RBCC Recital Series: Maybe This Time

Name: RBCC Recital Series: Maybe This Time
Start: 2026-04-19T15:00:00-07:00
Location: 1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline, WA, United States, Washington 98177

Schedule

Sun, 19 Apr, 2026 at 03:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline, WA, United States, Washington 98177 | Shoreline, WA

Free - with $20 suggested donation
The Recital Series at Richmond Beach Congregational Church proudly presents a staff recital on the concept of second chances and fresh starts.
Maybe This Time promises an afternoon of music that is both intimately personal and universally resonant. Each performer returns to beloved - or particularly difficult - repertoire from their past, now with the wisdom, perspective, and emotional depth that only time can bring. Audiences can expect a rich and varied journey through art song, classical piano, and musical theatre, from the sweeping Romanticism of Schubert and Rachmaninov to the wry wit of Randy Newman and the soaring torch anthems of Kander & Ebb and Sondheim. A special highlight of the program is a dedicated section featuring the work of celebrated American composer Ricky Ian Gordon, whose luminous settings of poetry by Emily Dickinson and Shakespeare offer some of the afternoon's most moving moments.
The recital features an exceptional lineup of Pacific Northwest talent, joined by special guest Andrew Lipian, one of the rare countertenors working at the highest levels of the art form today. Together, sopranos Miriam Gnagy and Katie Skovholt, tenor and pianist Luke Raffanti, and Lipian bring a wealth of professional experience - and personal history - to an afternoon that promises to be as joyful as it is retrospective.
Sunday, April 19th, 2026 - 3pm
Richmond Beach Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline, WA 98177
Free - with donations gratefully accepted ($20 suggested)
Reception to Follow
About the performers:
Miriam Gnagy, soprano, has lived in the PNW most of her life. She grew up in Central Washington, relocating to the Greater Seattle area in 2003. She holds a degree in Vocal Performance from Central WA University. An accomplished musician, Miriam currently sings with Seattle Pro Musica, and has worked extensively as a Section Leader and Soloist for various organizations in the wider Seattle area. She was recently featured as the mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor in 2023. She loves to hike, walk, and go for long paddleboard adventures. She also dabbles in making fancy cakes, loves to spend time with her creative kiddos, and enjoys getting lost in art projects. is a firm believer in building community, is a Body and Fat Liberation Activist, and an outspoken supporter of the infinite intersections of social justice issues. Miriam is a skilled organizer and relationship- builder, and currently works as the Communications and Facilities Coordinator at RBCC-UCC.
Andrew Lipian, countertenor, began his career in music in England at the age of 13 - where he was identified as a countertenor by Marc Wildman, then-Head of Vocal Studies at the London Royal Academy of Music. He began studying counter-tenor at 16 years old at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He placed a Top Prize at the Classical Singer’s Competition in New York City, won the Top Prize at the Cleveland Singer’s Club Competition, and was the first countertenor accepted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in its history. He later obtained his Masters in Music in Voice and Opera from the University of Michigan, where he studied voice and game audio. Andrew has performed in concert venues throughout the world, taking on roles in oratorio and opera as varied as Oberon in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Ruggiero in George Frideric Handel’s Alcina (University Opera Theatre, March 2018) to a host of Musical Theater works (several of which Lipian directed). He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his spouse, Melinda, and their three children.
Luke Raffanti, tenor and pianist, is an award-winning musician who plays challenging repertoire with agility, sensitivity, and an unmatched musicality. He has been a frequent performer in Seattle since moving here in 2017. He holds degrees in classical piano performance and environmental studies from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. He has performed in Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Canada, and earned the gold medal in the Chopin Northwest competition shortly after moving to Seattle. He has collaborated with various professional opera companies including Seattle Opera, Seattle Modern Opera Company, Northwest Opera in Schools, The Met Competition, and numerous individual professional singers. In 2019 he was featured as collaborative and solo pianist on Classical King FM. He co-founded the Ravenna Quintet, which made its debut in March 2024. Luke is the collaborative pianist for Richmond Beach Congregational Church - United Church of Christ, and he teaches piano students of all ages at his home in Ravenna.
Katie Skovholt, soprano, is a lifelong musician and arts administrator with decades of experience in building relationships and community, bridging divides through compassionate and clear communication, and creating opportunities for meaningful connection through musical experiences. She is in demand as a soloist in the Puget Sound region, hailed for outstanding and expressive singing. She serves as the Executive Director of Seattle Pro Musica, one of the Northwest's most acclaimed adult choirs. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Pacific Lutheran University, and serves as Director of Music for Richmond Beach Congregational Church, where she launched the Richmond Beach Recital Series (a series of free one-hour concerts featuring local talent). She’s a musical theater aficionado, an avid foodie, and an amateur mixologist. Cheers!
About the recital series:
Hosted by Richmond Beach Congregational Church, this series of hour-long recitals is a showcase of exceptional local talent, spanning genres from classical to contemporary, from bluegrass to tango, from piano quintet to barbershop. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer eager to explore the talents of your community, let the Recital Series at RBCC be your destination for memorable musical encounters.