music

When Elisa Lewis began the Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, it was to give young musicians a chance to perform repertoire written for orchestras and smaller ensembles. Although her college degree was in recreational therapy, she had thoroughly enjoyed playing a musical instrument throughout her school-age years, and she wanted to provide the next generation of students with the same opportunity. 

 Eduardo Mendonça has performed for Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and the Dalai Lama. He himself descends from a royal African family. But the hardworking Brazilian-born musician doesn’t rest on his laurels. With his wife, Ana Paula Mendonça, the naturalized American citizen founded Show Brazil Productions, a Seattle-area company that promotes Brazilian arts and education opportunities throughout the United States and Canada.