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

Join us for a spectacular 2026-2027 concert season as four extraordinary finalists take center stage, each bringing their unique passion, artistry and vision in pursuit of the role of PTSO Conductor/Artistic Director.

Matthew Salvaggio
MATTHEW SALVAGGIOHSING-HUI
HSU		FAITH
FOSTER		THOMAS
BLOMSTER
Oct. 25, 2026Dec. 6, 2026Feb. 28, 2027April 25, 2027
CANDIDATE BIOS & PROGRAM CHOICES

October 25 Conductor and Program

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Matthew Salvaggio earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. He founded and continues to conduct the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, a group of similar size to the PTSO. A second-prize winner of The American Prize in Conducting, Salvaggio has been covered by Cleveland Classical and Erie News Now. His “day job” is as music director and conductor of the Bellevue Youth Symphony. He leads the flagship Youth Symphony while overseeing eleven ensembles and an artistic staff serving more than 750 students, 84 percent from minority-majority backgrounds. He has led several orchestras in northern Ohio before moving to the Puget Sound area. Matthew lives in Bellevue.

More details…

Symphony concerts are Sunday afternoons at 2 pm at the Chimacum School Auditorium, 91 West Valley Road, Chimacum. Open dress rehearsals are held at 7 pm on the Friday evening before each Sunday afternoon concert. No tickets or reservations are required. 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.

Port Townsend Chamber Music Series

Our fall chamber music concert is scheduled for:

Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 2 pm
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
45 Redeemer Way, Chimacum, WA 98325

Save the date!

This FREE concert series features local award-winning soloists, recitalists, chamber musicians and PTSO members. Donations are always gratefully accepted at the door. Seating is limited and no tickets or reservations are required. We hope you can join us for a short reception after each concert.

Details here soon!

PTSO Young Artist Competition

We will be scheduling another Young Artist Competition in spring 2027 and all the details will be posted here. Musicians ages 4-22 may participate.

Click here for details from last year.

How to Support PTSO

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

Subscribe to the PTSO newsletter

Follow us on Facebook

Your gift helps us play on.

You can support PTSO via PAYPAL

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


Conductor & Artistic Director

The biographies, programs and photos of our four finalists for the position of Conductor/Director are on this page.

Each finalist will conduct a full concert during the 2026/2027 season.

At the end of the 2026-2027 concert season our new Conductor/Artistic Director will be announced. Join us!

Fiona Skidmore and Lisa Minnihan show off their fun scroll toppers knitted by fellow violist Amelia Breithaupt.

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.

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Latest Press!

PTSO Press – check it out!

Guitarist Mark Hilliard and our former conductor Tigran Arakelyan celebrate after another successful PTSO program.

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More

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.

Learn More