The Astronaut, the Electric Theorbo, and the Plan that Wasn’t

The Live Music Project turns three! Join us as we celebrate with an evening of improvisation – on the stage, and in space!

Former NASA astronaut Heidemarie Martha Stefanyshyn-Piper has flown on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-115 and STS-126, and has logged more than 30 hours in spacewalks. What happens when things don't go according to plan in space? We'll soon find out!

Then, in Flights of Fancy, Aaron Grad takes the stage with four beers, fourteen strings, and no idea what he's going to play. Taste along with Aaron as each Naked City brew launches a fresh improvisation on his trusty electric theorbo, an instrument he designed and built himself (with inspiration from an oversized lute – video here).

Come early to hang out and grab a drink, dinner, and a table. Tickets $15 online, $20 at the door. Seating is limited, advance purchase recommended.

Approximate schedule:

6:30pm-7:00pm – Food, drink, mingling
7:00pm-7:45pm – Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper: When plans go awry
7:45pm-8:00pm – Celebratory surprise!
8:00pm-8:45pm – Aaron Grad & his electric theorbo: Flights of Fancy

Thanks to our partners for the delightful door prizes: Byrd Ensemble, Common Tone Arts / Universal Language Project, Early Music Guild, Emerald City Music, Music of Remembrance, Seattle Chamber Music Society, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, and Seattle Pro Musica.

Guest bios:

HEIDEMARIE STEFANYSHYN-PIPER
Heidemarie Martha Stefanyshyn-Piper is an American Naval officer and a former NASA astronaut. She has achieved the rank of Captain in the United States Navy. She is also a qualified and experienced salvage officer. Her major salvage projects include de-stranding the tanker Exxon Houston off the coast of Barbers Point, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and developing the plan for the Peruvian Navy salvage of the Peruvian submarine Pacocha.

Stefanyshyn-Piper has received numerous honors and awards, such as the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals. She has flown on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-115 and STS-126, during which she completed five spacewalks totaling 33 hours and 42 minutes. (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidemarie_Stefanyshyn-Piper)

AARON GRAD
Composer and guitarist Aaron Grad merges his rock and jazz roots with his classical training to create music that The Washington Post has described as “inventive and notably attractive.” For his evening-length song cycle with countertenor, Old-Fashioned Love Songs, Aaron created the world's only electric theorbo in 2012. Next season the instrument will be featured in Strange Seasons, a concerto commissioned by the Seattle Baroque Orchestra. In his other life, Aaron writes program notes for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, Seattle Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and many other ensembles. (http://www.aarongrad.com/)

The Live Music Project operates with support from 4Culture:

About Live Music Project

The Live Music Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing arts access and arts community in Seattle and around the world.

We believe that a lack of resources should not be a barrier to audience. We believe that access to the arts begins with access to information about the arts.

Our purpose is to connect people with the means to access and experience live classical music in a way that strengthens community, celebrates listener agency, and amplifies local arts resources.