About Composer Samer Rashed

April 18, 2026 by Stesha Brandon

Samer Rashed is a Palestinian viola player, composer and music enthusiast. His music career has included many performances in concerts and festivals around the world since 2007, alongside world-renowned artists including artist Marcel Khalifeh and violinist Nigel Kennedy. He also studied with world-class violinist Nedim Nalbantoglu in Istanbul, who highly influenced his interest and technique in Gypsy, Jazz and Turkish music. His newest album "Gypsy Rhapsodies" embodies his vision as a musician and aims to introduce an unprecedented employment of the viola in the Gypsy Swing music genre.

About Tae Keller, Author of "We Carry the Sun"

April 18, 2026 by Stesha Brandon

Tae Keller is the Newbery award winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of “When You Trap a Tiger,” “Jennifer Chan is Not Alone,” and “The Science of Breakable Things,” among others. Her most recent book, “When Tomorrow Burns,” was released in March 2026. She grew up in Waipahu, Hawaii, where she subsisted on purple rice, sun, and stories. Now, she lives in Seattle with her husband, her dog, and a multitude of books. (Photo credit Jesse Dittmar)