Bringing RWC to Our Neighbors

This summer, Rising Waters Collective stepped out of the rehearsal room and into our neighbors’ living rooms. Our recent series of private house concerts brought audiences closer to the music—and to each other—while offering a first taste of what makes RWC’s work unique.

One highlight was the first-ever sneak peek of the Vox Project, performed by mezzo-soprano Lucy Weber and pianist Jay Rozendaal. This intimate excerpt introduced guests to our outside-the-box approach to opera: immersive, immediate, and rooted in human connection.

The evenings also celebrated the wealth of creativity in our own region. We shared works by Pacific Northwest composers and librettists Dawn Sonntag (including a moving scene from her timely opera Verlorene Heimat), Sheila Silver, Caitlin Vincent, Ailisa Newhall, and Deborah J. Anderson. In a special moment, Dawn Sonntag herself joined the first concert at the piano, bringing her own music to life in the most personal way possible.

Our co-directors Julia Benzinger, Holly Boaz, Ibidunni Ojikutu, and Lucy Weber were joined by pianists Amy Boers, Jay Rozendaal, and Dawn Sonntag, creating rich musical collaborations in the most welcoming of settings.

The evenings also included a silent auction with unforgettable experiences: a VIP package to a Vox performance, behind-the-scenes access to the filming of Lucy Weber’s Vox interpretation, an insider’s look at next summer’s disPLACE, and a private concert of Spanish music and wine with co-director Julia Benzinger.

Most importantly, these concerts happened because of the generosity of our hosts, who opened their homes so we could share our mission and programming directly with our community. In these living rooms, music met conversation, and art met neighborliness—a reminder that opera thrives where people gather.