Performance Groups

Wa-he-let School Drum and Dance Group 1:30-3:15 pm, Longhouse, TESC

Washington Chinese Youth Muscial Ensemble 12:15-1:15pm, Longhouse, TESC

Sya?ya 3:30-5:30pm, Longhouse, TESC

Sya?ya? began in 1997 lead by Dale Clark and Corey O’Lague as an intertribal
drum group. Sya?ya? is an effort to learn and to share the rich cultural
diversity of tribal people living in the Puget Sound region. This was the
beginning of a cultural journey of song, dance and cultural protocol.
Today, Sya?ya? has become a cultural foundation for the Squaxin Island
community where culture is the base from which many live their lives.

Saeed Shahram and Katayoun Lotfi 3:30-5:30pm, Longhouse, TESC

Saeed Shahram's unique musical style has been described by critics as
"hauntingly beautiful," "incredible," and "spectacular." His music has
not only connected with a large, world-wide audience but also received
widespread critical praise for its integrity, emotional depth and craft.
Saeed Shahram received two international awards for his film scores in
1994. Shahram began composing music at the age of 10. He studied compositionand electronic music, and completed Persian Music (Dastghah) in 1983. With numerous film scores, documentary movies, TV series, and anthem songs to his credit, Saeed Shahram blendes Iranian traditional musicwith acoustic jazz, jazz, and blues, creating a music that transcends
borders.

Katayoun Lotfi

Katayoun Lotfi was born in Tehran, Iran. She was introduced to Iranian poetry through her parents and teachers, as a young girl in Iran. In 1992, Katayoun immigrated to Seattle with her family. She continues to explore her Iranian cultural heritage through studying for Persian poetry and music.

Marla Beth Elliot and Sonja Wiedenhaupt 3:30-5:30pm, Longhouse, TESC

Marla Beth Elliott teaches at Evergreen and sings with The Righteous
Mothers. Her new passion is learning to play the upright bass. She and
Sonja Wiedenhaupt have been playing and singing together for about a
year. Marla grew up in Texas.

Sonja Wiedenhaupt teaches about teaching at Evergreen. She plays, among
other instruments, guitar and flute. Despite an upbringing that
includes nearly everywhere except Tennessee, she loves twangy acoustic music
music. Sonja has been playing and singing with Marla Beth Elliott for
about a year.

George Xu 3:30-5:30pm, Longhouse, TESC

George Xu has learned Dizi (flute) and many other Chinese music instruments
since he was eight years old in Sichuan, China. However, George Xu
specializes in Dizi, a beautiful classical Chinese music instrument known in
China thousands of years before the earliest written history of China.
George performed for many years in China before coming to USA to attend
graduate school at the University of Minnesota. He obtained a PhD degree in
economics and eventually became an economist with the WA Insurance
Commission.