New Year, New Works, New Plans

Hey. Julia here.

I'm drinking dirty chai lattes at the KEXP Gathering Space, listening to music from The Silence of the Lambs (you know, the music from that scene where Ted Levine is dancing in his basement in front of the tall mirror and the soundtrack to that moment has become so iconic that you can no longer hear the song and think of any other visual?), and spending time with my fellow RWC Co-Directors scheming and crafting a busy 2026-2028.

The process of running a new, scrappy chamber opera has been thrilling and quite surprising. Surprising in the overwhelmingly positive and curious feedback from artists, patrons, and community members. This little engine that could is moving at a pace that is affirming and encouraging. We're building something that we as artists have wanted to see in our region and it seems to be resonating.

One of the many exciting irons in the fire is the number of artists who have reached out to support our mission, and one of those artists is the award-winning composer Sheila Silver, whose opera A Thousand Splendid Suns premiered at Seattle Opera in 2023. We are thrilled to be one of the ensembles set to premiere her new song cycle, Songs of Resilience this August. It is a new commission which requires some upfront costs like obtaining the rights to the texts. If you would like to know about this process, or if you would like to contribute to the commissioning costs, contact us at info@risingwaterscollective.org  We would love to share more about this program and Sheila's powerful concept with you.

2026's programs kick off with a concert featuring works by, and about, underrepresented voices in the opera canon. Unmasking the Muse is a part of the Seattle Opera Guild's complementary programming ahead of the Fellow Travellers tour stop in Seattle. Aligning with our mission and values, this program will feature musical moments from Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce's powerful work as well as works that span the centuries and celebrate the beauty of life's experiences from many perspectives.

Upcoming Performances:

• February 13, 5:30pm The Columbia Tower Club

       Unmasking the Muse: Operas Lost Voices -

       In partnership with Seattle Opera Guild

• March 8, 7pm ArtLove Salon

       Echoes of Her

       In partnership with the Conru Foundation ArtLove Salon

• August 8, time and location tbd

      Songs of Resilience

• August 21-22 Theatre Off Jackson

      North American Premiere of disPLACE

      In partnership with Theatre Off Jackson

Aside from the performance preparations, we're connecting with our audiences, patrons, and area creatives to listen to what they want to experience and be a part of. These conversations have been as delightful as they have been informative and we are loving the opportunity to get to know what it is that people are wanting. One main theme is a desire for depth of complementary programming where the performance becomes just one part of the experience for artists and audiences. We're loving that reframing of what it means to be a part of the community you serve. For us, producing the works we do isn't about performing for or at our neighbors, but using the performance as a vehicle for dialogue and change in our region.

And while I wish I could say that artistic planning is where the work ends, truly it is just the very tippy top of the iceberg. Hours are spent researching and applying for grants, filling calendars with rehearsal schedules and production meetings, creating piano reductions of chamber works (thank you, Jay Rozendaal!!!!), ensuring contracts are fair and in line with our values as an organization, connecting with community and venue partners, securing performance rights for new works, developing marketing strategies and media to try and reach as many people as possible, and spending every spare minute diving into the WHY of the repertoire we choose to present and invest our energy in.

One big outcome from our planning sessions is the decision to consolidate our major programming into a summer festival format. Beginning in August 2026, we will be presenting 3 weekends of song, opera, and conversation. Nay fret, our community concerts will still happen throughout the year.

Finally, we will be opening up our first Open Call Auditions this week with Round One materials due February 6. If you know anyone who is interested in performing, composing, directing, or writing for opera and song, please point them our way. We cannot wait to meet more creatives in the region and highlight their work. Visit our Audition page for more information.  

We're so glad you're along for this ride and we'll be bringing you more behind the scenes moments of what we're up to.

Stay tuned.