Music Aid Northwest to Award Music Champion Kate Becker the 2024 Icon Award
SEATTLE, WA – At the 12th Annual Play it Forward on April 27, Music Aid Northwest (MANW) will award Kate Becker the 2024 Washington Music Icon Award. As current Creative Economy Director for King County Executive Dow Constantine’s Office, Kate’s legacy in the Seattle music scene was cemented in the 1990s as she brought music to the youth of Seattle and the East Side.
“There truly are few people as committed to the Seattle Music Scene as Kate Becker, and her focus on providing accessible spaces for creative youth is at the forefront of her legacy,” said Bob Tomberg, Executive Director of Music Aid NW. “While Music AID Northwest has always worked to provide music education to the children of Washington, Kate has actively worked to give them spaces where their talent can thrive beyond school. We’re honored to present Kate Becker with the 2025 Washington Icon Music Award.”
As a teen herself in 1992, working with the City of Redmond, Kate founded the Old Fire House, creating an artistic community space. The Old Fire House may be remembered for the litany of bands that took the stage in the 1990s, but even more crucial to the PNW scene was the strong music community it built. While Kate left her role in 2003, the Old Fire House is still going strong as the longest-standing all-ages event center in the Seattle area.
Kate Becker then brought all-ages music to the City of Seattle as a Co-Founder of The Vera Project in 2001. To bypass restrictive city ordinances, The Vera Project produced all-ages shows in rented halls while actively working to change the laws. In 2002, Vera moved into a full-time space in Downtown Seattle before moving into their current space within the Seattle Center in 2007. The site holds a 362-capacity showroom, dedicated gallery, silkscreen studio, and recording studio.
As a champion of the film and music communities, Kate previously held leadership roles at Seattle Theatre Group, Art Share LA in Los Angeles, and The New Art Center in Boston, MA. Kate founded the Old Fire House Media Lab, ensuring that emerging filmmakers and musicians have access to studio space. She was a charter member of the Seattle Music Commission and Director of the Seattle Office of Film + Music. Throughout her storied career, she has produced multiple fundraising galas and more than 1,000 all ages shows.
As Creative Economy Director in Constantine’s Office since 2020, she has helped raise and distribute millions of dollars to arts and entertainment organizations. Recently, she helped produce the Cloudbreak music festival in collaboration with Visit Seattle, allocating lodging tax revenue to fund the festival that promoted musicians coming out of the pandemic. The festival featured more than 150 musicians in 68 shows at 28 venues.
Kate Becker will be awarded the Washington Music Icon Award at Play It Forward, which takes place April 27, 2024, at the Triple Door in Seattle. Tables and sponsorship packages are now available by contacting Shelley Tomberg at [email protected] or (425) 466-1927.
About Play It Forward
As MANW’s largest fundraising event each year, Play It Forward brings together the best of Washington’s musicians, community leaders, and local fans to help support music education in Washington State. This unique event celebrates Washington and its incredible food, amazing wines, and, of course, great musicians. Contributions raised during Play It Forward directly benefit hundreds of deserving students each year by ensuring their school’s music program is adequately funded. During the Play It Forward gala, MANW also presents the Washington Music Icon Award to an individual that works to build and support the music community.
