PHAME Returns for Collaboration with Portland's Pink Martini

After a blockbuster spring of guest appearances and performances - including a standing-ovation-evoking appearance at the April 15th TEDxPortland event at Portland's Keller Auditorium - PHAME is thrilled to announce that it's returning for another collaboration with Portland's beloved mini-orchestra, Pink Martini, coming up July 1st at McMenamins Edgefield.

"We couldn't possibly be more thrilled to be returning to the stage with Pink Martini," says PHAME Executive Director Stephen Marc Beaudoin. "Thomas and the entire band have long been champions of the power of music and all the arts to build more inclusive communities, and we're so pleased to be performing with them again as part of this summer's show at McMenamins Edgefield."

PHAME has a long history of collaboration with Pink Martini and bandleader Thomas Lauderdale, starting with the PHAME Combo's performance with the band at the Oregon Zoo in August of 2012. Since then, PHAME musicians have collaborated with Pink Martini on multiple events, including the annual Pioneer Square Holiday Tree Lighting event; the "Singing in the Square" free community sing-along, also at Pioneer Courthouse Square; and at multiple events hosted by Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale at venues around the region.

The July 1st performance with PHAME and Pink Martini at McMenamins Edgefield will feature the PHAME Rock Ensemble, a unified ensemble of musicians with and without disabilities performing together that has become one of PHAME's go-to touring musical ensembles, as well as several soloists from the PHAME program. More information on the collaboration will be released closer to the event; tickets are on sale now here.

(pictuted above: PHAME Director of Education and Performance Programs Matthew Gailey with musician Estin Kiger, holding their backstage performer passes for PHAME's collaboration with Pink Martini, August 18-19, 2012, at the Oregon Zoo)