Season Announcement Expands with Fifth Concert
Beethoven, Bluegrass, Bohemia and Broadway are all part of Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College’s 2023-2024 season. Marking its 45th year, the professional orchestra has adopted the theme of “Horizons” for the coming season and added a fifth concert as the Tulsa Youth Symphony performs side-by-side with Signature Symphony.
“We are increasing the momentum with “Horizons” and remaining steadfast to our goal of providing programming for everyone. I’m thrilled to continue building and showcasing exciting partnerships and collaborations that highlight the uniqueness of Tulsa,” said Scott Seaton, Signature Symphony artistic director.
The season kicks off with “Bluegrass to Bohemia” on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, featuring violinist Tessa Lark, consistently praised by critics and audiences for her astounding range of sounds, technical agility, and musical elegance. She was nominated in 2020 for a GRAMMY in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category and received one of Lincoln Center’s prestigious Emerging Artist Awards, the special Hunt Family Award. Lark will perform “Sky,” a work written for her by Michael Torke fusing the world of bluegrass with an orchestral soundscape. The evening closes with Antonin Dvořák’s sunny Symphony No. 8 with its folk-inspired melodies and exuberant energy.
“Christmas in Tulsa” returns as one of Tulsa’s favorite holiday traditions on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16. The Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale joins the Signature Symphony and the whole evening will conclude with our annual holiday sing-along.
The concert “Inspirations,” on Saturday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, features an adaptation of Georges Bizet’s fiery and controversial “Carmen” by Rodion Schedrin, where the opera is now transformed into ballet and features strings and percussion to convey this passionate work. Signature Symphony will be joined on stage by the Tulsa Youth Symphony for the first part of the program. Together, in a side-by-side format, they will feature Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” a work that utilizes two string orchestras and a solo quartet to pay a mesmerizingly beautiful homage to English composer Thomas Tallis. Two of Astor Piazzolla’s tango-infused works will begin the program, including Maestro Seaton playing and conducting the first of Piazzolla’s Six Tango Etudes.
“Inevitable Beethoven: The Struggle for Creation” features an all-Beethoven and Beethoven-influenced program on March 2, 2024. Inspired by immersive theater experiences that are now found all over the globe, director Vern Stefanic joins the Signature Symphony to create a storytelling experience which culminates in a performance of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth symphony and its resounding message of unity and hope. As part of our commitment to feature Oklahoma-based artists and partnership with Tulsa Opera, the concert will feature Whitney Myers, soprano soloist; Maddie Breedlove, soprano soloist; J. Warren Mitchell, tenor soloist; and Elliott Wulff, baritone soloist along with the TCC Chorale, Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale and University of Tulsa Chorale.
The season concludes with “Tulsa Sings! Best of Broadway,” an exhilarating musical ride spanning decades of Broadway’s greatest hits featuring the incredible vocal talent of Tulsa alongside Scott Coulter, one of New York’s most honored vocalists. The concert on Saturday, April 6, 2024, showcases the Tulsa Sings! finalists and gives audience members the opportunity to vote for the fan favorite in the competition.
“Tulsa Sings truly is one of those things that attracted me to Tulsa and one of the absolute greatest ways to blend the community in with symphonic music,” said Seaton. “The incredible talent that we have showcased recently is nothing short of amazing; it’s all fun and it’s all TULSA!”
Season tickets for the five-concert series start at $156, representing a 20% savings over buying individual tickets, and go on sale April 8 by calling 918-595-7777. Online season subscription orders begin July 10. Single tickets start at $39 and go on sale August 14.