Our Story

One day Lorraine Hughes (pictured, left) and Judy Drake (pictured, right) walked their dogs around Green Lake. They discussed what they might do upon retirement. One idea was to lick envelopes; the other was to start a community orchestra. They chose the second alternative and began immediately.

The Ravenna String Orchestra, now simply The Ravenna Strings, was organized in 1996. As the membership grew and the players became more advanced, a second orchestra was begun at Langston Hughes Center for the Arts in 2000. This orchestra later gravitated to the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center where it became known as the Ravenna Second String Orchestra. In 2024, that group became the The Ravenna String Sinfonia.

After COVID-19, the Ravenna Strings re-grouped under the leadership of Joseph Pollard White. Rehearsals are at the Phinney Center 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle. There are three sessions each year in the Fall, Winter and Spring, each followed by a concert. Concerts are at various locations, most recently St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 111 NE 80th St., Seattle.

Judy Drake, violinist/conductor, was the director from the founding of the orchestra through February 2017.

Lorraine Hughes was the co-director/pianist through February 2017.

Joseph Pollard White, director since 2017, conducts the Thursday night group, the Ravenna Strings.

Nathan Harrison, associate director, conducts the Monday night group, the Ravenna String Sinfonia.

In 2022, Ravenna Strings was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of Washington

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