Category: Concerts

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PTSO April 26, 2026 Farewell Concert

FAREWELL CONCERT – CELEBRATING MAESTRO TIGRAN ARAKELYAN: SUN., APRIL 26 at 2 PM. Chimacum School Auditorium, 91 W. Valley Road, Chimacum.

Tigran Arakelyan is wrapping up his outstanding 9-year tenure as music director of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO) with this concert. 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.

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.

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

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About the Violin Concerto “Nightfall” by Luke Fitzpatrick

Notes by Luke Fitzpatrick

My violin concerto Nightfall was written with a lot of reflection of some of my past work to forge something new and fresh. I wanted to create a distinct sound world to explore and I found the perfect combination of instruments to do so. The piece is in five movements and is scored for solo violin, string orchestra, harp, piano, percussion and zither. 

The first movement entitled Shades of Timebegins with a very cinematic opening. We are then introduced to the various instrument groups with the harp, piano, zither and percussion uniting as a single ‘super’ instrument. This movement at its core explores how duality can be a very expressive force in music.

The second and fourth movements were inspired by my time playing in the Harry Partch Ensemble. I was fortunate to be able to get to play and tour with those incredible instruments for five amazing years. In 2018, I composed a piece entitled Tulpa that the group performed. I arranged two of those movements of Tulpa for Nightfall: The Tomb and End Game. The Tomb is a dramatic warning of sorts and very catchy. End Game embraces and explores the inevitability of the passing of time. 

The third movement of Nightfallis Distention. This movement is an orchestration of a solo violin piece I wrote during Covid entitled A Seismic Plane; Interconnected (2021). I did not intend to write a piece that explores the loneliness and loss of human connection that we all experienced during that time but every time I return to that piece it’s what I immediately think of. 

The last movement is entitled As One and features the Zither very prominently. This is an instrument that I feel has mystical qualities to it. I used it in a previous piece of mine entitled Nesting Dolls and Dreamscapes (2025)with great enthusiasm. This movement unites the instruments together in an extraordinary way. 

I want to thank Tigran Arakelyan and the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra for commissioning this piece. It’s been a real joy putting it together and I appreciate the opportunity they’ve provided. Tigran is an amazing musician and a good friend. I had no idea when I began working on this piece that he would be leaving the orchestra and that this would be his last concert with the group. In many respects, the way Nightfall ends is a fitting tribute to him as it really supports the idea of all the musicians coming together as one; an idea that he has used to help build Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra into such a great and successful group.

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PTSO Feb. 22, 2026 concert

Featuring Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Young Artists’ Competition 2nd Prize winner in the Senior Division, percussionist Hayden Montgomery.

Hayden is a Chimacum High School and Peninsula College graduate. His parents are Jamie and Caleb Montgomery. He studied drums and percussion with Forrest Brennan and Terry Marsh. Hayden composed for and performed with the award-winning Chimacum Drumline and also performed for the All-Star Drumline. He placed 2nd in Multi Percussion at Washington State Solo Ensemble, first place in the Senior Division at Stars of Tomorrow, “Top Tenor” and “Most Improved” by All-Star Drumline’s staff, and graduated with Honors from Peninsula College. Hayden’s goal is to become a world-renowned composer.

PROGRAM

Tenors Without Borders by Forrest Brennan with percussionist Hayden Montgomery

Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland with guest narrator, Stanford Thompson

Dvorak, Symphony No. 6

Stanford Thompson is Executive Director of Equity Arc and a principal of Goldsmith Strategies where he is a leading national voice in arts education and leadership, specializing in promoting cultural equity and driving transformative change within underrepresented cultural communities. As the founder and former leader of Play On Philly, Stanford guided the organization for thirteen years, gaining international recognition for its use of music as a tool for social change. He also served as the Founding Board Chairman of El Sistema USA and Equity Arc, where he led complex strategic planning and organizational design initiatives that impact the lives of over 35,000 students across the country.

Stanford’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the national conversation around equity in the arts, advocating for systemic change that creates more inclusive and accessible opportunities for cultural communities of all types. His expertise is sought by organizations ranging from small grassroots initiatives to major cultural institutions, where he helps leaders navigate the complexities of program development, audience engagement, and financial sustainability. A frequent keynote speaker and panelist, Stanford shares his insights on topics such as nonprofit leadership, arts education, and the role of the arts in personal development.

Stanford teaches on the faculty of the Global Leaders Institute, guiding leaders in not only developing their craft but also understanding the broader societal impact of their work. His extensive experience working with arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, funders, and national service organizations aligns with his personal commitment to fostering sustainable growth and equity in the arts.

A proud graduate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program, Stanford holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and New England Conservatory.

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Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra concert on Dec. 7, 2025, featuring music by Florence Price

Florence Beatrice Price (née Smith; April 9, 1887 – June 3, 1953) was an American classical composer, pianist, organist and music teacher.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, and was active in Chicago from 1927 until her death in 1953. Price is noted as the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra. Price composed over 300 works: four symphonies, four concertos, as well as choral works, art songs, chamber music and music for solo instruments. In 2009, a substantial collection of her works and papers was found in her abandoned summer home.

She gave her first piano performance at the age of four and had her first composition published at the age of 11. According to her daughter, Florence really wanted to be a doctor but felt the difficulties of becoming a woman doctor at the time were too formidable. Instead, she became that even greater rarity—a woman composer of symphonies. (Text from Wikipedia)

PROGRAM

Jacques Offenbach: Overture to La Belle Hélène

Bizet, Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 with Dana Odell, guest conductor (PT Ballet auction winner)

Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite

intermission

Florence Price, Concert Overture No. 2

Bizet, Carmen Suite No. 2

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PTSO Oct. 26, 2025 concert featuring Sous Chef on piano, modular synthesizer, and sampler

Sous Chef is a French Canadian/American musician/composer raised in Seattle with a music composition degree (with honors) from McGill University. He spent the last decade touring around the US, Canada, Japan & Europe with rum.gold, High Pulp, sunking, dentaru no tsuba, and occasionally solo as sous chef; producing records, composing, and making indie films scores while living between Seattle and BC. His bands have played on KEXP many times, been featured in the New York Times, and two of them are signed to Anti-Records.

Sous Chef has been a long time collaborator of artist Tsubasa Kato and has worked on pieces exhibited all over Japan including the Tokyo City Opera Art Gallery as well as abroad in Hong Kong, Finland, and the US & Canada. Now local (based in his Renton studio he built in 2024), he is exploring a more multimedia-based approach branching out from the purely musical, with aspirations of reaching ever greater means of expression. Based on his use of ancient and highly modern instruments, in conjunction with his deep love of film, his inspiration spans centuries and attempts to blend these seemingly distant and disparate elements together to create something wholly unique.

PROGRAM

William Grant Still, Threnody In Memory of Jan Sibelius
Sous Chef, Pas un Monde Mais un Miroir for keyboard, piano, electronics and orchestra *Premiere

intermission
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2

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Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra concert – Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2 pm

Poster by Pamela Roberts.

Mark Hilliard Wilson has an engaging approach to teaching and programing concerts that draws from the deep well of history and a desire to relate contemporary interests to universal themes. He founded the Seattle Guitar Orchestra in 2000 and became the cathedral guitarist at St. James Cathedral in Seattle 2006. He has taught at Whatcom Community College, Bellevue College, the Rosewood Guitar and is currently at the Holy Names Academy, his compositions are published by Seconda Prattica and performed widely. Recently Wilson premiered a concerto written for him by the Ukrainian composer Oleg Boyko.  Recently Wilson will be directed Guitar ensembles in the premier of a work he commissioned from Boyko at the 2023 Northwest Guitar Festival in Bellingham, Wa.  2023, released on Bandcamp The Music of Taiwo Adegoke, Changing the canon of the classical guitar with music from Nigeria. Music for Seattle Guitar Orchestra and cello and classical guitar featuring cellist Abbie Eads.  

In 2024 Wilson has worked with Scribe Studios to release a 6 set of music videos based on Wilson’s collaboration with Ukrainian composer in exile Oleg Boyko. Wilson worked with the Seattle Classic Guitar Society to commission a work called Secret Life of Trees for the Seattle Guitar Orchestra.  Further performances were o KING FM Northwest Focus Live and then the work was recorded at St James Cathedral with additional footage at Chuckanut mountain in Bellingham. 

Wilson is an in demand concerto soloist performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Westsound Bremton Symphony the Octava orchestra in 2023 and in 2024 Wilson performed the other famous concerto by Rodrigo, the Fantasia para Gentilehombre with the Orquestra Northwest and the Octava orchestra. In April 2025 Wilson will perform the Heitor Villa Lobos concerto with the Port Townsend Symphony under the direction of Tigran Arakelyan.

PROGRAM

Heitor Villa-Lobos, Guitar Concerto with Mark Hilliard Wilson
John Williams arr. Jerry Brubaker, Harry Potter and the Goblin of Fire
John Willaims arr. Sean O’Loughlin, Star Wars, The Force Awakens
John Williams and John Ottman arr. Victor Lopez, Superman Returns
John Williams arr. Custer, Jurassic Park

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CONCERT! February 23, 2025!

Anabel Moore was born and raised in Port Townsend. She started violin at age 6, studying with Barbara Henry, Pat Yearian and Matthew Daline. In 2024 she graduated from the Peninsula College Running Start program with her high school diploma and Associates degree. Pursuing her goal of becoming a professional musician, Anabel currently studies music education and violin performance under Dr. Maria Sampen at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. There she plays with the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra and in a chamber music quintet. Anabel loves to perform and enjoys opportunities to share music with others. Performing with the Port Townsend Symphony is a dream come true. She is excited for future musical adventures!

Our symphony concerts are held Sunday afternoons at 2 PM at Chimacum School Auditorium (91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum). There are open dress rehearsals the Friday evening at 7 pm before each Sunday concert – also at Chimacum School Auditorium.

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.

Program

Aaron Copland, El Salon Mexico 
W. A. Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3 (1st movement) with Anabel Moore (winner of the PTSO Young Artist Competition 2024)
Daniel Gall, Oatmeal Counterpoint* Premiere
Max Bruch, Swedish Dances

FEATURING: Off-the-grid on a small farm in the Pacific Northwest, composer and author, Daniel Gall, tends a garden of creative projects–with a new crop out each season.

Working remotely from his woodsy hermitage, over the years Daniel has collaborated with a host of musicians, ensembles, filmmakers, and choreographers/dance companies, including the Symbiosis Chamber Orchestra, the Glendale Philharmonic, the Definiens Project, the Vientos Trio, Mignolo Dance, Forza Dance, and many others. During the pandemic, he produced PROJECT SCREENDANCE, a social media series in which he collaborated with a different set of performers on a new dance film short each month, resulting in 23 films before calling it quits in Summer of 2022. Before he fled the grid nearly a decade ago, Daniel studied music at UCLA, and was the founder of the Los Angeles based new music organization and concert series, Synchromy.

In addition to his work as a composer, Daniel is a novelist who writes often-satirical and dystopian fantasies based on his experiences off the grid. He strives to connect his musical and literary works through fantastic themes and imaginative concepts, usually involving film or dance. For more about Daniel Gall and his work: danielgallcreativeworks.com

Brief Program Note About “Oatmeal Counterpoint”

1. Good Morning! (time to get up)
2. Oats for Breakfast
3. Exotic Fruit
4. Coffee Time
5. A Moment to Drift and Dream
6. Time to Face the Day

Nutritious, low-fat, high in fiber… Written over a bowl of oatmeal, Oatmeal Counterpoint is a suite of six dances for orchestra that act as a soundtrack to my morning routine. From oats to coffee, and including even a moment to dream, it’s a musical homage to the early hours, that fleeting space in our lives kept just for ourselves, before it’s time to let others in and face the day.

(Photo of Anabel Moore, violinist, is by Peninsula Daily News.)

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CONCERT: December 8, 2024!

FEATURING Emmy Ulmer, who is delighted to perform the Werner Thaerichen Timpani Concerto for the Port Townsend community! She fell in love with this beautiful town as a teenager with the Marrowstone Music Festival at Fort Worden. A graduate of the University of Washington, she earned a double degree in Bachelors of Arts and Music in Percussion Performance. A freelancer for over 30 years, Emmy has been a percussionist and timpanist with many different ensembles throughout the greater Puget Sound region. While living in Vienna, Austria, she had the opportunity to play with the Orchester der Technischen Universitaet Wien. Emmy has been the English Captions Operator with Seattle Opera for over 20 years, a complex and rewarding job that fulfills another music side for her. The role she is most proud of is mom to her wonderful daughter, Anneliese. This is for her!

PROGRAM

Werner Thärichen, Timpani concerto with Emmy Ulmer
Georges Bizet, L’arlesienne Suites 1 and 2

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CONCERT! Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 2 pm!

Our symphony concerts are held Sunday afternoons at Chimacum School Auditorium (91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum). There are OPEN DRESS REHEARSALS at 7 pm the Friday evening before each Sunday concert – also at Chimacum School Auditorium.

PTSO concerts are free to attend (but not free to produce). Donations are always gratefully accepted at the door. Tigran Arakelyan, Conductor and Artistic Director.

THIS CONCERT FEATURES Seattle-based percussionist/bandoneonist/composer BEN THOMAS. Ben started playing bandoneon in 2006, traveling to Argentina and working with tango musicians from across the world. He tours regularly with the Atlas Tango Project and can be heard on their most recent album, “Estaciones y Sueños”. He was a guest artist with the Eugene Opera in 2018 as the bandoneon soloist for Piazzolla’s “Maria de Buenos Aires”. Thomas has released five albums of original music on Origin Records, spanning jazz, chamber music, and tango. His music explores both traditional tango and how it continues to grow as it encounters new times and new influences. Following the lead of some of the pioneers of the current scene in Buenos Aires, such as Diego Schissi and Exequiel Mantega, Thomas builds pieces combining rhythmic intensity with lush harmonies, whimsy, and an emphasis on storytelling. He studied mathematics and music at Swarthmore College before going to the University of Michigan for a Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation and the University of Washington for a DMA in Percussion Performance. Thomas has taught music theory, composition, and performance at Highline College since 2001.

PROGRAM

Antonín Dvorak, Carnival Overture

Florence Price, Dance in the Canebrakes

New piece for bandoneon and orchestra* Premiere with Ben Thomas (soloist and composer)

Jennifer Higdon, Blue Cathedral

Alexander Borodin, In the Steppes of Central Asia

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