Robert Burns 
 Choral Celebration

To celebrate Robert Burns Day, VAA welcomes back
Seattle choral ensemble whateverandeveramen. (w&ea.) to lead a lively evening of Burns songs and other traditional Scottish and Irish drinking songs. The group’s name is borrowed from a lyric and album by singer-songwriter Ben Folds, reinterpreted as a statement of reflection and nondenominational faith—“that whatever challenges may come, life will find a way to work things out.”

Favorite son and bard, eighteenth century lyricist Robert Burns is widely regarded as Scotland’s national poet. He is most recognized through his poem-song “Auld Lang Syne,” often sung at New Year’s celebrations across the world, and by “Scots Wha Hae,” the unofficial Scottish national anthem.

Founded in 2012 by choral conductor Brad Pierson (Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, Western Illinois University), the irreverent goal of w&ea. is to create approachable choral concerts of artistic merit that invite audiences to sing rather than sit as spectators. Through these fun and casual events, w&ea. hopes to initiate a generation of people to the positive experience of group singing.

Audience members need no prior singing experience, and the w&ea. singers teach songs throughout the evening. While traditional Burns Suppers are ritualistic with a set order of events, we dispense with tradition (and the haggis) to focus on song.    
       
Saturday, January 17, 
7:30 pm
Vashon Allied Arts
$14 Member/Senior, $18 General
Tickets: VAA, Heron’s Nest, 
VashonAlliedArts.org
This is an age 21+ event