Lest We Forget a heartbreaking chapter in U.S. history, Whatcom Chorale reprises Sarah Mattox’s exquisite Heart Mountain Suite. In the words of Kara Kondo, we give voice to the unbroken spirit of over 120,000 Japanese Americans unjustly rounded up and incarcerated during WWII.

 We are thrilled to include a talk by Lori Bannai, one of the attorneys who succeeded in having vacated the wartime convictions of three men who resisted the incarceration orders. The legal team exposed government misconduct—including the suppression of key evidence—and demonstrated how fear and prejudice can override constitutional protections. Lori represented Fred Korematsu, who was incarcerated at Manzanar. She will speak to the experience of the many who endured this wrongful imprisonment. Their stories remind us that safeguarding civil liberties requires vigilance and courage in every generation.

Our musical program is rounded out by Scott Henderson’s entrancing arrangements of carols by Japanese children and Stephen Sondheim’s stirring “No One Is Alone.” We welcome back Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Kimberly Sogioka and violinist Laura Camacho, with flautists Debbie Arthur and Martin Bray, pianist Emily Perry, and Kay Reilly on percussion.

Please join us for the Saturday or Sunday concert in our wonderful new performance venue, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church on Lakeway.