Excitement is building in the search for a new artistic director for Signature Symphony at TCC. The year ahead will see full orchestra concerts as the finalists for the position visit Tulsa for a week-long residency filled with visits to schools, patron events and rehearsals as part of the selection process.

“The naming of a new artistic director for Signature Symphony is a collaborative process. I hope you will join us on this journey by attending the concerts and free rehearsals to get to know these individuals,” says Kelly Clark, Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at TCC. “We want to hear from our audience members and a survey after each concert will be part of the decision to name the next Artistic Director.”

The search extended to the 2021-2022 season due to the pandemic so the professional orchestra could return to full-orchestra performances. Scott Seaton will present “Love and Obsession: The Beatles to Berlioz” in January and Alejandro Gómez Guillén will present “Fantastical: Firebird meets Harry Potter” in February.

The third finalist, Robert Franz, has withdrawn this month from consideration. In doing so Franz said, “It is with great regret that I must step down from the search for the next music director of the Signature Symphony. A personal matter has arisen that will not allow me to continue in the process, but I sincerely wish the talented musicians and the entire organization all the best on the next chapter of their storied history.”

With Franz’s departure, details for the April 9, 2022 concert are still being finalized and Signature Symphony will have an announcement very soon.

“We obviously understand this has been an elongated search process that has required all of us to adapt and be flexible since we launched two years ago. We are sad to see Robert exit the search process and appreciate his talent. We wish him the very best and we will move forward with two exciting finalists as they share their talents and vision with our community,” says Clark.

On Saturday, January 22, 2022, Seaton explores a common theme between a famous rock band and the 19th century French composer Hector Berlioz. In “Love and Obsession: The Beatles to Berlioz,” the program highlights the music written passionately about love with the Beatles compiling millions of obsessed fans and Berlioz using his obsession with a stage actress to inspire “Symphonie Fantastique.”

In “Fantastical: Firebird meets Harry Potter,” Guillén presents a symphonic journey of myth, magic and folklore on Saturday, February 26, 2022. The evening pairs John Williams’ iconic movie score and Stravinsky’s timeless masterpiece with music by the Brazilian-American powerhouse Clarice Assad and Argentina’s versatile Osvaldo Golijov.

The 2021-2022 season is sponsored by TTCU Federal Credit Union. Individual tickets start at $35. A three-concert package starts at $84, providing a cost savings over single ticket purchases. Seating will be limited due to public health precautions. Visit signaturesymphony.org to purchase tickets, email signature@tulsacc.edu or call 918-595-7777 for questions.

This project is supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.