Home

Director Tigran Arakelyan

Tigran Arakelyan is wrapping up his outstanding 9-year tenure as music director of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO) during the 2025-26 season. Tigran joined the symphony in 2017 and has ushered the organization through a name change and significantly improved quality of performances, in addition to establishing a chamber music series and young artist competition. The Jefferson County community is exceedingly grateful for Tigran’s dedication to the orchestra over these years and to the success of his tenure in the position. We wish him all the best as he explores new musical opportunities and adventures.

LETTER FROM OUR OUTGOING DIRECTOR TIGRAN ARAKELYAN

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

Tigran Arakelyan
Conductor & Artistic Director

(Photo from 40 under 40)

Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra 2025/2026 Concert Dates

October 26, 2025
December 7, 2025
February 22, 2026
April 26, 2026

Symphony concerts are Sunday afternoons at 2 pm at the Chimacum School Auditorium, 91 W. Valley Road, Chimacum.

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

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.

Symphony season details here
–

UPCOMING CONCERT
SUN., April 26, 2026

Luke Fitzpatrick is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and artistic director of Inverted Space, a Seattle-based new music collective. He recently performed the US Premiere of Isidora Zebeljan’s Three Curious Loves with the Seattle Philharmonic and the world premiere of Joël-François Durand’s La descente de l’ange for violin and clarinet. Additionally Luke has performed with Deltron 3030, Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective and as a touring member of the Harry Partch Ensemble.

Luke has appeared on recordings released by Ablaze and Centaur records. As a composer, his work has been commissioned and performed by The Harry Partch Ensemble, Figmentum, the Morsel Trio and the Parnassus Project. He received a 2023 CityArtists Grant from the City of Seattle to produce Nesting Dolls & Dreamscapes, a work that explores multiple microtonal realms colliding against one another amid a theatrical and improvisatory landscape.

Luke received his training from UMKC (BM), CalArts (MFA) and the University of Washington (DMA) and is currently concertmaster of Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra, Federal Way Symphony and Emerald City Chamber Orchestra. He also plays regularly with SMCO, NOCCO and the Portland Opera Orchestra. Besides music related things, Luke is an avid dancer and enjoys biking, eating sushi and collecting shoes. He plays on a bow generously on loan from the Kevin Tao Foundation.

PROGRAM

Les Miserables by  Claude-Michel Schönberg  

Luke Fitzpatrick, Violin Concerto Nightfall performed by the composer *Premiere 

Intermission

Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock
Titanic by James Horner 
Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Details here

Port Townsend Chamber Music Series

We have a spring chamber music concert scheduled for:

Sat., May 23, 2026
First Baptist Church
1202 Lawrence St, Port Townsend

Details to come!

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 invite you to join us for a short reception after each concert.

Details here

Chamber music audience at the Port Ludlow Beach Club.

PTSO Young Artist Competition

Click here for details.

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

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.”

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.

–

Conductor Tigran Arakelyan displays unique concert dress below during a program featuring movie music by John Williams, including Superman Returns.

Latest Press!

PTSO Press – check it out!

Guitarist Mark Hilliard and 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