattle JazzED’s Femme Ellington Project, formerly known as the Girls Ellington Project, was renamed based on group members’ encouragement to better reflect their vision for the ensemble. This ensemble is specifically designed for individuals who have historically been marginalized due to their gender identity. Welcoming girls, nonbinary, and gender-expansive jazz musicians in grades 9 through 12 to join in celebrating the joy of jazz music, the hope is to create more inclusive spaces for young people to create music and connect with one another.
Bellevue Jazz & Blues Music
The Bellevue Downtown Association’s (BDA) annual Jazz & Blues Music Series will fill Downtown Bellevue with live performances from local and regional musicians October 2-6. The series returns with more than 20 shows, including two headliners at Meydenbauer Center Theatre. Audience members can follow along with the jazz and blues crawl by checking out performances (most are free) at various gathering places in Downtown Bellevue. The BDA is also excited to welcome a student showcase of local high school and middle school jazz combos. These shows will highlight burgeoning young talent and their contributions to the cultural enrichment of the region. Tickets are available at bellevuejazz.com.
