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Join us on Facebook as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Maestra Sarah Ioannides hosts members of the Symphony Tacoma community–including our incredible musicians!–for a LIVE discussion or presentation “behind the scenes” of the concert hall.
Not a Facebook user? No worries! The chats will be posted to this page following the broadcast. You can also catch them on our YouTube channel each week.
Visit our Upcoming Concerts page for our schedule of future broadcasts.
Music Director Sarah Ioannides speak with Geoffrey Boers about this season’s virtual performance of Handel’s Messiah that is designed to present its themes in light of our current culture. The performance utilizes new pictures and video to bring a distinct “2020” vision to the text including personal and newsworthy pictures of our lives today as they reflect the texts. Soloists Soon Cho and James Brown and members of Symphony Tacoma Voices join Geoffrey for this enlightening discussion.
Join Music Director Sarah Ioannides for a Facebook Live discussion with Principal Viola Thane Lewis about his role with Symphony Tacoma as well as his book, “Fiddling with Life: The Unusual Journey of Steven Staryk.” Thane will be joined by his wife, pianist Lisa Lewis, and Symphony Tacoma’s Associate Concertmaster Gwen Taylor who will discuss their YouTube concert, “Composed Together Apart,” which premiered on YouTube following this discussion. The trio shared some excerpts from the performance as well.
Hosted by Symphony Tacoma Executive Director Karina Bharne, Symphony Tacoma’s Jeffrey Snyder takes you inside the Monette Trumpet Factory and show all the ins and outs of crafting a trumpet. Jeff also discusses his experiences playing trumpet and shares some musical excerpts.
Acclaimed clarinetist Anthony McGill, composer Richard Danielpour and Symphony Tacoma Board member Desiree Wilkins Finch join Maestra Sarah Ioannides to discuss Danielpour’s 2013 clarinet concerto From the Mountaintop. Inspired by the words and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the composition pays homage to all who took part in America’s momentous civil rights struggle as well as victims of injustice around the world. Of the concerti he’s written, it’s among his favorites.
In this final episode of Symphony Tacoma’s Saturday Night Live Chat series, Maestra Sarah Ioannides hosts principal bass Christopher Burns and physical therapist Alison Unterreiner from South Sound Physical Therapy Tacoma. Chris shares his musical background and how he readies himself mentally and physically for performing, and Alison discusses the physical demands for both orchestral playing and conducting.
Music Director Sarah Ioannides returns for a look into the world of the double reeds! Sarah is joined by Principal Bassoon John Ruze and Principal Oboe Selina Greso who share some of their favorite moments from Symphony Tacoma’s performance archives. Learn about the behind scenes aspects of their musical lives both on and offstage, plus insights into reed making.
On the night when acclaimed pianist and Centralia native Charlie Albright was scheduled to join the orchestra on the Pantages stage, we invite you to gather online and enjoy insights into the music scene of the 1920s. Charlie will share excerpts of some of the works he was to perform, including Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and Sarah and Charlie will explore the richness and beauty of one of the greatest composing teachers, Nadia Boulanger, and her younger sister, Lili. Following the conversation, Charlie will premiere on YouTube Nadia’s “Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra” that he was set to perform (piano parts only).
Take a peek inside the studio of composer, music professor and cultural ambassador Greg Youtz. We will discuss some of Greg’s compositions, including his opera “The Tacoma Method” that he’s in the midst of writing, as well as looking back at some of Symphony Tacoma’s most unique projects.
Bring on the brass! Trumpeter Judson Scott joins us from his home studio for a conversation about his roles as a musician and teacher and some of his favorite musical works–including a piece he has recorded just for this event!
Bella Hristova was originally scheduled to perform her husband David Ludwig’s violin concerto at Symphony Tacoma on April 18. They called in from their home in Philadelphia to talk about the piece, their history together as partners in life, love, and music, and their own professional lives as artists. (Watch for guest appearances by their four cats!)
Join Music Director Sarah Ioannides for a chat with Principal Flute, Mary Jensen. Mary will share her approach to preparing key solos from orchestral repertoire, such as Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, along with excerpts and insights, anecdotes and stories from the glamorous seat of principal flute.
Concertmaster Svend Rønning discusses the three sides to every musician–the cocktail hostess, the bullfighter and the monk–and how each one supports the other.
Symphony Tacoma Voices’ Geoffrey and Amy Boers present a virtual exploration of storytelling. Through discussion, visuals and live performance, Geoffrey and Amy show us how musicians are important storytellers in the 21st century.
Sarah Ioannides conducted a Facebook Live conversation on March 23 at 7:30pm–just when she was planning to take the stage for our Ludwig AND Beethoven concert. She answered questions about Symphony Tacoma and her role as Music Director.