The Art of Reciprocity: Live Music Project 7th Birthday Virtual Gala

Themes of reciprocity take center stage in this lecture-concert celebrating the 7th birthday of the Live Music Project. 

The event opens with featured guest Dr. Michelle Montgomery, whose research at UW Tacoma focuses on Indigenizing and decolonizing the climate justice narrative, environmental ethics connected to Indigenous Peoples’ identities and eco-critical race theory to eliminate racial and environmental oppression. Dr. Montgomery will discuss the reciprocity of self love and love. 

Flutist, artist, improviser, and composer Leanna Keith takes the stage next to perform a set of one-of-a-kind improvised live flute-looping.

There will be digital fundraising activities throughout the event, and we’re excited to debut a fabulous new Dots campaign.

Our co-hosts for the afternoon are LMP's founder Shaya Lyon and business strategist, speaker, and vlog host Kiesha Garrison.

We hope you'll join us for an all-ages, all-weather, all-locations celebration of 7 amazing years and many more to come. 

Here's a rough schedule of events for the evening (all times Pacific):

2:45pm – Doors (tune in and say hi!)
3:00pm – Welcome from director Shaya Lyon
3:10pm – Talk: “Reciprocity in Self Love and Love” + Q&A (Michelle Montgomery)
3:45pm – Intermission
4:00pm – Performance: Leanna Keith, flute
4:30pm – Fundraising update, cupcake toast
4:45pm – Zoom afterparty
5:15pm – Farewell

Proceeds benefit the Live Music Project, a Seattle-based organization dedicated to increasing access to the arts.

Tickets: $10. Ticket-holders will receive a private link to join the event on the day of the show. Kids and pets of all ages welcome. 

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About our featured guests:

MICHELLE MONTGOMERY

Dr. Michelle Montgomery (enrolled Haliwa Saponi/descendant Eastern Band Cherokee) is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington Tacoma, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences in American Indian Studies and Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies. She is also the Assistant Director for the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Indigenous curriculum and community advisor for the School of Education. Dr. Montgomery's research focuses on Indigenizing and decolonizing the climate justice narrative, environmental ethics connected to Indigenous Peoples’ identities and eco-critical race theory to eliminate racial and environmental oppression. https://directory.tacoma.uw.edu/employee/montgm2

LEANNA KEITH

A freelance flutist, artist, improviser, and composer in the Seattle area, Leanna Keith delights in creating sound experiences that make audiences laugh, cry, and say: “I didn’t know the flute could do that!” Her performance artworks have focused on cultural connection and the breaking of audience/performer boundaries. Leanna is the professor of flute at Cornish College of the Arts. https://www.leannakeithflute.com/

KIESHA GARRISON

Kiesha Garrison is a business strategist, speaker and vlog host who thrives when interviewing inspiring people, influencing organizational culture and leading with empathy, curiosity & courage.

Since graduating from Spelman College in 2002, her career has taken her from business development in the publishing industry (People, This Old House, and InStyle) to leadership at Microsoft. After years of negotiating strategic partnerships for MSN, Surface, and Azure, Kiesha now focuses on designing strategic messaging and engagement programs that impact the employee experience for thousands globally as the Director of Culture & Communications for the AI Platform Engineering team. 

She also frequently serves as an emcee for Microsoft global events including conducting celebrity interviews with icons such as Will Smith, Ang Lee, & Lenny Kravitz for the internal show Outside In. She relishes her work hosting special events for community organizations looking to make a difference in the world such as Women in Tech Regatta, Dress for Success Seattle, and HERE Seattle.

Kiesha is passionate about advocating for and inspiring Black women and girls. In addition to her work as a standup comedian, in which she aims to enlighten through humorous stories of her experiences as a Black woman, she also hosts the vlog Another Black Girl (https://www.anotherblackgirl.com/), where she highlights the passions, pursuits, and excellence of other Black women & girls. On the site, Kiesha showcases Black women & girls in their immeasurable areas of impact and conducts interviews about their life journeys and the other black women who inspire them.

Originally from Oakdale, Louisiana, Kiesha currently lives in the Seattle area with her young daughter.