October 9th: Scandinavia Comes to Old Town

Join us for the opening of the Classical Tuesdays 2012-13 season!

Hale Bill & the Bopps, a group that hales from and bops around the Puget
Sound region, plays traditional Scandinavian dance music and includes some original tunes in every set. Anticipate a variety of sounds coming from fiddles (including the Norwegian hardingfele and the Swedish nyckelharpa), keyboards and voices. All good fun!

Bygdedeal is a dance group from Seattle (bygdedanser refers to village dances dating back centuries). All members have earned dance medals from Svenska Ungdomsringen for Bygdekultur for their mastery of Swedish folk dancing. When not traveling in Norway and Sweden, they perform at Northwest Folklife and other events and teach for Skandia Folkdance Society in Seattle. The dancers wear traditional Swedish and Norwegian folk costumes, which add color and beauty to their lively performances. Be prepared to be entertained!

• Print a flyer for the fridge!

Tuesday, Oct. 9th, 2012, at 7 pm.
Free or voluntary donation.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

8th Season of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town!

Announcing our 2012-2013 Season

2nd Tuesdays at 7pm in Slavonian Hall, Old Town Tacoma

October 9: Scandinavia Comes to Old Town
Come hear Hale Bill & the Bopps, joined by Bygdedeal showcasing the dance traditions of Scandinavia.

November 13: String Trios
Performed by our popular string players Maria Sampen on violin, Tim Christie on viola, and David Requiro on cello.

December 11: Wine & Song “Schubertiade”
Soprano Christina Kowalski and pianist Denes Van Parys, both back by popular demand, with songs of Schubert for our annual benefit. Followed by wine and party foods. Held at Connelly Law Offices. Tickets $25

January 8, 2013: New Works for Sax
Saxophonist Erik Steighner plays new works including pieces by Tacoma composers Deborah Anderson and Greg Youtz.

February 12: Tacoma Symphony Chorus
The Tacoma Symphony Chorus in songs befitting the season of love. Directed by Geoffrey Boers.

Join us for another great season of music and community!

All free concerts are performed at the Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma.

The December benefit will be held at the John Connelly Law Offices, across the street from Slavonian Hall.

*Click here to print out a poster - spread the word!

For more info: (253)752-2135

Pamela Ryker in 20/20 Identity & Portrait Project

This year the Tacoma Art Museum invited our Artistic Director, Pamela Butler Ryker, to participate in the 20/20 Identity and Portrait Project featuring 20 Tacomans.

In the 5-minute video below, Pam describes her identity as a musician and a Pacific Northwest native, and how those experiences shape her role as Artistic Director of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town. We hope that friends of Classical Tuesdays will enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse of our Artistic Director!

Of course the series is also shaped by its setting and support in the Old Town Business District and its loyal community of audience, volunteers, and performers.

8th Season of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town!

[updated]

The upcoming 2012-13 season offers 5 varied events
2nd Tuesdays at 7pm in Slavonian Hall, Old Town Tacoma

October 9: traditional music of Scandinavia performed by Hale Bill accompanied by the Bygdedeal dancers in traditional costume

November 13: our favorite string players Maria Sampen on violin and Tim Christie on viola joined by fellow UPS faculty member David Requiro on cello

December 11: soprano Christina Kowalski and pianist Denes Van Parys are back by popular demand with songs of Schubert for our annual Wine & Song

January 8, 2013: for the New Year saxophonist Erik Steighner will play new works including pieces by Tacoma composers Deborah Anderson and Greg Youtz, joined by trumpeter Zach Lyman

February 12: Tacoma Symphony Chorus will serenade us with songs befitting the season of love.

Join us for this great season of music and community!


Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

~ Check back for more details and a season poster ~

A Valentine from Old Town!

February 14, 2012 at 7pm

Classical Tuesdays in Old Town presents:

"Plaisir d'Amour: The Pleasure of Love"

The Canonici Vocal Quartet sings Renaissance love songs in English, French and Italian

Canonici will perform a variety of romantic songs of both sacred and secular nature. The Song of Songs serves as the text for some of the most florid and virtuosic polyphonic works to come out of 15th-century France and England. Modern romantic works conclude the program, including new arrangements of Stephen Foster love songs.

Free admission ~ All ages welcome
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
More info: (253)752-2135

This concert is presented thanks to the Old Town Business Association.

Jan. 10th New Music concert a Critic's Pick

The News Tribune lists our January 10th concert as a Critic's Pick! Come out and help us celebrate local composer Josh Parmenter.

Critic’s picks: Mexican trio at Tacoma Art Museum, sax jazz at Marine View, cabaret with Second City Chamber Series and new music in Old Town

by Rosemary Ponnekanti
The News Tribune

Joshua Parmenter, composer

Jan. 6, 2012

New compositions in Old Town

This month’s concert for the Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series features Tacoma composer Joshua Parmenter and colleagues in “Wired for Sound,” a concert of new music for acoustic and electronic instruments. 7 p.m. Jan. 10. Free. Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma. 253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com

January 10th Wired for Sound concert features Tacoma composer

Embrace the New Year with an evening of new compositions by Tacoma composer Joshua Parmenter and friends.

Parmenter and colleagues Donald Craig, Pete Moss, Douglas Niemela, and Ewa Trębacz present their recently written compositions for live electronics or computer-realized sound.

Several of the compositions combine electronic or computer-generated sounds with live instruments. Instrumentalists performing on this event are violinist Michael Lim, violist Brianna Atwell, and Josiah Boothby on French horn.

Tuesday, Jan. 10th, 2012, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

Photos of 2011 Wine & Song Benefit Concert

Thank you to everyone who was part of the Classical Tuesdays 2011 Wine & Song Benefit! As always, we had a wonderful audience, dedicated volunteers, and generous support from local businesses and residents.

Tacoma photographer Dayton Knipher has generously shared her photos of the event. Below are soprano Christina Kowalski, tenor Gino Lucchetti, pianist Denes Van Parys, and our beautiful venue, the John Connelly Law Offices.

Tonight's Wine & Song Benefit (December 13)

The Volcano recommends...

... that you come out tonight for our Wine & Song Benefit Concert!

Events - We Recommend...

Tuesday, Dec. 13: Classical Tuesdays Wine & Song Benefit

By Volcano Staff on December 7, 2011

This year's Classical Tuesdays Wine & Song Benefit in Old Town Tacoma will feature "American Arias and songs from operas, musicals and movies," according to the press release. It will also - more importantly - feature soprano Christina Kowalski and tenor Gino Lucchetti accompanied by pianist Denes Van Parys - doling out tunes by Gian Carlo Menotti, Bernard Herman, Samuel Barber, Oscar Hammerstein and others. This annual event benefits the free Classical Tuesdays in Old Town chamber music series.

When & where:

Connelly Law Offices, 2301 N. 30th Street, Tacoma.
7 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
$25, tickets available at Bay View Optical, The Spar, or by calling Pamela at 253.752.2135.

More details here

Wine & Song Benefit on December 13

American Arias and Songs from Operas, Musicals and Movies are the theme of this year's Classical Tuesdays Wine & Song Benefit.

Lyric soprano Christina Kowalski and tenor Gino Lucchetti (back by popular demand!) will be accompanied by pianist and raconteur Denes Van Parys (also welcomed back!) in songs by Gian Carlo Menotti, Bernard Hermann, Samuel Barber, Oscar Hammerstein and others.

Tickets:

Tickets are $25. This is our annual fundraising concert benefiting the free Classical Tuesdays In Old Town chamber music series. Following the performance, guests are invited to mingle and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres.

To reserve your seats, drop by Bay View Optical or The Spar Coffee Shop, both on 30th Street in Old Town, or call Pamela at 253-752-2135. There are no online sales for this event.

When and where:

The Wine & Song Benefit will be held at 7pm on December 13, at the handsomely refurbished Connelly Law Offices at 2301 N. 30th Street in Old Town.

Thanks to Community for Supporting Evening of String Trios

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Connelly Law Offices, Classical Tuesdays' audience enjoyed a delightful evening of string trios and duos on November 8.  The Manette Trio performed works by Beethoven, Mozart, Dohnanyi and Kodaly to a full audience in our lovely Slavonian Hall.

The support of members of the Old Town Business & Professional Association makes it possible to present these concerts - for free - in the Old Town District. For the Manette Trio concert, the Connelly Law Offices underwrote the expense of the concert and printed the flyers and programs for the event. Many thanks for these generous contributions!

Classical Tuesdays also has a number of full-season sponsors, including both businesses and individuals in the district. The Slavonian-American Benevolent Society offers the series free use of the hall, the Old Town Starbucks donates coffee and cups, and Cathy Russell at the Hawthorn Tea Room contributes teas and cookies. Last but not least, the Tacoma Arts Commission grants financial support for the entire season--for seven straight seasons of Classical Tuesdays!

photos by Jim Robbins

One of Volcano's 5 Things To Do Tonight

Thanks to The Volcano for including the Classical Tuesdays November 8 concert as one of 5 Things To Do Tonight.

We appear to score somewhere below the bare-chested young men of the Twilight series.... With such competition, we appreciate the mention!

5. Classical Tuesdays in Old Town: The Manette Trio will perform Beethoven, Mozart, Kodaly and Dohnanyi as part of Classical Tuesdays inside the Slavonian Hall in Old Town Tacoma.

More information on the concert:
String Trios on November 8

When and where:
Tuesday, Nov. 8th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

String Trios on November 8 in Slavonian Hall

The Manette Trio will perform for our Nov. 8th, 2011 concert. Trio members are violinist Gwendolyn Taylor, violist Thane Lewis and cellist Stuart Hake.

Their program includes works from the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. The evening will start with Beethoven's Trio in C Minor, Op. 9 No. 3, linger on selected movements of Mozart's Duo in G for Violin & Viola and Kodaly's Duo, Op. 7 for Violin & Cello, then  conclude with Dohnanyi's Serenade, in C Major.

Join us for this lovely evening of chamber music in Old Town.

• Download and print a flyer
  (You may need to check "fit to page")

Tuesday, Nov. 8th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

Call for photos: Old Town Lion Dance & Chinese Concert

Thanks to our new neighbors, South Sound Magazine, for highlighting the Old Town District's lion dance and Classical Tuesdays' first concert of 2011-12! South Sound Magazine just moved to Old Town a few months ago, and we're delighted to welcome them to the district.

More information on the events:
Chinese Concert & Lion Dance on October 11

We would like to post a few good photos of the lion dance and the concert, and South Sound Magazine may also be able to use one or two photos. If you have photos to share, please drop us an email.

Classical Tuesdays on TV Tacoma's CityLine

Last week, TV Tacoma's CityLine featured Classical Tuesdays Artistic Director Pamela Ryker along with segments on the Tacoma Film Festival and the Fall Free For All. CityLine is great to work with, and we're enjoying hearing from those of you who've already seen the episode.

If you missed the show last week, you can still catch it online or on cable:

• Watch at the City of Tacoma website (click on "Oct 4, 2011"). The Classical Tuesdays segment starts 45 minutes in.
• Watch for the episode to repeat on Click! or Comcast (Channel 12 or 21, depending on your location).

Tuesday's Chinese concert in The News Tribune

Tomorrow night, we're delighted to both open the Classical Tuesdays 2011-12 season and also honor the Chinese Reconciliation Project and the newly-dedicated Fuzhou Ting. Friday's News Tribune gave a good description:

Chinese music program honors new park

By Rosemary Ponnekanti on October 7, 2011

With the Chinese Reconciliation Park just opened at the Old Town Tacoma waterfront, Tacoma has finally taken a step in throwing off its historically infamous relationship with its Chinese citizens, going some way toward apologizing for brutally evicting them in 1885. Next week, that step is honored further with a free concert of classical Chinese music in Old Town’s Slavonian Hall, preceded by an outdoor lion dance through Old Town.

The concert and dance are part of the seventh season of the Classical Tuesdays series, a free series of classical concerts presented by the Old Town business district that often goes out of the box: Upcoming concerts include a string trio, the annual opera aria fundraiser, a Tacoma composer and a medieval vocal consort.

This Tuesday kicks off with the U.S. China Music Ensemble led by Warren Chang, a Seattle-based orchestra of traditional Chinese instruments like erhu, pipa, dizi and guzheng blending to create that shimmery Asian soundscape.

When and where:
5:45 p.m. Lion Dance (begins at Gateway Park, near the Old Town Music Society on N. 30th St.)
7 p.m. Free concert by the U.S. China Music Ensemble (at Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma).

More information:
253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com, uschinamusic.org.

Classical Tuesdays' 7th Season

October 11th, 2011, kicks off our seventh season of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town!  We'll feature four widely varied free concerts, plus our annual benefit concert.  The line-up is:

October 11 Chinese Concert & Lion Dance

• In celebration of the new Chinese Reconciliation Park and Pavilion
• 5:45pm Lion Dance starting at Gateway Park
• 7pm US China Music Ensemble at Slavonian Hall

November 8 The Manette String Trio performs Beethoven and Mozart

• Gwendolyn Talyor, violin; Thane Lewis, viola; Stuart Hake, cello

December 13 American Opera Arias: Annual Benefit Concert & Wine Reception

• Christina Kowalski, soprano; Gino Lucchetti, tenor; Denes Van Parys, piano
• Held at Connelly Law Offices, Old Town; $25 admission

January 10, 2012 Wired for Sound

• Tacoma composer Joshua Parmenter and friends
• Acoustic and electronic music

February 14 Plaisir d'Amour (The Pleasure of Love)

• Canonici vocal consort
• Love songs in English, French and Italian

As always, a big Thank You! to the Slavonian-American Benevolent Society for the use of their beautiful hall in Old Town.

Concerts start at 7pm the second Tuesday of each month. All but the benefit concert are at Slavonian Hall, 2306 N 30th St, in Old Town Tacoma. Info: 253-752-2135, http://classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com. And of course, admission is free.

Remember:

• Print this page!
• Print the season poster (8.5 X 11)
• Watch for the poster at local businesses!
• Check this space!
• Mark the concert dates now!
• Check the News Tribune Calendar!

Chinese Concert & Lion Dance on October 11

Pipa

Erhu

October 11 opens Classical Tuesdays in Old Town's 7th season!

Our first concert is part of Old Town Tacoma's celebration of the new Chinese Reconciliation Park and Pavilion on the waterfront. Old Town will host two events on October 11:

5:45pm Lion dance

• Gather at Gateway Park (next to the Old Town Music Society) and accompany the lion party to the doors of Slavonian Hall.

7pm Classical Tuesdays concert

• Warren Chang and the US China Music Ensemble will perform Chinese traditional music on pipa, erhu, dizi, guzheng and yangqin

Both events are free and open to the public.

Come help celebrate a new season of Classical Tuesdays and the next phase of the Chinese Reconciliation Project!

When and where:

Tuesday, Oct. 11th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

Print a flyer for this concert.

---

Guzheng

All photos courtesy of US China Music Ensemble.

Classical Tuesdays February 8 concert a Critic's Pick

We hope to see you tomorrow, February 8, for our final concert of the season! It's nice to end with a bang, so we're doubly glad to be among The News Tribune's Critic's Pick:

Critic's Picks: William Wolfram piano at UPS, African American history portraits, Classical Tuesdays in Old Town and Garrison Keilor at the Pantages

By Rosemary Ponnekanti on February 4, 2011

Classical Tuesday features “Expanded Sounds”

This month’s Classical Tuesday in Old Town will expand your listening ears with contemporary classical music for electric guitar, marimba, flute, voice and electronics. 7 p.m. Feb. 8. Free. Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma. 253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com

More details on the concert

Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

Extended Instruments/Expanded Listening on February 8, 7pm

Jasper Tollefson

Join us on February 8 for our closing concert of the season!

Special guest composer Chris DeLaurenti will treat us to an operatic sonic valentine. "Thrill: A Jazz Madrigal" features the voices of Seattle-area jazz and gospel singers Greta Matassa, Kelley Johnson, Josephine Howell, and Dawn Clement in a fresh handling of the classic torch song "You're My Thrill" as a haunting Elizabethan madrigal.

Miho Takekawa

Also featured: "Io" by Lois Vierk for amplified trio of flute, electric guitar and marimba.

Performers Jasper Tollefson on classical and electric guitars and Miho Takekawa on marimba will perform solo works as well.

We hope to see you at Slavonian Hall for this last concert of our 2010-2011 season!

Tuesday, Feb. 8th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
For more info: (253)752-2135

The News Tribune highlights our youth concert

Despite the weather, Classical Tuesdays had a lovely evening with the Tacoma Youth Symphony chamber ensembles. Thanks to The News Tribune for a nice tribute to our young performers:

Free Arts Month: youthful chamber music in a snowy Old Town
By Rosemary Ponnekanti on January 11, 2011

You could almost believe you were in Europe – listening to Haydn and Handel before walking outside into a snowy street. Tonight was a concert in the Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series, free shows in Slavonian Hall on North 30th Street that range from really new percussion compositions to saxophone quartets and baroque lute songs. Tonight’s concert showcased the young musicians in the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association, in particular their wind and string principals as they combined in various permutations to make chamber music.

It wasn't a professional concert, unlike some fantastic ones the Classical Tuesdays folk have put together. But it’s a learning experience for these fine young musicians – playing chamber music is like having an erudite, enthusiastic conversation where everyone speaks at once and yet you’re listening to what everyone’s saying. It’s hard to do well, but these teenagers achieved some graceful moments, from the opening Haydn string quartet (rather solemn) to the pleasant woodwind quartet and lush string quintet by Spaniard Joaquin Turina. Violinists Jonathan Galle and Ana Campo shone, as did cellist Wesley Newsome; and there was a rocking bass quartet playing with deadpan deliberation and great intonation (which is difficult, as I know from many personal experiences.)

And then, of course, all that beautiful snow…

Tacoma Weekly features tonight's youth concert

Tonight Classical Tuesdays is proud to present the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association's chamber players. See the Tacoma Weekly for some great photos of our young performers.

It's looking wintry outside, so join us for a cozy night with delightful chamber music and delicious coffee, cocoa, and cookies!

When and where:

Tuesday, Jan. 11th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
Info here or (253)752-2135

Photos of 2010 Wine & Song benefit concert

Thanks to all who came out for our 2010 Wine & Song benefit concert! The "Romantic Arias" theme was an instant favorite, and the reception was lovely as always, thanks to our wonderful volunteers.

Tacoma photographer Dayton Knipher was kind enough to provide photos of the event. Below are soprano Alexandra Picard, baritone Charles Robert Stephens, and pianist Denes Van Parys in the handsome John Connelly Law Offices.

Tacoma Youth Symphony chamber ensembles, January 11, 2011

To welcome the new year, Classical Tuesdays in Old Town is delighted to present the Tacoma Youth Symphony chamber music ensembles!

These are the best of the best: of the hundreds of students in the Tacoma Youth Symphony orchestras, the top instrumentalists are selected to be showcased in these small chamber ensembles. Beloved conductor Dale Johnson will emcee.

Join us for fabulous music-making and cocoa, coffee and cookies!

Free admission, all ages welcome.

When and where:

Tuesday, Jan. 11th, 2011, at 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma
Info: http://classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com or (253)752-2135

Volcano picks tonight's Wine & Song Benefit

The Weekly Volcano says to come down to Old Town for tonight's benefit concert!

5 Things to Do Today

1. "Wine & Song" - what more could you want from a Tuesday evening? Check out Classical Tuesdays in Old Town Tacoma tonight for the annual Wine & Song benefit, welcoming Alexandra Picard and baritone Charles Robert Stephens for what's being billed as an evening of "Romantic Arias."

Never mind the rain - it'll be a warm and festive night in a lovely setting.

When and where:
Tuesday, Dec 14th, 7 pm.
John Connelly Law Offices, 2301 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135.
Tickets still available at the door.

More details on the music and festivities:
See our announcement here.

Tacoma Weekly features our Wine & Song benefit

Curious about next Tuesday's Wine & Song benefit concert?  The Tacoma Weekly has a preview:

Romantic Arias
By Dawn Quinn, TacomaWeekly.com
December 09, 2010


Annual holiday opera concert to benefit Classical Tuesdays

October through February, the Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series offers free classical concerts the second Tuesday night of each month. Though the program is put on in part through grants from the Tacoma Arts Commission and local businesses, in order to keep the program going every year it too needs some help. Enter the fourth annual benefit “Wine and Song,” which will be taking place Dec. 14 in Old Town. ...

The 2010 benefit theme is “Romantic Arias.” Featured artists will be soprano Alexandra Picard and baritone Charles Robert Stephens (who has sung for the series on a number of occasions). Denes Van Parys will accompany both on piano.

“Charles Stevens has sung with us a few times in the past and we love him,” Ryker said. “He has a wonderful baritone voice and used to sing with the New York City Opera and then moved to the Northwest. We see his name often now in programs around here and with the Seattle Opera as well. Alexandra Picard spends half the year in Vienna and half in Seattle; her career is really taking off for a young soprano.” ...

And here's when and where:

The annual Wine and Song benefit will take place Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at John Connelly Law Offices, located at 2301 N. 30^th St. in Old Town. Tickets are on sale now for $25 at Bayview Optical, 2217 N. 30^th St., or The Spar coffee shop. All proceeds go toward funding the Classical Tuesdays In Old Town series for next year. For more information, call (253) 752-2135 or visit http://classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Wine & Song December 14: Tickets are $25

Tickets are now available for December's Wine & Song event "Romantic Arias." Visit Bayview Optical at 2217 N. 30th, Suite 106 or The Spar Coffee Shop at 2121 N. 30th, both in Old Town, to purchase tickets (at $25 each, to benefit the series), or call (253) 752-2135.

A $25 ticket admits you to a festive evening of great arias, tasty food and wines, and neighborly conviviality at the handsome John Connelly Law Offices, 2301 N. 30th Street.

Our fantastic featured artists are the lovely Alexandra Picard, soprano, and baritone Charles Robert Stephens (who has sung for our series on a number of occasions), accompanied by Denes Van Parys on piano.

Tacoma Weekly highlights Classical Tuesdays

Join us Tuesday, November 9th, as Classical Tuesdays presents an evening of strings!

The Tacoma Weekly has a nice feature on our concert. One correction to the article: November's concert will be at the Slavonian Hall.

Held on the second Tuesday of each month from October to February, the informal concert series seeks to engage listeners in a dialogue with musicians while creating a strong sense of community. ...

The series kicked off on Oct. 12 with a concert by world-renowned Native American flutist Gary Stroutsos, and returns again on Nov. 9 in a performance by a string quartet comprised of violinists Maria Sampen and Jennifer Caine, violist Timothy Christie and cellist Sally Singer.

Sampen and Christie are both faculty members at University of Puget Sound, while Caine and Singer are members of the faculty at Icicle Creek Music Center in Leavenworth. The four will be performing “Leyendas: an Andean Walkabout” by Gabriela Frank, a contemporary American composer. Several movements and vignettes will reflect Frank’s Peruvian heritage and travels.

See the concert announcement for more details.

Tuesday, Nov 9th, 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135

Classical Tuesdays a top News Tribune pick!

Classical Tuesdays' next concert on Tuesday, November 9th is a News Tribune Critic's Pick!

The Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series this month features a UPS faculty-based string quartet playing Gabriela Frank’s “Legends,” a composition reflecting her heritage and travels.

See the concert announcement for more details.

Tuesday, Nov 9th, 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135

An Andean Walkabout, November 9

Join us on Tuesday, November 9, for "Leyendas: an Andean Walkabout"! Classical Tuesdays is delighted to present this string quartet by contemporary American composer Gabriela Lena Frank.

Born in Berkeley, California, to a mother of mixed Peruvian/Chinese ancestry and a father of Lithuanian/Jewish descent, Frank explores her multicultural heritage through her compositions. She has traveled throughout South America and her pieces reflect her studies of Latin-American folklore, incorporating poetry, mythology, and native musical styles into a western classical framework that is uniquely her own.

The composer describes this six-movement suite as drawing

"inspiration from the idea [that] cultures can coexist without the subjugation of one by the other. As such, this piece mixes elements from the western classical and Andean folk music traditions."

Our performers are Maria Sampen and Jennifer Caine, violinists...

... and Sally Singer, cellist, and Tim Christie on viola.

Tuesday, Nov 9th, 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135

October's Native Flutes: standing room only!

Thanks, everyone, for a fantastic start to Classical Tuesdays' 6th season!

Slavonian Hall was packed for Gary Stroutsos playing flutes of the Lakota, the Hopi and the Zuni. Gary told stories about learning the songs of these great tribal nations, and played melodies evoking sounds of nature.

Many thanks to Dayton Knipher for capturing the evening in these terrific photos.

Also check out this short video of Gary performing in Slavonian Hall, thanks to Carol Abed:



What an exciting start to our season. Be sure to download a copy of the season poster to hang on your fridge! Our next concert will be November 9th.

The Volcano's top pick: Gary Stroutsos, tonight at 7pm!

Tonight's Classical Tuesdays concert is the Weekly Volcano's #1 pick!

5 Things To Do Today: Where it comes and where it goes
October 12, 2010

1. Classical Tuesdays in Old Town presents a free concert tonight of Native American Flute performed by Gary Stroutsos, whose music was showcased in the Ken Burns PBS documentary, Lewis and Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery. Stroutsos will perform at 7 p.m. inside the Slavonian Hall in Tacoma.

News Tribune pick: Gary Stroutsos on Oct 12th

The News Tribune highlights Classical Tuesdays' first concert of the 2010-2011 season!

Native American flute at first Old Town Tuesdays concert
By Rosemary Ponnekanti
October 4, 2010

The Classical Tuesdays in Old Town concert series is a little-known gem: free midweek concerts in Tacoma’s Old Town that feature unusual local musicians and music. The season opener next Tuesday night is Gary Stroutsos on Native American flutes.

Stroutsos, a Greek-Italian American, has collaborated with some of the finest Native artists around, including Navajo flute maker Paul Thompson, and has played and retold traditional stories on ancient and modern flutes for 30 years. His music was showcased in the score for Ken Burns’ PBS documentary “Lewis and Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery,” and at a subsequent command performance at the White House for President Bill Clinton. He has released over 20 recordings.

Stroutsos plays at Classical Tuesdays 7 p.m. Oct. 12. Free. Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma. 253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com

www.garystroutsos.com

Gary Stroutsos on Native American Flute, October 12th

On October 12th, Classical Tuesdays is delighted to present Gary Stroutsos.

Gary's music was showcased in the Ken Burns PBS documentary “Lewis and Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery”, which led to a command performance at the White House for President Bill Clinton.

A Greek-Italian American, Gary has made a distinctive contribution to the preservation of American Indian music and culture. He plays with some of the finest American Indian artists working today, including collaborating with Navajo flute maker Paul Thompson. Gary's body of work expresses the enduring legacy of the American Indian flute and its recent revitalization in today’s society.

Gary has released over 20 recordings in a lengthy career. He says, "Listening to cultural elders tell stories, discovering a world of ancient and modern flutes and then retelling the stories and playing the flutes for audiences in concerts and classrooms has been my life for the past thirty years."

Tuesday, Oct 12th, 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135

Sixth Season Starts in October!

October 12th kicks off our sixth season of Classical Tuesdays in Old Town! We'll feature four widely varied free concerts and our annual benefit concert:

October 12
Gary Stroutsos: The Enduring Legacy of the Native American Flute

• Gary’s music was showcased in the Ken Burns PBS feature “Lewis and Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery”

November 9
“Legends” for String Quartet

• Gabriela Frank’s quartet reflects her heritage and her travels

December 14
Romantic Arias
Annual Benefit Concert & Wine Reception

• Alexandra Picard, soprano; Charles Robert Stephens, baritone
  at John Connelly Law Offices
  $25 admission

January 11, 2011
Tacoma Youth Symphony Chamber Ensembles

• Introduced by TYS Conductor Dale Johnson
  

February 8 Extended Instruments/Expanded Listening

• Amplified ensemble of flute, marimba and electric guitar

As always, a big Thank You! to the Slavonian-American Benevolent Society for the use of their beautiful hall in Old Town. Concerts start at 7pm the second Tuesday of each month. All but the benefit concert are at Slavonian Hall, 2306 N 30th St, in Old Town Tacoma. Info: 253-752-2135, http://classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com. And of course, admission is free! Remember:

• Print this page!
• Watch for the poster at local businesses!
• Check this space!
• Mark the concert dates now!
• Check the News Tribune Calendar!

Miho & Diego in the Tacoma Weekly

Join us tomorrow, February 9th, at 7pm for the last Classical Tuesdays concert of the season!

The Tacoma Weekly describes our performers, the Miho and Diego Duo:

Miho & Diego Duo has been boldly blending Latin and Japanese musical traditions since 2006. Both accomplished musicians in their own right, Miho Takekawa and Diego Coy came together after years of admiring each other’s work and discovering that their sounds could be combined to make something genuinely new and unique.

Takekawa is a percussion lecturer at Pacific Lutheran University where she directs percussion and steel pan ensembles. She is also a doctoral candidate in percussion performance at the University of Washington, and is the Japan Tour Coordinator and Activities Liaison for the University of Washington School of Music.

Coy is from Santiago de Cali, Colombia. He is the former musical director of “Fundacion Viva La Musica” and “Fundacion Funmusica” in Cali, Colombia where he taught Colombian folk music and mastered the quena and the zampoña, and learned to hand make his own instruments....

For their Classical Tuesdays concert, besides performing their unique Japanese-South American duo selections, each performer will solo on his/her own instrument.

Tuesday, Feb 9th, 7 pm, FREE.
Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30th St., Tacoma
Info: (253) 752-2135