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“I believe in building communities through music, involving and inspiring the community through the orchestral experience.”

Tigran Arakelyan
Conductor & Artistic Director


PTSO Concert Dates for 2023-2024

Violinist Zia McGill will be our featured soloist for the upcoming April 28 concert. Zia will be playing the Violin Concerto in A Major, by W.A. Mozart, 1st mvt. as a winner of the 2023 PTSO Young Artist Competition.

Oct. 29, 2023
Dec. 3, 2023
Feb. 25, 2024
April 28, 2024

Concerts are Sunday afternoons at 2 pm.
Chimacum School Auditorium
(91 W. Valley Road, Chimacum)

PTSO concerts are free to attend, but not free to produce. Donations are always gratefully accepted at the door, through the mail or with Paypal.

Open dress rehearsals are held at 7 pm on the Friday evening before each Sunday afternoon concert.

Program details here


AND FOR THE SUMMER…

Port Townsend Symphony Chamber Orchestra

Sunday, June 23 at 2 pm
Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden
200 Battery Way E, Port Townsend, WA
Conducted by Matthew McBride-Daline

The best way to stay up-to-date about PTSO concerts and activities is to:

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You can support PTSO via PAYPAL


PTSO Chamber Music Series

The PTSO Chamber Music Series enjoyed an enthusiastic full house audience today, March 9, at our concert at First Presbyterian Church of Port Townsend. The standing ovation at the end said it all. Thank you to everyone who helped make this concert a success, particularly our wonderful musicians:

Seated: Marina Rosenquist with daughter Esme. Front row l. to r.: Lisa Lanza, Sarah Moran, Marie Meyers, Anne Krabill, Pamela Roberts, and Sung-ling Hsu. Back row l. to r.: Michael Carroll, Vincent Oneppo, Rolf Vegdahl, Otto Smith and Kristin F Smith.

Photo by Carl Hanson – thank you Carl!

Admission is FREE. No ticket or registration required. Program details here.

The PTSO Chamber Music Series provides free concerts , featuring local soloists, chamber musicians and PTSO members playing a variety of ensembles.

Thank you to our devoted audience, donors and volunteers for making this chamber music series a huge success!

About the Symphony

The Mission of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra is to entertain, inspire and engage our community through musical excellence and affordable concerts.


Artistic Leadership


Tigran Arakelyan
Conductor & Artistic Director

Tigran Arakelyan is an award-winning conductor, who holds a number of posts in addition to the Port Townsend Symphony. He is the Music Director of Northwest Mahler Festival and ORS of Tacoma. Previously, he was the assistant conductor of California Philharmonic and made his Walt Disney Concert Hall conducting debut in 2019. Tigran played alongside Sir James Galway during Galway’s induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Most recently, 425 Business named Tigran in the 40 under 40 for 2023. He received a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Washington.

http://www.tigranarakelyan.com/

“I believe that it is the conductor’s duty to communicate with the audience throughout the concert to make it an enjoyable and a learning experience for everyone involved.

I believe in building communities through music, involving and inspiring the community through the orchestral experience. An orchestra is an integral part of the community and should work as such through collaborations.

The goal of a symphony orchestra should include, providing education for the community through a variety of projects. This can be done through concerts but most importantly through collaborations. Collaborations with local artists, choirs, dance companies, museums, galleries, theaters, community and professional arts organizations are vital for the growth of a symphony orchestra.”

Joining PTSO

The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1987. Orchestra members are your friends, neighbors, and co-workers — the people you see and work with every day in the community. PTSO is an all-volunteer orchestra. We welcome accomplished musicians of all ages and backgrounds. Auditions are held on an as-needed basis. To learn more about joining the Orchestra, please drop us a note.

Email PTSymphony

Rehearsal Schedule

  • Rehearsals are typically held Tuesday nights from 7-9 pm. Please contact PTSO for rehearsal location.
  • Rehearsals run through the months of September, October, November, January, February, March and April.
  • Often, but not always, the second rehearsal is a strings sectional.

Concert Dates

Dates can change, but this is the standard formula:
Last Sunday in October
First Sunday in December
Last Sunday in February
Last Sunday in April

Dress Rehearsals

Dress rehearsals are on the Friday evenings before each performance from 7:00 to 9:00 at the concert hall at Chimacum School Auditorium, 91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum, 98325.  Dress rehearsals are casual.

Concert dress

Ladies, all black (slacks, dresses, or skirts), including hosiery and shoes: no bare legs or feet. Dresses and skirts at least knee-length when seated. Long or 3/4 length sleeves: no bare arms. Gentlemen, black suits with jacket, white shirt and black bow tie, black socks and shoes.

Performance call time is 30 minutes before the concert begins.

Latest Press!

PTSO Press – check it out!

News articles about PTSO concerts and activities are archived here.

Our full orchestra photo portrait can be accessed by clicking here!

Get Involved!

You Can Get Involved!


We invite your active involvement with the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra! Below are links to information related to being a Donor, Sponsor or Volunteer. Click on “Learn More” for details and if you have any questions feel free to contact us. We would love to have you on our team!

Be a Donor

Every dollar you can give helps us continue to perform great music and supports our special programs to promote music learning and engagement in the Port Townsend community.

Be a Sponsor

We work with many types of sponsors and grants, including matching grants, sponsorships for licensing music for recording and broadcasting, and sponsorships for special programs.

Be a Volunteer

Our volunteers run the donations and refreshments tables at our performances, help guests find seating, take photos for our social media and marketing endeavors, and man the lighting and sound booth.