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COVID-19 has made it unsafe for us to perform live concerts, but it can’t stop us from making music! Like many organizations, we have had to create new systems continue our mission of building community through music.
Until we can meet again in the concert hall, we are pleased to introduce these virtual series so we can continue to share symphonic music experiences with you.
Join Symphony Tacoma musicians for chamber music performances through our YouTube channel. Each performance will last approximately 45 minutes and feature groups of socially-distanced musicians performing themed programming.
OCTOBER 10 | 7:30 PM
Jennifer Rhyne, flute | Catherine Case, harp | Denali Williams, percussion
Inspired by Kris Waldherr’s book of the same name, Robert Paterson’s The Book of Goddesses, a composition for flute, harp and percussion in nine movements, evokes images of female deities from around the world.
NOVEMBER 14 | 7:30 PM
Svend Rønning, violin | Symphony Tacoma String Quintet
The most famous of Antonio Vivaldi’s works, The Four Seasons comprises four violin concerti that bring musical expression to the seasons of the year. Composed in 1723, each work is accompanied by a beautiful Italian sonnets, possibly written by Vivaldi himself who was said to have been inspired by painter Marco Ricci’s paintings of the seasons.
DECEMBER 12 | 7:30 PM
Symphony Tacoma Brass Ensemble
Get in the holiday spirit with festive sounds of the season!
Revisit the magic of Symphony Tacoma performances! Join YOUR Symphony Tacoma for a monthly series of encore rebroadcasts of favorite concerts on our YouTube channel. Audio recordings will be accompanied by visuals including video segments, photographs and program scores.
SEPTEMBER 19 | 7:30 PM
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Symphony Tacoma Voices | Geoffrey Boers, director
Puyallup native Daniel Ott’s Fire-Mountain, originally commissioned and performed by Symphony Tacoma and Symphony Tacoma Voices in 2017, paints a musical portrait of Mount Rainier’s melting glaciers. It takes its name from a quote by naturalist John Muir: “Of all the fire-mountains which, like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest in form.”
SEPTEMBER 26 | 7:30 PM
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
The romantic and beloved Scheherazade is a symphonic suite that tells the captivating story of the Arabian Nights and illustrates Rimsky-Korsakov’s genius for orchestration and musical characterization. A grim bass motif in the low brass portrays the domineering Sultan who, convinced that all women are faithless, vows to put to death each of his wives after their first nuptial night. Conversely, a solo violin accompanied by harp represents the heroine Scheherazade as she tells her nightly stories to distract the Sultan from killing her. Rimsky-Korsakov paints vivid pictures of Scheherazade’s tales in the mind of the listener—the adventures of a young prince, the love story of a prince and princess, and the sounds of rolling waves at sea.
OCTOBER 24 | 7:30 PM
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Symphony Tacoma Voices | Geoffrey Boers, director
Composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein’s acclaimed musical, West Side Story, is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Due to its tremendous success, Bernstein adapted it into the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story in 1961. The show is a fusion of opera, ballet, jazz and classical music that outlines the classic love vs hate storyline, where two street gangs clash horns on the streets of New York. This production features the talents of seven vocal soloists: Tess Altiveros as Maria; Elizabeth Galafa as Anita and Francisca; Bianca Raiso as Rosalia; Dawn Padula as Consuela; John Marzano as Tony; John Arthur Greene as Riff; and Caisey Raiha as Bernardo.
NOVEMBER 21 | 7:30 PM
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Tacoma School of the Arts actors
Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet has long been celebrated as a favorite with audiences as both a ballet score and an orchestral concert piece. In this program, Ioannides reordered the suites and selected passages from Shakespeare’s play to tell the story of the famous star-crossed lovers. Featuring students from Tacoma’s School of the Arts students—Libby Patsiga (Romeo), Annabelle Daniel (Juliet), Alexandra Vilenius (Tybalt) and Westly Hackler (Mercutio)—the combination of the music interspersed with dramatic interludes in essence creates a symphonic poem.
DECEMBER 19 | 7:30 PM
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Symphony Tacoma Voices | Geoffrey Boers, director
Bremerton Symphony Chorale | LeeAnne Campos, director
Soloists: Kristin Vogel, soprano | Melissa Plagemann, mezzo-soprano | Ross Hauck, tenor | Charles Robert Stephens, bass
Beethoven’s remarkable final symphony, Symphony No. 9 “Choral”, was the longest and most complex of its time. The work’s most striking innovation is the use of solo voices and a chorus in the symphony’s finale at the same level as the instruments. Dubbed “the symphony to end all symphonies,” the work remains timeless and is still one of the most-performed works in the world.
Join Symphony Tacoma for conversations with our musicians, guest artists and members of our community. Hosted by Music Director Sarah Ioannides, these 30-45 minute talks will take place via Facebook Live and will be posted on our YouTube channel the following day.
SEPTEMBER 12 | 7:30 PM
Acclaimed clarinetist Anthony McGill joins Symphony Tacoma Board member Desiree Wilkins Finch to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in the orchestra world.
OCTOBER 3 | 7:30 PM
Hosted by Symphony Tacoma Executive Director Karina Bharne, Symphony Tacoma’s Jeffrey Snyder will show us the ins and outs of crafting a trumpet.
NOVEMBER 7 | 7:30 PM
DECEMBER 5 | 7:30 PM
We are also going virtual with our pre-concert Music Mixers for donors and subscibers! Each of our Interlude and Encore events will be preceded by a Zoom gathering featuring conversations with Maestra Sarah, our musicians, guest artists and other members of our community. Watch your email for more information!