Hello, fellow Tri-Citians! It is I, Regular Person, who lives, works and plays among you. Last October, I wrote a would-have-been-nominated-for-an-award-if-Tumbleweird-had-them article for Tumbleweird entitled ‘We have a symphony?’ (tumbleweird.org/we-have-a-symphony). If you didn’t read it, I highly recommend it!
Now, I feel I should disclose something before we continue: I knew we had a symphony, because I have been a member of it for many years. The call was coming from inside the house, so to speak.
“But, Regular Person, what about journalistic integrity? What of the ethics?! Dogs and cats living together in harmony?” you might be asking.
Let's think of it as ‘investigative journalism from a unique seat’.
And last year, the question wasn’t entirely ridiculous — it was the first question most people asked when I told them I am a classical musician. So when the Mid-Columbia Symphony was facing a genuinely uncertain future, we all wondered if the orchestra that had been making music for more than eight decades would still be here in 2026. Did Tri-Citians even want a symphony?
Much to our delight (and some surprise), you answered: YES!
So yes, we have a symphony!
And more importantly, we STILL have a symphony!
Thanks to an outpouring of love and support, we are still here! You donated. You bought tickets. You volunteered. You asked how you could help. We were blown away by the support from our community. And from the top of the piccolo to the bottom of the tuba, we thank you!
Now, we are no longer interested in simply surviving.
Now, we want to be a bigger part of the community that decided we are worth keeping! This means stepping outside concert halls and into farmers markets, local libraries, parks — anywhere the community gathers, we want to be there! We want you to not only enjoy our music, but meet our musicians, try an instrument, and get to know us as an organization and as the Regular People we are.
Now that we have established that we are here to stay, we have another question: What happens next?
After 17 seasons with Music Director Dr. Nicholas Wallin and a fantastic season with Interim Director Adrienne Fletcher, we are conducting The Great Conductor Search (Get it? Conducting… conductor search? Ha!), and YOU get a voice in the final decision!
Feedback from musicians and community participants will be compiled by independent statisticians, because what makes art better than data science? Especially in the Tri-Cities!
Three finalists will each conduct one of our concerts during our 82nd season, aptly named Maestro Showcase. This means you will get to see the candidates in action, rather than simply reading their resumes (which, let's face it, can be rather boring).
Rest assured, though, one tradition will definitely be returning: our treasured holiday concerts! Under the beloved baton of Adrienne Fletcher, we will celebrate the holiday season with fantastic music that may or may not include 47 versions of ‘Sleigh Ride’. (Probably not…but no promises!)
Some things change; sometimes that requires independent statisticians. And some things are worth keeping; holiday concerts are definitely in the latter category.
Also, because apparently keeping an orchestra performing for another 82 years requires more than just thoughts and prayers, we’re inviting you to help us Sound the Future with a monthly gift. There are giving levels for all kinds of budgets and each comes with Official Symphony Swag™. A $5 monthly gift, for example, gets you a Symphony sticker, while the higher levels come with even more Symphony goodies. So you can support the orchestra, get some fun Official Symphony Swag™, and feel slightly smug every time you see your merch. You can find all the giving levels and swag on the Mid-Columbia Symphony website: www.midcolumbiasymphony.org
If monthly giving isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to support us: come to a concert, bring a friend, volunteer, tell someone about the symphony, or simply show up when you see us out in the community.
It is going to be an interesting season. And an important one.Last year, we were asking if there would be a future for the Mid-Columbia Symphony.This year, we’re asking what that future should look like.
So, Yes, Tri-Cities, we have a symphony!
Now let’s make some beautiful music together!
Just a Regular Person living in the Tri-Cities with a love for music! MidColumbiaSymphony.org
