Gifts in Action

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We sat down with new Meany Center Board members and got the scoop on what they hope to accomplish at Meany in the next year and their favorite upcoming shows at Meany.

Hsiao-Wuen Hon

Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon joined the Meany Center Advisory Board in February 2024, after completing a notable 28-year career at Microsoft. Hon has been coming to Meany Center since the early 2000s and is currently subscribed to Meany’s Choose Your Own (CYO) Series. He likes the flexibility of hand picking the shows he’ll be seeing in the hall.

1. Tell us a little about your background in the arts.

I grew up in Taiwan in a modest family, where opportunities to engage with different art forms were limited. My exposure to various types of music began in high school, where I encountered mixed tapes, vinyl records and CDs. I developed an appreciation for a wide range of music, from classical piano to rock. While attending Carnegie Mellon University, my schedule was packed, but I still made time to visit the symphony, local museums and ballets whenever possible. As I grew older, my love for live performances only deepened. Experiencing different art forms live adds a unique and vivid dimension to them. My career in high tech has also been a crossroads of art, science, technology and humanity, further fueling my passion for the arts.

2. When and how did you first become involved with Meany Center?

I moved to Seattle in 1995 for work and quickly became involved in the local arts scene, subscribing to the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Symphony. Starting in the early 2000s, I occasionally attended performances at Meany Center with friends, enjoying the dance, chamber music and piano series. From 2004 to 2021, I was based in China for Microsoft, but I frequently returned to the U.S. My longtime friends, Anoop Gupta and his wife, Yumi Iwasaki, whom I met at Carnegie Mellon and later worked with at Microsoft, introduced me to many wonderful performances at Meany starting in 2017. They also invited me to join them at intermission lounges, post-show receptions and artist meet-and-greets. These experiences led me to attend the Meany Center Stage Gala and brought me closer to the Meany community.

3. Do you have favorite or most memorable performance memories at Meany?

One of my favorite shows was the performance by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan in 2018. They are a renowned dance company from my homeland and it was the first time I had seen them perform, despite never having the chance to see them in Taiwan. After their performance, I was fortunate to meet the founding artistic director, who is a legendary figure in Taiwanese dance, akin to Martha Graham in the U.S. This experience was particularly special because the artistic director retired that year, making this performance a touching farewell under his direction.

4. What inspired you to join the Meany Center Advisory Board? How do you envision your work on the Board making an impact to Meany now and in the future?

My time at Microsoft had a significant influence on me, especially their employee matching gift program, which encourages giving back to meaningful causes. Bill Gates's concept of "Creative Capitalism," where corporations can grow profits while giving back to their communities, resonated with me. After 28 years at Microsoft, I felt privileged to be in a position to donate my time, expertise and financial support to the arts, which have always been a passion of mine. Meany Center's unique blend of diverse musical and artistic offerings made it a perfect fit. My close friends, Anoop and Yumi, were also instrumental in my decision to join the Advisory Board. Being part of this process allows me to enrich my own life while supporting and working closely with artists, gaining valuable perspectives along the way.

5. What advice would you have for someone who is exploring Meany performances for the first time or someone who has been a patron for years?

I would encourage both new and seasoned patrons to explore the Choose Your Own Series (CYO) at Meany. This program lets you pick the shows you know you'll enjoy and see them live in the hall. It's also a great way to try out new art forms that you might not have experienced before. This flexibility is particularly appealing to younger audiences. My advice: come to Meany Hall and experience something new — you won't be disappointed!

6. What artist, performance, concert are you most excited about for the upcoming 2024-25 Meany Season?

There are so many fantastic shows this season! I'm particularly looking forward to Song of the North, especially after its cancellation last year due to the artist's puppets being stolen in San Francisco. Kodō, the traditional Japanese drumming company, is another highlight. My wife and I have seen them before and we’re excited to see them again. Additionally, Pilobolus is a group that never fails to impress and we can’t wait to enjoy their performance once more.

Tina Ragen

Tina Ragen joined the Meany Center Advisory Board earlier this year in May 2024. Tina is a Seattle native and UW Husky graduate. She worked many years in IT and systems analyst roles before settling into investment and real estate management. Her younger years were informed and infused with the arts, as her parents were deeply involved with many contemporary arts groups and artists in the area. 

1. Tell us a little about your background in the arts.

My parents were both quite involved in Seattle’s arts communities. Particularly my mom, who was deeply committed to and involved in contemporary arts groups in the city from the 1960s to the 1990s:  On the Boards, Contemporary Arts Council, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, 911 Media Arts, the Henry Gallery … as well as on SAM’s board for decades. I grew up surrounded by the influence of the arts, even if I chose not to pay much direct attention at the time.

2. When and how did you first become involved with Meany Center?

My parents were original subscribers to the Dance Series at Meany, and I began attending while still in college. I immediately loved it, and have been a big fan for decades.

3. Do you have favorite or most memorable performance memories at Meany?

Honestly, there are so many memorable evenings, it’s hard to choose any one alone. Pilobolus and Momix, early early! Mark Morris, Trisha Brown, Alvin Ailey, Bill T. Jones and Arne Zane, Sankai Juku – I can still recall my wonder and awe at some of those performances. Yo-Yo Ma, about 10 years ago was fabulous and memorable. Rhiannon Giddens is now at the top of my list – her artistry and soul have upended my previous definitions of which music I want to listen to and learn from.

4. What inspired you to join the Meany Center Advisory Board? How do you envision your work on the Board making an impact to Meany now and in the future?

My lifelong enjoyment of the performances offered at Meany fuels my desire to help advance the scope and impact of Meany’s work in any way I might add value. I’m too new to the Board to yet know what that looks like, but I’m in!

5. What advice would you have for someone who is exploring Meany performances for the first time or someone who has been a patron for yours?

I don’t want to give others advice, per se, as art is so personal, but I’ve found that as I open up my lens of curiosity more widely, I’m finding so many more artistic opportunities to enjoy. I love exploring more of what Meany presents.

6. What artist, performance, concert are you most excited about for the upcoming 2024-25 Meany Season?

Of course I’m looking forward to the Dance Series, but am also particularly excited to see the Artistic Partnership events. This upcoming season Meany has partnered with Rhiannon Giddens (I’m now such a fan girl), and she curated a series of five performances with a variety of artists, within the theme of “The Transcendence of Cultural Connections.” As this season’s program states, these performances “…feature artists who cross borders, cultures and time.” Sounds pretty cool to me!