Classical

Auburn Symphony Summer Concerts Music for strings (Tchaikovsky, Mozart, etc.) from ASO players. Mary Olson Farm, 28728 Green River Rd., Auburn $10-$17 Thursday, August 7, 2014, 7pm

• 

International Wagner Competition In addition to some luscious singing, the great fun of Seattle Opera’s International Wagner Competition is the audience award. Even among opera fans, who tend to be opinionated, I’ve never heard such engaged musical conversation than the intermission chat at previous competitions, people earnestly discussing, arguing about, and agonizing over their favorites. Tonight’s IWC will run along the same lines: four male and four female finalists will each sing two Wagner arias with full-orchestra backing. The orchestra members get to pick their favorite, too, alongside the $60,000 in prize money to be distributed by the official panel of judges. This kicks off a grand weekend saluting Speight Jenkins, the man who’s led SO for 31 years, as he prepares to step down. At Saturday’s Speight Celebration Gala Performance (concert only, no competition), favorites from The Pearl Fishers, Otello, Porgy and Bess, and Tosca-plus of course plenty of Jenkins’ beloved Wagner-will be sung by a dozen or so of the star singers associated with the company: Greer Grimsley, Stephanie Blythe, and many more. (Gala concert: $99-$399. 6 p.m. Sat.) Gavin Borchert McCaw Hall (Seattle Center), 321 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109 $46-$66 Thursday, August 7, 2014, 7pm

Seattle Opera: International Wagner Competition Eight singers, backed by full orchestra, vie for honors in this thrilling showcase. McCaw Hall (Seattle Center), 321 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109 $46-$66 Thursday, August 7, 2014, 7pm

Jesse Olsen Bay This Bay Area composer presents Makings: Songs from Tillie Olsen’s Journals, a cycle on texts by his grandmother, feminist author/activist Tillie Olsen. With percussionist Paul Kikuchi and vocalist/composer Meghan O’Donoghue-Williams. Chapel Performance Space (Good Shepherd Center), 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. $5-$15 Thursday, August 7, 2014, 8pm

Seattle Opera Day Hands-on activities, performances, lectures, and demos for the whole family, with a preview of the 2014-15 season from incoming general director Aidan Lang. Museum of History and Industry, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle WA 98109 Free w/admission ($4-$6) Saturday, August 9, 2014, 11am – 2pm

Olympic Music Festival Chamber-music favorites in a repurposed barn, 2 p.m. each Sat. & Sun. through Sept. 7. On Aug. 9-10, music by Haydn, Ravel, Schnittke, and Arensky. Olympic Music Festival, 7360 Center Rd., Quilcene, WA 98376 $18-$33 Saturday, August 9, 2014, 2pm

Seattle Opera: Speight Celebration A grand good-bye concert for Speight Jenkins after 30 years of running Seattle Opera, with a wealth of favorite singers and beloved repertory. McCaw Hall (Seattle Center), 321 Mercer St., Seattle, WA 98109 $99-$399 Saturday, August 9, 2014, 6pm

Forest Show Nature-responsive improv among the trees, from John Teske, Neil Welch, Sonja Myklebust, and Greg Campbell, in a wooded area TBA (e-mail john@johnteske.com for directions). Venue TBA, Free w/admission ($4-$6) Saturday, August 9, 2014, 7:30pm

Olympic Music Festival Chamber-music favorites in a repurposed barn, 2 p.m. each Sat. & Sun. through Sept. 7. On Aug. 9-10, music by Haydn, Ravel, Schnittke, and Arensky. Olympic Music Festival, 7360 Center Rd., Quilcene, WA 98376 $18-$33 Sunday, August 10, 2014, 2pm

Music Northwest In “Sopranos!”, Jordan Corbin and Jordan McLellan offer Argento, Delibes, Puccini, and more. First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California Ave. S.W. $16-$18 Sunday, August 10, 2014, 3pm

Compline Services A half-hour meditation each week with the eight-voice Renaissance Singers. St. Clement of Rome Episcopal Church, 1501 32nd Ave. S., Seattle Free Sunday, August 10, 2014, 7:30 – 8pm

Seattle Bach Choir Join them for their Summer Sing of Bach motets. Bethany Lutheran Church, 7400 Woodlawn Ave. N.E. $8 Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 6:30pm

Eastgate Chamber Music Festival Six concerts by Musicworks Northwest faculty and guests; see musicworksnw.org for repertory. Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 7:30pm

Eastgate Chamber Music Festival Six concerts by Musicworks Northwest faculty and guests; see musicworksnw.org for repertory. Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Thursday, August 14, 2014, 7:30pm

Eastgate Chamber Music Festival Six concerts by Musicworks Northwest faculty and guests; see musicworksnw.org for repertory. Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Friday, August 15, 2014, 7:30pm

Olympic Music Festival Chamber-music favorites in a repurposed barn, 2 p.m. each Sat. & Sun. through Sept. 7.  Olympic Music Festival, 7360 Center Rd., Quilcene, WA 98376 $18-$33 Saturday, August 16, 2014, 2pm

Olympic Music Festival Chamber-music favorites in a repurposed barn, 2 p.m. each Sat. & Sun. through Sept. 7.  Olympic Music Festival, 7360 Center Rd., Quilcene, WA 98376 $18-$33 Sunday, August 17, 2014, 2pm

Compline Services A half-hour meditation each week with the eight-voice Renaissance Singers. St. Clement of Rome Episcopal Church, 1501 32nd Ave. S., Seattle Free Sunday, August 17, 2014, 7:30 – 8pm

Eastgate Chamber Music Festival Six concerts by Musicworks Northwest faculty and guests; see musicworksnw.org for repertory. Northwest University, 5520 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland $10-$20 Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 7:30pm

Pink Martini Zootunes just wouldn’t be the same without this Portland nu-jazz group’s annual appearance. With China Forbes, Storm Large. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103 $34.50 Wednesday, August 20, 2014, 6 – 8:30pm