QUEENSRŸCHE Joins Synergia Northwest Benefit to Aid Northwest Youth Music Education

Seattle's progressive stronghold QUEENSRŸCHE will join the stellar 2011 Synergia Northwest lineup on Friday, May 6 at the Moore Theatre in Seattle to support youth music education. "They are a perfect fit," said musician and show producer Michael McMorrow. "Their music has resonated for a couple generations of music fans here in the northwest and world-wide; and of course lends itself to symphonic components beautifully, and most importantly, they get it. They totally understand the tremendous need to support youth music education programs. They know where they come from."

The concert event raises funds to provide extended learning, enrichment and performance opportunities to music students who would not have the necessary financial resources. A first of its kind event, Synergia Northwest 2010 launched in Tacoma's Landmark Convention Center last year, and blended classical, contemporary, professional and student musicians into one concert, unifying musicians across cultures, ages and musical genres all in the name of Washington State Youth Music Education. This year Music Aid Northwest's "Music Matters" Washington State License Plate Initiative campaign fund will be an emphasized beneficiary. This initiative allows the Washington State Department of Licensing to collect fees to create special ‘Music Matters' license plates. These plates will help fund music programs in our Washington schools.

Other highlights of the evening will include performances of the Synergia Northwest Orchestra with Pacific Northwest rock recording artists including Grammy award-winning drummer Alan White (YES, JOHN LENNON) and his band WHITE in a reprise of their performance at Synergia 2010, Shawn Smith of BRAD, tennis pro, Heart by Heart with Heart founder Steve Fossen and Somar Macek, Brendan Hill of BLUES TRAVELER, Geoffrey Castle, Scotty Olsen, Michael McMorrow, special performances by the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS BLUE THUNDER DRUM CORP and Seattle's Kokon Taiko. The Kokon Taiko performance continues Synergia Northwest's acknowledgement of the area's unique and diverse cultural heritage. The Synergia Orchestra will also perform the brilliant and moving Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia composition "China Doll" from Georgia-based composer and educator Lee Johnson's "Dead Symphony #6: An Orchestral Tribute to the Music of the Grateful Dead".

The concert will conducted by internationally recognized Dr. Nikolas Caoile, Director of Orchestras at Central Washington University and the conductor of the Wenatchee Symphony Orchestra. Acclaimed violinist William Boyd is the concertmaster. The Synergia Northwest Orchestra is comprised of some of the area's finest professional classical musicians and selected players from Washington State All-State groups and regional youth and public school orchestras.

The event will have special emphasis on "Music Matters", a self-perpetuating fundraising initiative Senate-House Bill 1329 to help support school music programs through sales of a distinctive new Washington State license plate, available through the Washington State Department of Licensing. Monies raised through Synergia Northwest 2011 will help the campaign fund school music programs statewide in Washington as well as collect signatures needed to continue its development in the state legislative process.

Synergia Northwest 2011 is sponsored by Washington Music Educators Association, Central Washington University, NAF Productions, Drifting Homeward Music, STG, Stenide Ilumination. Synergia Northwest 2011 has again enlisted Music Aid Northwest, a Washington State 501 (c)(3) organization, to direct the funds to Young Musicians Excelling award funding grant program through Washington Music Educators Association to Musicworks Northwest and Music Matters. Other non-profit agencies benefiting from Synergia Northwest 2011 will be announced.

Tickets are on sale at Tickets.com, in person at the Paramount Theatre box offices (Monday-Friday 10am-6pm), 24-hour kiosks located outside The Paramount & Moore Theatres, charge by phone at 877-784-4849 or online at STGPresents.org.

(Golden Circle seats are a reserved seat in the first 3 rows with access to a pre-show meet and greet with musicians, a poster for autographs and a photo opportunity.)