The Bremerton WestSound Symphony is turning 80, and one of their current violinists has been there since almost the very beginning.
When the Bremerton WestSound Symphony began in the 1940s, Blanche Wynne was a teenager, playing violin at the back of the second section. Through the decades she worked her way forward until she’d reached the very front, earning the position of Concertmaster. She made such an impact in that prestigious position — over many decades — that the chair is now officially called the Blanche Wynne Concertmaster Chair.
A health setback took her away from the orchestra for a little while, but Wynne (who is in her 90s) is now back in the violin section — just in time to celebrate the Bremerton WestSound Symphony’s 80th Anniversary!
Symphony subscriptions on sale now
While Wynne had a front-row seat to most of the symphony’s 80 years, many others discovered its spellbinding beauty for the first time during the pandemic.
“We had over 500 new registrant patrons last year!” says Bremerton WestSound Symphony Operations Manager Tricia Soriano.
Thanks to sponsorships and a generous gift from one anonymous donor, admission during the 2021-22 season was free, attracting many first-time concert goers, and online concerts during the pandemic also improved accessibility. Now the organization is inviting those people to help sustain the symphony for its 80th Anniversary.
“Your support isn’t only about supporting the music. We train many, many students, and the principles they learn from studying an instrument tend to rub off on other things in life, whether they pursue a career in music or not,” says Alan Futterman, Bremerton WestSound Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor. “The orchestra is the soul of the community; it attracts a class of professionals who make their home here.”
Subscriptions are just $200 for eight shows, plus exclusive offers and other perks. Visit www.bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org/subscriptions to learn more.
Bremerton WestSound Symphony Music Director Alan Futterman conducts Beethoven in 2019. Subscriptions are now available for the 2022/23 season!
Celebrating 80 years of music
The very first Bremerton WestSound Symphony concert in 1942 featured the Barber of Seville Overture, so of course Alan Futterman is bringing it back to help celebrate the 80th Anniversary. The Admiral Theatre in Bremerton also happens to be celebrating 80 years, so the two arts organizations are hosting a joint celebration on Sunday, March 5, 2023. A subscription purchase includes the show at The Admiral, in which subscribers can choose table seating at half the price of single tickets for this venue!
Throughout next year’s season there will be other nods to the 80 year history, including Gilded Age Americana on Oct. 22, 2022, and a subscriber exclusive, Welcome to Jane Austen’s World, on Feb. 4, 2023. The Jane Austen performance is with Tames Alan from Classic Collaborations, and features period music, fashion, and culture from the Regency Era.
It all starts at the Sept. 24, 2022 Gala at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club, where a favorite local live auctioneer will kick off the season with plenty of merriment and entertainment.
Subscriptions are on sale now, and single concert tickets will be available soon. Learn more at bremertonwestsoundsymphony.org or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
