The Seattle Opera has become internationally known, especially for its annual production of Wagner's Ring cycle. The Pacific Northwest Ballet graces the area with first-rate performances. Chamber music abounds all year round, culminating in the summer months with two chamber-music festivals attracting audiences from afar. Theater is popular as well, with many small, innovative companies, some offering inexpensive campus performances. The area is also a magnet for artists and crafts persons.
Galleries dot the city, and festivals occur on an almost weekly basis throughout the summer season.
The music scene is excellent, as are the local microbreweries. With its enriching cultural climate and its unsurpassed outdoor offerings, it is no surprise that the Pacific Northwest draws like a magnet. It is a special place to study.