Acclaimed Armenian Artists to Take Center Stage at 2026 Northwest Mahler Festival
SEATTLE — The Northwest Mahler Festival will showcase a collaboration of two acclaimed Armenian-American artists. Music Director Tigran Arakelyan will lead the festival orchestra in Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3 on Saturday, August 1, at 7 p.m. at the Shorewood Performing Arts Center.
As the longest symphony in the standard repertoire, this immense, transformative work spans nearly 100 minutes. Bringing the six-movement masterpiece to life demands a massive orchestral presence alongside an extraordinary vocal cast. The performance features mezzo-soprano Laurel Semerdjian as the soloist, alongside the Northwest Boychoir (Artistic Director Jacob Winkler) and a Women’s Chorus (Artistic Director Beth Ann Bonnecroy).
Conductor Tigran Arakelyan has been Music Director of the Northwest Mahler Festival since 2018, Arakelyan is an award-winning conductor known for his dynamic interpretations and visionary leadership.
Mezzo-Soprano Laurel Semerdjian is hailed for her “deep, velvety voice,” Semerdjian is a premier international soloist renowned for bringing profound emotional depth to Mahler’s vocal movements.
Tickets are available online. Early booking is highly recommended due to limited seating.
Founded to celebrate the expansive works of Gustav Mahler, the Northwest Mahler Festival brings together regional musicians, vocalists, and choruses every summer. Learn more online.
