Whatcom Symphony Orchestra 2009-2010 Concert Season

Bassoonist Kuuskmann

Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 3:00pm
Mount Baker Theatre
Martin Kuuskmann - Bassoon

Don't miss this rare chance to hear the bassoon take center stage. Martin Kuuskmann is today's most heralded bassoonist, praised by the New York Times for his gripping performances. A native of Estonia, now residing in Whatcom County, Mr. Kuuskmann will perform the Theofanidis Bassoon Concerto. The program also features an American Composers Series commission by acclaimed composer Samuel Adler.

Theofanidis - Concerto for Bassoon
Schubert - Symphony No. 5
Copland - Appalachian Spring
Samuel Adler -All Nature Plays - Music by American Composers: Commission VII

• Read more about Samuel Adler and the Composers Series Commission here.
• Hear a composition lecture by Samuel Adler, Thursday February 11, 2010; 5-7pm at the WWU PAC, room 47: Read More

Tickets | Program Notes | Artist Page

Celestial Classics

Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 3:00pm
Mount Baker Theatre
Dan Sabo - piano

A heavenly concert, featuring Holst's magnificent orchestral suite "The Planets" and a new piece by Maestro Briggs. Plus local favorite Dan Sabo performs the immortal Grieg Piano Concerto.

Holst - The Planets
Grieg - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Briggs - Pulsars - premiere

Tickets | Concert Poster | Artist Page

Grammy Winner, Erin Wall
sings Songs of Humanity

Saturday, April 24, 2010 - 7:30 pm
Mount Baker Theatre
Erin Wall, soprano

Fresh off her 2010 Grammy award for Best Classical Album, Metropolitan Opera star (and WWU graduate) Erin Wall returns to Bellingham for an extraordinary program. Ms. Wall will be featured in Dvorak’s haunting Song to the Moon (from Rusalka), and the emotional Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (Symphony No. 3) by Henryk Gorecki. The program concludes with Respighi’s evocative masterpiece The Pines of Rome.

Dvorak - Song to the Moon (from Rusalka)
Gorecki - Symphony No. 3 (Sorrowful Songs)
Respighi - The Pines of Rome
More vocal selections with Ms. Wall

Tickets | Program Notes | Artist Page

Sarah Chang!

Sunday, November 8, 2009 - 3:00pm
Mount Baker Theatre
Sarah Chang, violin

International superstar Sarah Chang is known throughout the world as a most captivating and gifted performer. Since her New York Philharmonic debut at age eight, she has matured into an artist of musical insight, technical virtuosity, and emotional range. This eagerly-anticipated concert features Ms. Chang performing the magnificent Brahms Violin Concerto. As anticipated, this concert SOLD OUT.

Brahms - Concerto for Violin
Mozart - Marriage of Figaro Overture
Beethoven - Symphony No. 7

Concert Poster | Artist Page

A Lemony Snicket Family Concert

WSO Family Concert

Saturday, January 23, 2010 3 pm
pre-concert activities 2:15 pm
The Concert Hall at Western Washington University

The Composer Is Dead is a witty and engaging murder mystery, replete with humorous bathos and clever wordplay. In the tradition of works such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Britten's Young Person's Guide, Lemony Snicket teams up with composer Nathaniel Stookey to lead young audiences on an investigative stroll through the ranks of the orchestral instruments.

Tickets are $10 for adults and accompanying children under 18 are free!

Call for Tickets | Program Notes | Concert Poster

The Composer Is Dead - artwork by Carson Ellis, (c) HarperCollins

Stookey - The Composer is Dead for narrator and orchestra; Douglas Zwick, narrator
Sibelius - Finlandia, including local music students with the orchestra
Mozart - Bassoon Concerto, Allegro; Janna Mulder, Lynden Christian High School senior, bassoon

Holiday Treasures

WSO Holiday Concert

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - 3:00 pm
Mount Baker Theatre

The Western Washington University Concert Choir returns again for this annual Whatcom Symphony event, filled with beloved holiday melodies, traditional carols, and a few special surprises. This year, we feature the moving plea for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughn Williams. We'll also have scenes from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, danced by the Northwest Ballet. Plus, White Christmas and favorite American holiday songs by Irving Berlin, Mel Tormé and others. And of course, our traditional candlelit Silent Night.

Tickets | Program Notes

Western Washington University Concert Choir - Leslie Guelker-Cone, Director

also featuring:
Dancers from the Northwest Ballet - John Bishop, Director

Bernstein & Blues

Pops Concert

Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 7:00pm
Mount Baker Theatre

Realtime A Cappella Quartet
David Brooks, piano
Mount Baker Toppers

Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue with Mr. Brooks
Bernstein - Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Cole Porter Salute
Briggs - Washington's Artillery
Selections with the Realtime A Cappella Quartet
Song of America with Realtime; Mount Baker Toppers

Tickets | Concert Poster | Artist Page

The Whatcom Symphony opened its 35th Anniversary Season with a very special Pops concert, featuring the best of Bernstein and the Blues. The program includes Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with pianist David Brooks; and a tribute to Cole Porter. Plus, a special appearance by the award-winning Realtime Vocal Quartet.

Tickets for the 2009-2010 Season

Tickets for the 2009-2010 Season are available for purchase from the Mount Baker Theatre. Season tickets, multiple-ticket packages, and single seats may be purchased. Our Season Brochure contains additional ticketing information, or call or visit the Mount Baker Theatre ticket office (see the Tickets Page on this site). To receive a copy of the 2009/2010 brochure, Click Here and enter your mailing address.

Photo credits: Realtime by Todd Duncan Photography. Sarah Chang by Cliff Watts. Western Choir by Anita K. Boyle. Dan Sabo by Ann Chaikin. Erin Wall by Barrie Harwood.

For more information about concert sponsors, including links to their web pages, see our Sponsors Page.