A Season of Symphonies

As you can see by the Yakima Symphony Orchestra's banner they are expecting a banner year! For the first time in their history they are "conducting" a search for a new Music Director. The YSO received 105 applicants from three continents for this position. I think that would make retiring Music Director and Conductor Brooke Creswell very proud.


Brooke Creswell has been Music Director and Conductor of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra since its inception back in 1967 under the name Yakima Chamber Orchestra. Brooke remains with the YSO in the capacity of Artistic Director this season. To read more click here.

Brooke will also conduct the season opening concert on November 1st featuring a piece about the national Mexican holiday knows as Dia de lost Muertos or Day of the Dead. Also on that program is Lux Aeterna written by Morten Lauridsen
born in Colfax, Washington.


Other season highlights include the YSO's principal cellist, Kara Hunnicutt in Ottorino Respighi's Adagio con variazioni featuring conductor Viswa Subbaraman.










Pianist Regina Yeh joins the Yakima Symphony and conductor Nikola Caoile in Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in f.


Check out the other conductor candidates and buy your tickets to be a part of this exciting season!

David Letterman here I come!

Please congratulate me! I am finally eligible to be a part of David Letterman's "Brush with Greatness" segment.

On March 10th I met actor Kyle MacLachlan at the beautiful Capitol Theatre in downtown Yakima. Kyle was back in his hometown to perform with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. It was a wonderful evening. The YSO and YSO Chorus were in their usual fine form and Kyle was fantastic. He read some of the speeches from Shakespeare's "Henry V" (or as I like to call him "Hank 5") to the Oscar nominated score of William Walton. The combination of beautifully written and spoken words and a thrilling score gave me a few spine tingling moments.

I appreciated Kyle's interpretation. It reminded me of the style of Kenneth Brangah's Shakespearian adaptations. Branagh really turned me onto Shakespeare in a new way. His version of "Henry V" is brilliant. http://www.bardolatry.com/kbhv89.htm. I admit that I've never seen the Laurence Olivier version but will do so one day in a "Contrast and Compare" afternoon. http://www.murphsplace.com/olivier/henry5.html.

Back to Kyle MacLachlan. I just have to add that he was a true gentleman; generous with his time and not in the least pretentious. I almost hesitate to write that as I sometimes think it's odd when a celebrity is praised for having admirable character qualities, as if we expect them to be horrible human beings and are, therefore, pleasantly surprised when they are not! Well, I would expect no less than good manners and pleasantness from a native Pacific Northwesterner!

I also wanted to mention how great it is to work with Conductor Brooke Creswell. Yakima is very blessed to have Brooke. He is so talented and creative and is always trying something new and innovative with the YSO.